Go Fanboy - Everyone Has a Favorite

Frogger's been around for quite some time. In the game, your goal was basically to get ol' Froggy from point A to point B, while dodging traffic, snakes, crocodiles and lemurs and picking up bonus flies and your kind lady frog ("Hey, baby, want warts?").

The arcade game has its innocuous charms, and I've been playing it ever since I picked it up for my Nomad months ago. But then Hasbro Interactive took the Frogger license that did so well back then and TOTALLY revamped it into a new top-down action game, where you were still going from point A to point B, but the worlds became more complex and the enemies grew in numbers...big time. The end result didn't really do much for me, as the classic game wasn't even included anywhere in the package. However, it went on to sell over a million copies on Playstation...go fig.

Now Froggy's back in an all new game, this one finding a release on the Sega Dreamcast this time around. Frogger 2: Swampy's Revenge follows the same formula as the first game, placing our heroic amphibian in the middle of large, chaotic stages, just trying to get to the goal. This time around, however, Hasbro has actually put some concentration into the formula, and, well, it's got legs. No joke.

The plot's pretty simple. Again, it's the same pretty much as the first game, but features a lot more detail and diversity this time around. Apparently, Swampy the Alligator is back and Frogger must somehow find some way to put him back in the swamp (I guess- I didn't really get into the story too much) before he becomes a delicasy over at a New Orleans joint that serves frogs' legs. Or dies, anyway.

So let's check out the breakdown, shall we?

Visuals:: The original Frogger didn't have too bad a graphic engine, but Frogger 2 looks beautiful on the Dreamcast, complete with some nice, if simple, animation, some boggling light effects that actually look like some effort has been put into them, and stage design that remains swell to look at, even if you're looking to get pounded in all directions by the likes of flying objects and crawling enemies. There's different themes here, too, such as Egyptian levels and underground adventure-style levels that really spice things up- this ain't just the crowded street anymore. You'll enjoy the game's depth this time around, instead of just groaning at the simplicity of the swamp. The FMV movies, however, are awful- some more CG concetration would've been nice with these, I think. The game also features some marvelous four-player action, but we'll get to that in Extras. Overall, not a bad looking game, just don't go expecting a brilliant step up from normal Dreamcast wares and you'll do fine.

Audio:: Um, about the music...well, it could kinda be better, as it mostly contains some rather droll mixes of hip hop. However, considering that it replaces the cheesy show off tunes from the first game, it'll do for a job like this. The sound effects are pretty miniscule as well, but they fit the bill for a game such as this, with plenty of "frog effects" galore. I was hoping for a Ribbit button, though...dammit.

Gameplay/Control:: Frogger fans should feel right at home with this game. Along with the ability to move around the levels with ease, you can eat bugs with a folding tongue (yum), glide over to different platforms, and perform a double jump that comes in handy for those big gaps. It's not perfectly tuned, but what's here works pretty well. The game offers a steady challenge as you progress further into the game, and, while that may be a bad thing for kids, it'll be pure heaven for you platform pursuists looking for something new. I wish things had been tightened up a bit, and that there was a kid's mode for those who aren't exactly platform masters as of yet, but at least what's here isn't as bad-playing as the original Frogger. Credit Hasbro for showing some kind of interest this time around, instead of just a quickie port.

Extras:: Here's the meat-and-potatoes of the disc, which goes miles ahead of the original. After you beat the 30 levels within the game (which will take quite a while), there's a lot of secrets to unlock, including new levels and playable characters galore. (Don't you just love the female frog? OF COURSE, YOU DO!) You can also attempt each level in a Time Attack mode, earning the best time for each level that you can. But where Frogger 2 excels is with its multiplayer mode, where up to four players can engage in some fun little mini-games. One game in particular reminded me of the light car segment from Tron, where you try to trap other players in a grid after leaving a trail while hopping. Gotta love that.

Overall:: A nice step up from the ashes of the original Frogger, although it's still far from perfect. Frogger 2: Swampy's Revenge should please those looking for a good, challenging game, and, although its difficulty won't exactly please all ages, its multiplayer opportunities and hidden secrets will. Ribbit.

Score:: 7.0/10