Penguin Land (Sega Master System review)

Developer: Sega
Publisher: Sega
Released: 1988

Penguin Land is a puzzle game and the sequel to Doki Doki Penguin Land (1985, Sega SG-1000).

+ Stages are expertly designed with carefully structured blocks and hazards that will test your problem solving skills.

+ Huge number of ways to beat each level and experimenting with fresh approaches is part of the game's appeal.

+ Allows you to create (and save) your own levels, and 30 of the main stages can be selected as soon as you boot up.

+ While each stage features a timer, it's not a strict limit and only negates bonus points once it reaches zero.

- Not for impatient gamers, as the mechanics require some adjusting and the difficulty is high due to trial-and-error.

- While the level design is fantastic, the early stages could have been less punishing to gradually ease in players.

- There's no checkpoints in the levels, which is a feature that would have greatly reduced frustration in tough later stages.