2008 Competition Results: (4:A Game For Helen)

5th Place – Twenty-First Century Frog – Total: 255

Ian:

What starts off as a simple game of fly catching soon ends up as survival of the hoppiest. Perhaps life as a frog isn’t quite as easy as it looks.

This remake of an old DOS game isn’t Frogger. There’s no getting from the bottom of the screen to the top here. No cars, no logs, no turtles or even lily pads. Flies do however still feature and they’re on the menu. The aim here is to stuff your froggy’s face with flies and other bugs while avoiding the hazards that haunt your pond.

Using the mouse, you select where you want your frog to hop to – if there’s a fly or a bug in or on the way and your long sticky tongue manages to adhere to their segmented body for long enough, then it’s tough luck for them and lunchtime for you!

What starts out as a pretty simple game soon becomes a battle for survival as the dangers that lurk around the pond become greater.

The first couple of levels definitely lure you into a false sense of security, making the game appear dull and pointless, and well, more than a bit kiddy. The graphics and sound don’t really dispel this image either, although are very suitable. But play on and you’ll find a nice little game that will keep you entertained, for a short while.

It’s not going to impress many modern gamers or anybody that likes game with a bit more to them, but for short and simple, retro fun just hop on in, and start chasing flies.

BTW Someone I used to know had a frog-green car – but it got toad away!

64%

Geekay:

Don’t happy games suck?  Life is perfect, the sun is out and the day is warm.  There is a jovial tune echoing in the wind and right before your eyes is all you can eat.

This is the life of Mr Frog and this is how mundane but naturally pleasurable his day is.  I prefer my frogs to be squished by lorries or drowning after falling of logs I’m afraid.

This is one for the CBeebies which reminds me of some educational game on the BBC Master you played at primary school, only this time you don’t count the number of flies you scoff.

It’s a basic affair with little reward for anyone over the age of 7 or 8 and two thirds. Yes, it has a few nice features to aid in the accessibility department but ultimately even the younger ones will grow bored.  When is  mating season coming?

38%

Spray:

Games in the ‘Helen’ category have ranged from complex physics puzzlers to much simpler side show style bashers. 21st Century Frog leans heavily towards the more simple end of the scale.

The game itself is a simple concept. Move your frog around the pond to catch flies for your supper. Progressively avoid the obstacles in your path and finish the game well fed.

Nice cartoony graphics and a soothing tune also make this a simpler feeling game.

That’s not to say it lacks in the fun department. Made with the head-tracker in mind the control fits the game nicely and, more importantly, loses nothing over a game played with a standard mouse, in fact, I enjoyed playing with dwell clicking more than standard mouse button.

You see, I can get through the review without any digs at the French!

73%

Oogy:

Leaping Lizards! Oh, excuse me, that would be frogs in this case. A person might easily mistake one for another. Best leave the naming of animals to the biology experts, eh? Or God for that matter.

The game centres a hungry frog, who’s in the mood for some fat flies. As many as he can get in fact, and by directing him on where to jump, he can extend his tongue and actualy eat them. Sounds simple enough. The first level is just a warm up though, later levels introduce all kinds of bad elements which must be avoided at all costs.

It’s not a bad game, but it is somewhat simplistic. Avoiding the bad guys doesn’t usualy take too much effort, but sometimes it’s a bit hard to gauge the leap the frog will make. The music adds a nice nature-y atmosphere to the game (I don’t know how else to explain it, but it fits within the game perfectly), and the sound effects are nice enough. My only complaint I guess would be that the game is a bit boring and a bit too simple.

80%

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