Frogger

The Good
Overall, I thought the game was good. It provided lots of different environments to guide Frogger through from busy roads to ponds and ugly sewers filled with rubbish. The graphics were also good and the music was great.

The Bad
I didn't like the fact that the game got a bit repetitive and became quite unenjoyable when I had to sit there and constantly try to complete a level that was nearly impossible.

The Bottom Line
A good upgrade from the 1980s version with a wide range of different environments. However, it does get a bit boring when trying to complete the harder levels which seem almost impossible to complete.

The Good
The environments are what, in my opinion, make this game amazing rather than just so-so. The levels are fantastically well designed, and the music only helps Frogger's world stand out more. The graphics, while pixelated, give the game its feel and mood. The controls can never be a problem -- you can configure them yourself. The difficulty is just right; today, it seems that game companies are incapable of challenging but not frustrating games, which is why I turn to Indie game developers most often. Not so with this game. You have to really work on these levels.

The Bad
The only flaw I can see in the game itself is the lack of storyline. Why exactly are your "frog-lets" (what would you call them?) scattered all over the world? I think it would make the game a lot more engaging if there was a reason we're going after these little guys, as there is in its brilliant but far-too-easy sequel.

I feel that some of the levels are just a bit too difficult, on the verge of frustrating: Uncanny Crusher is one of the rare examples. But I think that this has more to do with my lack of gaming prowess than the game itself.

I have a problem that occurs often, wherein the sound works but the music doesn't. I'm not sure if this happens to anyone else, however.

The Bottom Line
A great game with few flaws. Play it. For some, it is too difficult, but if you enjoy this type of game, then try it out.

The Good
The graphics and audio are great, with cute characters, a slick interface, and clever level designs...

The Bad
...but that's not enough to save it from falling apart at the seams.

Frogger is a PC version of Hasbro's remarkably atrocious PlayStation version of Frogger. While this is an improvement over the PlayStation version (better controls and some minor bug fixes), it isn't enough of an improvement to make it a good game. It's quite obvious that the game was rushed for release to either:

1. be released before the arcade gameplay was outdated, or
2. be released in time for the holiday season.

Don't even get started on how this ended up selling 4 million copies on the PC and PlayStation: it's merely because it's a remake of an excellent arcade title, and fans of it were anxious to see a mid-90's remake. And I can see why rabid Frogger fans would rush out to buy it, as the concept of taking the original formula into a modern platformer with true-3D graphics and more variety than the arcade version sounds all well and good. And it is for about five minutes, until you get an ugly-looking "Game Over" screen, enter your name into the high scores list, and get kicked out of the game altogether, resulting in a self-induced punch of the fist into your computer monitor.

Why is it so easy to get a "Game Over" in Frogger? Well, the game box does state that the game's 9 environments are "challenging" and that the game has the "same addictive gameplay as the arcade classic", but I must say that this is wrong. (Even a quoted magazine score on the back of the box is totally incorrect; it states that Computer Gaming World gave the game 4 / 4 stars but actually gave it 3.5 / 5 stars. Shouldn't Hasbro get sued for misquoting a score?) If Hasbro thinks that "challenging" means "continually frustrating the player with poorly designed puzzles, unresponsive controls, a drunken third-person camera, and horrendous collision detection", that's exactly what they did in Frogger, but by no means is that challenging. Challenging puzzles should be difficult, but possible to complete. Challenging puzzles do not frustrate the player because they thought that something in them was totally unfair. In fact, most challenging puzzles don't make the player emit any frustration at all, contrary to popular belief.

The Bottom Line
Just don't play this game. You'll save yourself lots of frustration and proverbial torture. Go play the arcade version of Frogger instead, or go play the vastly superior sequel to this game, "Frogger 2: Swampy's Revenge".