The Next Penelope

[h1] Ok F-Zero clone with top down view. Fast racing and plenty of different modes. Sometimes it's hard to see what's in front of you (just like in Micro Machines) so make sure to memorize the track first. Gameplay is somewhat fun but I don't like auto acceleration (vehicle drive by itself). Leave mines behind, boost and teleport on short distance at the fraction of your energy which is also health so use it wisely. Encounter boss battles and some challenges that will kick your bottom. Big con there's no separate racing mode and the only available mode is story mode. Despite some years behind holds well. Another con no resolution option in the settings. Music is ok. Controls are tight and grip is good. Generally plays well. [/h1]

[h2]The Next Penelope Review[/h2] The Next Penelope is a very hard, stylish F-Zero-style top-down arcade racer and shmup hybrid. Sadly it's getting even more unnecessarily frustrating towards reaching the end. Maybe that's one of the main reasons this game is commonly unknown. It's simply way too hard & frustrating for the most players (achievement claims indicate it) You will get out with 52 % game completion after finishing the campaign! The "bonus" time/points/survival trials after the campaign isn't beaten by almost everyone. The view SAM users won't trick me here. This game is not bad, but the target audience seems to be focused on speedrunner communtity i'd say. The honestly good game's impression suffers a lot from that facts. Achievement rate ruiner type of game. Beware! Rating: 7 / 10

The Next Penelope is an audacious indie title that refuses to stay within the boundaries of a single genre, instead fusing arcade racing, shoot-’em-up combat, and exploratory action into a fast, neon-soaked experience. Developed by Aurélien Regard and published by Plug In Digital, the game reimagines Homer’s Odyssey as a futuristic space epic, casting Penelope not as a passive figure waiting at home, but as a relentless pilot racing across hostile planets in search of her missing husband, Ulysses. This bold reinterpretation immediately sets the tone for a game that thrives on momentum, experimentation, and constant pressure. From a gameplay perspective, The Next Penelope is built around speed and survival. Your ship accelerates automatically, pushing you forward at all times and forcing you to focus on steering precision, energy management, and tactical combat. Energy acts as a shared resource for boosting, firing weapons, and activating special abilities, meaning every decision carries weight. Choosing when to spend energy aggressively or conserve it for tight turns and evasive maneuvers becomes central to mastering the game. This design creates a sense of perpetual urgency, maki…

This is far and away one of the most unique games I’ve ever played, likely because it was made—conceptualized, developed, and scored—by a single person. I already played through most of it on Nintendo Switch, and when I saw that it was on such a deep discount on Steam, I knew I had to pick it up. The simplest way to describe it is as a top-down F-Zero-like with shoot-em-up mechanics and an Ancient Greek flare (it’s more or less a loose retelling of the Odyssey). The driving feels fast and slick, with that same slightly slippery feeling of the original F-Zero—not enough to feel miserable, but enough to make you feel smart for getting the hang of it. The tracks are very well-designed, and the soundtrack and sound design in general is quite memorable. The upgrades can radically change how you play based on which one you favor, but never feel overpowered. There are a couple of questionable choices in my opinion, such as making one boss fight an arena instead of a track, and there is a definite difficulty spike. But the sheer uniqueness of the game combined with the excellent driving feel and upgrade implementation make this a true hidden gem. And at the current sale price of $1.29,…

How many Penelopes are there

1 player combat racing with catch-up AI. Neat idea. But it doesn't feel like there's enough there to really keep me playing. It has a story, and good artwork but it's not enough to keep playing. As I don't really care for story in these games. The AI cheats, it's all you need to know.