TAGAP: The Apocalyptic Game About Penguins
Encyclopedia
TAGAP: The Apocalyptic Game About Penguins (or just 'TAGAP' for short) is a computer action game
for Microsoft Windows
, released as freeware
via the Internet
in July 2007. In the game, the player controls cyber
-penguin
Pablo on his quest to save the Earth from the conquering plans of his lunatic creator, Dr. Glowenko. TAGAP is the debut game of Penguin Development Team, a duo of Finnish
hobbyist developers. The title, TAGAP, is an acronym with two meanings. The first is The Apocalyptic Game About Penguins, the title of the game. The second is Tissue Augmenting Green Addictive Pill, a type of drug
that plays a large role in the game as a plot point
(see Plot and Pills).
platformer and run and gun shoot 'em up
. The keyboard is used for movement, interaction and weapon swapping while the aiming are handled with the mouse, giving player 360o firing freedom. While the same control scheme has been used in games like Walker
and Abuse
, TAGAP has a bigger emphasis on shooting than "platforming". Version 1.5 of the game includes the ability to play the game on XInput game controller
s, such as the Xbox 360
controller.http://www.tagap.net/downloads/releasenotes.txt
TAGAP features a wide range of weapons. Some, like the shotgun
, flamethrower
and minigun
are standard weapons in most video game arsenals. Others like the OMG-20k and the Disintegrator
are unique to the game. Pablo can carry eight different weapons, all featuring two firing modes. For example, the Plasmagun's secondary function deploys a temporary shield
, and the shotgun hurls a powerful grenade. In addition to these mobile weapons, throughout the game the player can also control a few heavily armed combat vehicles. These include a miniature Helicopter
, a laser
turret
and a small space fighter. These vehicles also have secondary fire ability, such as rockets (helicopter) or charged plasma bursts (space fighter).
Genetically modified drugs
, known as pills, play a large role in the game. The most common type of pill is the green TAGAP (Tissue Augmenting Green Addictive Pill) pill. As the name suggests, Pablo is addicted
to the pills due to their role in his creation. To reflect this, the game's health bar is based on the percentage of TAGAP in Pablo's blood. When the amount reaches 0%, Pablo will lose a life. Eating TAGAP pills increases Pablo's health. There are four types of Pills in total, each with a different effect. Pills are colour-coded to indicate the effect they induce. Red pills, known as "One-ups", contain a super-dosage of TAGAP, amounting to an extra life. Blue pills, dubbed "Speed", are custom-made combat stimulants that makes the world move so fast that Pablo does not realise he is taking damage, rendering the player invulnerable
for a short time. Pink pills, "Steroids", allow Pablo to run twice as fast and perform higher jumps.
When the TAGAP level in Pablo's blood reaches 100%, any more pills taken will result in an overdose. This is represented through by a green hue covering the screen, hallucinations and slow motion
ability, resulting in an unparalleled combat state.
In addition to the pills, there are three more powerups. Medkits restore all health and Credit cards increase the player's score. There is also a mysterious item of alien technology that multiplies the amount of rounds fired from all weapons by four.
. The setting then moves to Antarctica, where Pedro's base is located. The fight is soon taken to downtown
Tokyo
, and then to a North-Japanese volcano
transformed into a secret fortress. For the final chapter of the game, Pablo launches into space and battles in a massive space station
in orbit around the Earth.
Dr. Glowenko discovers a way to create bio-engineered cybernetic
penguins, TAGAP (Tissue Augmenting Green Addictive Pill). Glowenko begins creating an army of cloned
penguins, dubbed "Zombie
penguins" due to their corruption by TAGAP. Glowenko plans to take over the world with his army, but one of the penguins, codenamed Pablo the penguin, is tired of being Glowenko's guinea pig and escapes. He quickly finds himself fighting the entire clone army as he tries to discover Glowenko's plan. Pablo's main adversary is Pedro penguin, another cyber-penguin who is engineered to be more intelligent and has been promised a bounty of TAGAP for killing Pablo. Pedro uses an extensive range of lethal machines and weaponry to stop Pablo, but to no avail. After fighting his way throughout the complex, Pablo kills Glowenko and destroys the base with a nuclear
self-destruct
device. Pablo heads to Antarctica, where Pedro has a secret base recruiting ordinary penguins and turning them into zombie penguins using TAGAP. Pablo frees the penguins and pursues a fleeing Pedro to a secret fortress hidden inside a volcano
. Pablo fights throughout the complex and deactivates the pressure pumps that stabilise the volcano. Before the volcano erupts, Pablo stows aboard the space shuttle and is launched in orbit, where it docks with a massive space station
, the base for Pedro's final strike on humanity. After a lengthy fight through the station, Pablo confronts Pedro for the last time and tries to make him see reason. Pedro responds by activating an enormous, heavily armed penguin shaped robot. Pablo destroys the robot and defeats Pedro, knocking him unconscious. Rocked by the robot's explosion, the station begins to destabilise. After a moment's hesitation, Pablo grabs Pedro and rushes to the hanger, where one small space fighter remains. The two penguins escape the station as it violently explodes. The shuttle crashes in Antarctica, and Pedro asks why Pablo saved him. Pablo replies, "That's what we video game heroes do." The penguins Pablo freed earlier arrive and the group throw a party, all differences forgotten.
The game took almost four years to develop, starting in November 2003 as one-man-project, led by Jouni Lahtinen. Jouni soon joined forces with Petja Heiskanen in early 2004 and the duo went under the alias
of the Penguin Development Team. The game cost almost 2500 Euros to make, which was 2500 Euros over the budget
, since the game was intended to be freeware. Nearly all the money was spent on software and hardware
. TAGAP was originally five levels long instead of the current ten. The remaining five levels were meant to become a post-release expansion pack
. However, since five levels felt ultimately too short in game testing, the levels were incorporated into the game. The game is dedicated
to Snowdrop, an Albino African Penguin
(pictured). It was a resident of Bristol Zoo
Gardens from November 2002 until August 2004.
standard for the graphics, DirectInput
for input devices (e.g. Mouse and Keyboard) and FMOD
Ex as the sound engine. Since version 1.6 TAGAP is completely compatible with pre-XP Windows operation systems. This is provided by especially compiled binaries and the usage of only backward compatible system functions (like rand instead of rand_s). The game also features a developer function, allowing players to construct their own weapons, characters, levels and cut-scenes.
game to TAGAP, was officially announced on November 16, 2007. The game was released over the Internet on July 31st 2011 for Windows operating systems as freeware. It is set a few months after the events of TAGAP, with Pablo and Pedro teaming up to take on another army of zombie penguins led by General Primo, the most advanced cyber-penguin ever.
, a Finnish gaming magazine
described TAGAP as "a new synonym for 'cult game'." The game was also included as part of a 'free games' package on the DVD
that came with issue #144 of PC PowerPlay
, an Australia
n gaming magazine
. The game, dubbed "catch of the month", was described as "An extremely polished game, but the action could have been faster and less random, as it can sometimes feel cheap." Mikrobitti
, Finland's largest gaming magazine, has given the game good reviews, and has included the game on their annual DVD, 'Huvi & Hyöty Romppu 2008' (Entertainment and Utility Disk).
Action game
Action game is a video game genre that emphasizes physical challenges, including hand–eye coordination and reaction-time. The genre includes diverse subgenres such as fighting games, shooter games, and platform games, which are widely considered the most important action games, though some...
for Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
, released as freeware
Freeware
Freeware is computer software that is available for use at no cost or for an optional fee, but usually with one or more restricted usage rights. Freeware is in contrast to commercial software, which is typically sold for profit, but might be distributed for a business or commercial purpose in the...
via the Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
in July 2007. In the game, the player controls cyber
Cyborg
A cyborg is a being with both biological and artificial parts. The term was coined in 1960 when Manfred Clynes and Nathan S. Kline used it in an article about the advantages of self-regulating human-machine systems in outer space. D. S...
-penguin
Penguin
Penguins are a group of aquatic, flightless birds living almost exclusively in the southern hemisphere, especially in Antarctica. Highly adapted for life in the water, penguins have countershaded dark and white plumage, and their wings have become flippers...
Pablo on his quest to save the Earth from the conquering plans of his lunatic creator, Dr. Glowenko. TAGAP is the debut game of Penguin Development Team, a duo of Finnish
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
hobbyist developers. The title, TAGAP, is an acronym with two meanings. The first is The Apocalyptic Game About Penguins, the title of the game. The second is Tissue Augmenting Green Addictive Pill, a type of drug
Drug
A drug, broadly speaking, is any substance that, when absorbed into the body of a living organism, alters normal bodily function. There is no single, precise definition, as there are different meanings in drug control law, government regulations, medicine, and colloquial usage.In pharmacology, a...
that plays a large role in the game as a plot point
Plot point
In television and film, a plot point is a significant event within a plot that digs into the action and spins it around in another direction. It can also be an object of significant importance, around which the plot revolves. It can be anything from an event to an item to the discovery of a...
(see Plot and Pills).
Gameplay
TAGAP is a 2-D2D computer graphics
2D computer graphics is the computer-based generation of digital images—mostly from two-dimensional models and by techniques specific to them...
platformer and run and gun shoot 'em up
Shoot 'em up
Shoot 'em up is a subgenre of shooter video games. In a shoot 'em up, the player controls a lone character, often in a spacecraft or aircraft, shooting large numbers of enemies while dodging their attacks. The genre in turn encompasses various types or subgenres and critics differ on exactly what...
. The keyboard is used for movement, interaction and weapon swapping while the aiming are handled with the mouse, giving player 360o firing freedom. While the same control scheme has been used in games like Walker
Walker (computer game)
Walker is a computer game released for the Amiga system in 1993, where the player controls a huge ED-209/mecha styled device fight against military forces in various time periods....
and Abuse
Abuse (computer game)
Abuse is a run and gun video game developed by Crack dot Com and published by Origin Systems/Electronic Arts. It was released in , and originally ran on MS-DOS and Linux operating systems. An improved port of the game was released for Mac OS by Bungie Studios and for the Acorn Archimedes by R-Comp...
, TAGAP has a bigger emphasis on shooting than "platforming". Version 1.5 of the game includes the ability to play the game on XInput game controller
Game controller
A game controller is a device used with games or entertainment systems used to control a playable character or object, or otherwise provide input in a computer game. A controller is typically connected to a game console or computer by means of a wire, cord or nowadays, by means of wireless connection...
s, such as the Xbox 360
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
controller.http://www.tagap.net/downloads/releasenotes.txt
TAGAP features a wide range of weapons. Some, like the shotgun
Shotgun
A shotgun is a firearm that is usually designed to be fired from the shoulder, which uses the energy of a fixed shell to fire a number of small spherical pellets called shot, or a solid projectile called a slug...
, flamethrower
Flamethrower
A flamethrower is a mechanical device designed to project a long controllable stream of fire.Some flamethrowers project a stream of ignited flammable liquid; some project a long gas flame. Most military flamethrowers use liquids, but commercial flamethrowers tend to use high-pressure propane and...
and minigun
Minigun
The Minigun is a 7.62 mm, multi-barrel heavy machine gun with a high rate of fire , employing Gatling-style rotating barrels with an external power source...
are standard weapons in most video game arsenals. Others like the OMG-20k and the Disintegrator
Disintegrator ray
In science fiction, a disintegrator ray is an energy beam that destroys an object by disintegrating it to its basic components, which usually disperse into the atmosphere. Ray gun is the generic term for the weapons that fire disintegrator beams...
are unique to the game. Pablo can carry eight different weapons, all featuring two firing modes. For example, the Plasmagun's secondary function deploys a temporary shield
Shield
A shield is a type of personal armor, meant to intercept attacks, either by stopping projectiles such as arrows or redirecting a hit from a sword, mace or battle axe to the side of the shield-bearer....
, and the shotgun hurls a powerful grenade. In addition to these mobile weapons, throughout the game the player can also control a few heavily armed combat vehicles. These include a miniature Helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
, a laser
Laser
A laser is a device that emits light through a process of optical amplification based on the stimulated emission of photons. The term "laser" originated as an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation...
turret
Gun turret
A gun turret is a weapon mount that protects the crew or mechanism of a projectile-firing weapon and at the same time lets the weapon be aimed and fired in many directions.The turret is also a rotating weapon platform...
and a small space fighter. These vehicles also have secondary fire ability, such as rockets (helicopter) or charged plasma bursts (space fighter).
Pills
DRUGS
Destroy Rebuild Until God Shows are an American post-hardcore band formed in 2010. They released their debut self-titled album on February 22, 2011.- Formation :...
, known as pills, play a large role in the game. The most common type of pill is the green TAGAP (Tissue Augmenting Green Addictive Pill) pill. As the name suggests, Pablo is addicted
Substance dependence
The section about substance dependence in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders does not use the word addiction at all. It explains:...
to the pills due to their role in his creation. To reflect this, the game's health bar is based on the percentage of TAGAP in Pablo's blood. When the amount reaches 0%, Pablo will lose a life. Eating TAGAP pills increases Pablo's health. There are four types of Pills in total, each with a different effect. Pills are colour-coded to indicate the effect they induce. Red pills, known as "One-ups", contain a super-dosage of TAGAP, amounting to an extra life. Blue pills, dubbed "Speed", are custom-made combat stimulants that makes the world move so fast that Pablo does not realise he is taking damage, rendering the player invulnerable
Vulnerability
Vulnerability refer to the susceptibility of a person, group, society, sex or system to physical or emotional injury or attack. The term can also refer to a person who lets their guard down, leaving themselves open to censure or criticism...
for a short time. Pink pills, "Steroids", allow Pablo to run twice as fast and perform higher jumps.
When the TAGAP level in Pablo's blood reaches 100%, any more pills taken will result in an overdose. This is represented through by a green hue covering the screen, hallucinations and slow motion
Slow motion
Slow motion is an effect in film-making whereby time appears to be slowed down. It was invented by the Austrian priest August Musger....
ability, resulting in an unparalleled combat state.
In addition to the pills, there are three more powerups. Medkits restore all health and Credit cards increase the player's score. There is also a mysterious item of alien technology that multiplies the amount of rounds fired from all weapons by four.
Setting
The gameplay of TAGAP is set in several locations around the world. The first half of the game is set in Dr. Glowenko's secret base, located in Southern New ZealandNew Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. The setting then moves to Antarctica, where Pedro's base is located. The fight is soon taken to downtown
Downtown
Downtown is a term primarily used in North America by English speakers to refer to a city's core or central business district ....
Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, and then to a North-Japanese volcano
Volcano
2. Bedrock3. Conduit 4. Base5. Sill6. Dike7. Layers of ash emitted by the volcano8. Flank| 9. Layers of lava emitted by the volcano10. Throat11. Parasitic cone12. Lava flow13. Vent14. Crater15...
transformed into a secret fortress. For the final chapter of the game, Pablo launches into space and battles in a massive space station
Space station
A space station is a spacecraft capable of supporting a crew which is designed to remain in space for an extended period of time, and to which other spacecraft can dock. A space station is distinguished from other spacecraft used for human spaceflight by its lack of major propulsion or landing...
in orbit around the Earth.
Characters
- Pablo penguin - The hero of the story, Pablo is a genetically modified penguin created by Dr. Glowenko. He grows tired of being Glowenkos stooge, and rebels.
- Pedro penguin - Pedro is another modified penguin who has been hired by Glowenko as a mercenary. Using an extensive range of technology, Pedro actively attempts to halt Pablos progress.
- Dr. Glowenko - Glowenko is a mad scientistMad scientistA mad scientist is a stock character of popular fiction, specifically science fiction. The mad scientist may be villainous or antagonistic, benign or neutral, and whether insane, eccentric, or simply bumbling, mad scientists often work with fictional technology in order to forward their schemes, if...
who plans to take over the world with an army of cloned penguins.
Plot
At a distant research facility, mad scientistMad scientist
A mad scientist is a stock character of popular fiction, specifically science fiction. The mad scientist may be villainous or antagonistic, benign or neutral, and whether insane, eccentric, or simply bumbling, mad scientists often work with fictional technology in order to forward their schemes, if...
Dr. Glowenko discovers a way to create bio-engineered cybernetic
Cyborg
A cyborg is a being with both biological and artificial parts. The term was coined in 1960 when Manfred Clynes and Nathan S. Kline used it in an article about the advantages of self-regulating human-machine systems in outer space. D. S...
penguins, TAGAP (Tissue Augmenting Green Addictive Pill). Glowenko begins creating an army of cloned
Cloning
Cloning in biology is the process of producing similar populations of genetically identical individuals that occurs in nature when organisms such as bacteria, insects or plants reproduce asexually. Cloning in biotechnology refers to processes used to create copies of DNA fragments , cells , or...
penguins, dubbed "Zombie
Zombie
Zombie is a term used to denote an animated corpse brought back to life by mystical means such as witchcraft. The term is often figuratively applied to describe a hypnotized person bereft of consciousness and self-awareness, yet ambulant and able to respond to surrounding stimuli...
penguins" due to their corruption by TAGAP. Glowenko plans to take over the world with his army, but one of the penguins, codenamed Pablo the penguin, is tired of being Glowenko's guinea pig and escapes. He quickly finds himself fighting the entire clone army as he tries to discover Glowenko's plan. Pablo's main adversary is Pedro penguin, another cyber-penguin who is engineered to be more intelligent and has been promised a bounty of TAGAP for killing Pablo. Pedro uses an extensive range of lethal machines and weaponry to stop Pablo, but to no avail. After fighting his way throughout the complex, Pablo kills Glowenko and destroys the base with a nuclear
Nuclear weapon
A nuclear weapon is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from nuclear reactions, either fission or a combination of fission and fusion. Both reactions release vast quantities of energy from relatively small amounts of matter. The first fission bomb test released the same amount...
self-destruct
Self-destruct
A self-destruct is a mechanism which causes a device to destroy itself under a predefined set of circumstances.Self-destruct mechanisms are also found on devices and systems where malfunction could endanger large numbers of people...
device. Pablo heads to Antarctica, where Pedro has a secret base recruiting ordinary penguins and turning them into zombie penguins using TAGAP. Pablo frees the penguins and pursues a fleeing Pedro to a secret fortress hidden inside a volcano
Volcano
2. Bedrock3. Conduit 4. Base5. Sill6. Dike7. Layers of ash emitted by the volcano8. Flank| 9. Layers of lava emitted by the volcano10. Throat11. Parasitic cone12. Lava flow13. Vent14. Crater15...
. Pablo fights throughout the complex and deactivates the pressure pumps that stabilise the volcano. Before the volcano erupts, Pablo stows aboard the space shuttle and is launched in orbit, where it docks with a massive space station
Space station
A space station is a spacecraft capable of supporting a crew which is designed to remain in space for an extended period of time, and to which other spacecraft can dock. A space station is distinguished from other spacecraft used for human spaceflight by its lack of major propulsion or landing...
, the base for Pedro's final strike on humanity. After a lengthy fight through the station, Pablo confronts Pedro for the last time and tries to make him see reason. Pedro responds by activating an enormous, heavily armed penguin shaped robot. Pablo destroys the robot and defeats Pedro, knocking him unconscious. Rocked by the robot's explosion, the station begins to destabilise. After a moment's hesitation, Pablo grabs Pedro and rushes to the hanger, where one small space fighter remains. The two penguins escape the station as it violently explodes. The shuttle crashes in Antarctica, and Pedro asks why Pablo saved him. Pablo replies, "That's what we video game heroes do." The penguins Pablo freed earlier arrive and the group throw a party, all differences forgotten.
Development
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
of the Penguin Development Team. The game cost almost 2500 Euros to make, which was 2500 Euros over the budget
Budget
A budget is a financial plan and a list of all planned expenses and revenues. It is a plan for saving, borrowing and spending. A budget is an important concept in microeconomics, which uses a budget line to illustrate the trade-offs between two or more goods...
, since the game was intended to be freeware. Nearly all the money was spent on software and hardware
Hardware
Hardware is a general term for equipment such as keys, locks, hinges, latches, handles, wire, chains, plumbing supplies, tools, utensils, cutlery and machine parts. Household hardware is typically sold in hardware stores....
. TAGAP was originally five levels long instead of the current ten. The remaining five levels were meant to become a post-release expansion pack
Expansion pack
An expansion pack, expansion set, or supplement is an addition to an existing role-playing game, tabletop game or video game. These add-ons usually add new game areas, weapons, objects, and/or an extended storyline to a complete and already released game...
. However, since five levels felt ultimately too short in game testing, the levels were incorporated into the game. The game is dedicated
Dedication
Dedication is the act of consecrating an altar, temple, church or other sacred building. It also refers to the inscription of books or other artifacts when these are specifically addressed or presented to a particular person. This practice, which once was used to gain the patronage and support of...
to Snowdrop, an Albino African Penguin
African Penguin
The African Penguin , also known as the Black-footed Penguin is a species of penguin, confined to southern African waters. It is known as Brilpikkewyn in Afrikaans, Inguza or Unombombiya in Xhosa, Manchot Du Cap in French and Pingüino Del Cabo in Spanish...
(pictured). It was a resident of Bristol Zoo
Bristol Zoo
Bristol Zoo is a zoo in the city of Bristol in South West England. The zoo's stated mission is "Bristol Zoo Gardens maintains and defends biodiversity through breeding endangered species, conserving threatened species and habitats and promoting a wider understanding of the natural...
Gardens from November 2002 until August 2004.
Technical
TAGAP is build on top of a heterogeneous standard and external library background. OpenGLOpenGL
OpenGL is a standard specification defining a cross-language, cross-platform API for writing applications that produce 2D and 3D computer graphics. The interface consists of over 250 different function calls which can be used to draw complex three-dimensional scenes from simple primitives. OpenGL...
standard for the graphics, DirectInput
DirectInput
In computing, DirectInput is a Microsoft API for collecting input from a computer user, via input devices such as the mouse, keyboard, joystick or other game controllers. It also provides a system for action mapping, which allows the user to assign specific actions within a game to the buttons and...
for input devices (e.g. Mouse and Keyboard) and FMOD
FMOD
FMOD is a proprietary audio library made by Firelight Technologies that plays music files of diverse formats on many different operating system platforms, used in games and software applications to provide audio functionality....
Ex as the sound engine. Since version 1.6 TAGAP is completely compatible with pre-XP Windows operation systems. This is provided by especially compiled binaries and the usage of only backward compatible system functions (like rand instead of rand_s). The game also features a developer function, allowing players to construct their own weapons, characters, levels and cut-scenes.
Sequel
TAGAP 2, a sequelSequel
A sequel is a narrative, documental, or other work of literature, film, theatre, or music that continues the story of or expands upon issues presented in some previous work...
game to TAGAP, was officially announced on November 16, 2007. The game was released over the Internet on July 31st 2011 for Windows operating systems as freeware. It is set a few months after the events of TAGAP, with Pablo and Pedro teaming up to take on another army of zombie penguins led by General Primo, the most advanced cyber-penguin ever.
Reception
The game has received largely popular reviews, mainly from Finnish websites and gaming magazines. PelitPelit
Pelit is a Finnish video games magazine published 11 times a year by Sanoma Magazines, a division of the Sanoma Group. Being by far the largest of its kind in Finland and covering both PCs and consoles, it has for a long time lacked serious competition and is thought by many to be the magazine of...
, a Finnish gaming magazine
Magazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
described TAGAP as "a new synonym for 'cult game'." The game was also included as part of a 'free games' package on the DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
that came with issue #144 of PC PowerPlay
PC PowerPlay
PC PowerPlay is Australia's only dedicated PC games magazine. Also available in New Zealand, PC PowerPlay focuses on news and reviews for upcoming and newly released games on the Microsoft Windows platform. The magazine also reviews computer hardware for use on gaming computers...
, an Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n gaming magazine
Magazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
. The game, dubbed "catch of the month", was described as "An extremely polished game, but the action could have been faster and less random, as it can sometimes feel cheap." Mikrobitti
MikroBitti
MikroBitti is a Finnish computer magazine, founded in May 1984 and published by Sanoma Magazines, a division of the Sanoma Group. MikroBitti is aimed mainly for beginner to mid-level computer users...
, Finland's largest gaming magazine, has given the game good reviews, and has included the game on their annual DVD, 'Huvi & Hyöty Romppu 2008' (Entertainment and Utility Disk).