ScummVM Adds Support for Minigame Adventure Hodj 'n' Podj
The preservation platform now supports the Bagel engine classic, challenging players to rescue twin princesses through a gauntlet of minigames.
Some game titles evoke epic struggles or deep lore. Hodj 'n' Podj sounds more like a stew made from leftovers found in the back of a fridge. Despite the culinary confusion of its name, this title is actually a classic minigame adventure, and it is finally playable on modern systems without wrestling with ancient installers.
As announced by ScummVM, the preservation platform has added full support for the game. This addition marks another step forward for the project's mission to keep obscure PC titles functional on current hardware.
A Boffo Adventure
The premise of the game is standard fantasy fare, though the execution is distinct. A kingdom is in turmoil after twin princesses are kidnapped. It falls to two heroes, the titular Hodj and Podj, to rescue them. Instead of traditional point-and-click puzzle solving or turn-based combat, the duo must compete in a "gauntlet of minigames" to escort the royals to safety.
For those interested in the technical lineage of 90s adventure games, Hodj 'n' Podj holds a specific historical niche. According to the ScummVM team, this is a "Boffo Game" that utilizes the Bagel engine. If that architecture sounds familiar, it is because it also powered The Space Bar, a sci-fi noir adventure that generally receives more recognition in retro circles.
Support for the Bagel engine ensures that both titles can now be preserved with the same backend improvements ScummVM provides for more famous engines like SCUMM or AGI.
Preserving the Obscure
While heavy hitters like Monkey Island often drive the conversation around adventure game preservation, the inclusion of titles like Hodj 'n' Podj is arguably more important. Famous games will always find a way to be ported or remastered. Oddities from the mid-90s that rely on specific, defunct engines are the ones most at risk of disappearing entirely.
Players looking to test their minigame skills, or simply see what a Bagel engine looks like in action, can now do so with the latest daily build of ScummVM.
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