Ribbit King

Yep, it's definitely as odd as it sounds, but if that's your thing (I know it's mine), then you'll have a blast with this title.

Yep, it's definitely as odd as it sounds, but if that's your thing (I know it's mine), then you'll have a blast with this title.

All in all, this feels like a stand-alone game that would have done better as a cool Mario Golf minigame mode.

After the novelty is gone, it’s an adequate, if goofy, golf title with passable technical execution. The camera system and graphics engine certainly won’t win any awards (there are definitely times when the poor camera and overhead view make it difficult to aim – especially on the futuristic levels), but I guess that’s not really the point. All in all, this feels like a stand-alone game that would have done better as a cool Mario Golf minigame mode.

Die abgefahrene Präsentation hat mir anfangs richtig gut gefallen, aber schon nach kurzer Einspielzeit entpuppt sich Ribbit King als ein sehr durchwachsenes Golfspiel. Geplante Manöver klappen wegen der wiederspenstigen Frösche nur selten, wodurch ernst zu nehmende Matches praktisch unmöglich sind. Im Multiplayer-Modus sorgt das zwar zunächst durchaus für gute Laune, nachdem man sich aber einmal herzlich über die unbeholfen herumhüpfenden Frösche schlapp gelacht hat, stellt sich auch hier schnell Langeweile ein. Für eine schnelle Mehrspieler-Runde zwischendurch mag der Titel durchaus taugen, ein ernsthafter Konkurrent für Marios kultiges Fun-Golfen sind die knuffigen Frolfer aber nicht wirklich.

You'd never expect this to be a sports game, with a name like Ribbit King. And a game of golf no less. With frogs instead of golf balls (hence the name, ‘frolf'). But that's what it is, and it's one of the wackiest games you'll play.

You'd never expect this to be a sports game, with a name like Ribbit King. And a game of golf no less. With frogs instead of golf balls (hence the name, ‘frolf'). But that's what it is, and it's one of the wackiest games you'll play.

What could be more fun on a sunny day than making frogs jump through obstacle courses, as you try to get a frog-in-one? Of course there are the weird cartoon snakes to watch out for, occasional ghost attacks and lava pits, but that’s all par for the course.

After the novelty of watching purposely weird characters launch frogs through Mouse Trap-style obstacle courses wears off, you're left with a simple, shallow game. It's not exactly apparent from the title, but Ribbit King is, in fact, a golf game. Sort of. Actually, it's a golf game where the balls have been replaced with frogs, spawning the new fun-to-say activity of "frolf." It's an odd concept, followed through with an odd, sugary execution, all of it easily identifiable as a Japanese subspecies of cute.

Un souffle de fraîcheur qui apporte originalité et drôlerie que ce Ribbit King. Maintenant, il est dommage que le gameplay soit si limité et les modes multijoueurs plats et sans réelle consistance. En somme, le titre aurait mérité un peu plus de réflexion dans sa jouabilité pour réellement convaincre. Par contre, son humour reste sa meilleure arme et puisqu’on évolue plaisamment dans le jeu, pourquoi ne pas tenter l’expérience en occasion ?!

Un souffle de fraîcheur qui apporte originalité et drôlerie que ce Ribbit King. Maintenant, il est dommage que le gameplay soit si limité et les modes multijoueurs plats et sans réelle consistance. En somme, le titre aurait mérité un peu plus de réflexion dans sa jouabilité pour réellement convaincre. Par contre, son humour reste sa meilleure arme et puisqu’on évolue plaisamment dans le jeu, pourquoi ne pas tenter l’expérience en occasion ?!

In fact, this is Ribbit King's major flaw: there's just not enough game here. If it had more courses and the same outlandish setting mixed with realistic golfing concerns like terrain, slope, wind, club size and heft, etc., and detailed graphics to match, it could be golden. As it is, it's a novelty best left for very young players.

The only thing Ribbit King has going for it are its cut scenes and cute art style, which are almost enough to charm you into playing (until you remember how long and painful the matches are). It's hard to recommend this beyond a rental -- and that's only to see how weird it is. I can't even recommend it as a title for a younger audience because of the difficulty curve and associated frustration.

Do you have what it takes to save your planet? Do you have the skill to be a Ribbit King? Can you defeat countless opponents in a Frolf tournament? Do you even know what Frolf is? These are the kind of questions you need to ask yourself before embarking on the adventure that is Ribbit King -- a title that's focuses on the bizarre rather than gameplay.