Scrimmy Bingus III: The Hotpocket Of Croungus

Scrimmy Bingus III: The Hotpocket of Croungus is the third installment of the Scrimmy Bingus franchise. The game was released on July 15 1994 for the SNES, Sega Saturn, and PC. The game received mostly positive reviews from critics.

## Gameplay

The game is a point-and-click adventure RPG akin to the first Scrimmy Bingus game. The game follows exploration of a world map and amassing an adventuring party, who then goes on a quest-style adventure to search for items and fight enemies. This game continued to expand the complex user interface from the first game, though fans of the franchise have stated that it was easier to use in this game than it was before.

## Plot Overview

The game begins in Newark, New Jersey where Scrimmy Bingus II: The Crungy Spingus Returns left off. With the Bingus having left once again, Scrimmy, accompanying the player, decides to look for an item that fits the Bingus' requirements that he gave at the end of the last game: to "persuade him with something more interesting and enticing". Scrimmy and the player spend the first part of the game searching for Master Gligus, whom Scrimmy believes may have insider information as to what the Bingus likes. Along the way, they meet up with Hurgus, who returns from the first two games. Instead of being an anti-hero, Hurgus decides to join Scrimmy and the player to form an adventuring party. On the way to meet Master Gligus, more Brongi join until a full party is amassed.

After a short while, the party arrives at the home of Master Gligus, who informs the player to the Hotpocket of Croungus, a powerful consumable that the Bingus has been wanting for a long time now. In order to acquire it, he tells the party they must acquire seven Depperonis from the Seven Fallen Kingdoms of Mrogan, locations that were mentioned but not seen in the first game. He tells the party that he will appear to them when he is needed, offering different items or buffs that may be required in certain situations.

The rest of the game follows the quest around the Seven Kingdoms, in which the player battles monsters and attempts to acquire the Depperonis. Master Gligus occasionally appears to offer advice and items. Once all seven Depperonis are found, Master Gligus tells the player that they must be taken to the center temple of the kingdoms in order to summon The Bingus. Once there, the player must battle the undead Mrogan emperor Croungus for his famed Hotpocket.

The battle is difficult, but not impossible. Once defeated, Croungus drops the Hotpocket and the player can place the Depperonis on the altar at the center of the temple to summon The Bingus. The Bingus then arrives, and Scrimmy offers him the Hotpocket of Croungus. The Bingus eats it, and tells him that he has been persuaded to assist the party in some of their quests, but that he is not finished with his game of hide-and-seek. The Bingus leaves Scrimmy and the Brongi with upgraded weapons and armor, but promptly leaves.

## Reception

The game was met with mostly positive reviews. Critics praised the story and the continuation with the RPG style from the first game. Players mostly enjoyed it, and Master Gligus was cited as the best breakout character from the game. Some people displayed distaste with the continued escape of the Bingus, but most people found it amusing and entertaining.

Following the positive reception, Crogus Interactive announced that they had 7 more games in the works, and that after they were finished the franchise was planned to end.

## Trivia

* After the release of this game, Crogus announced their end-goal for the franchise, ending with Scrimmy Bingus TEN. However, this was short lived, as they would then announce the continuation of the franchise not long after the announcement of installment ten's launch.