GENRE
	Puzzle
	DEVELOPER
	Konami
	PUBLISHER
	Konami
	NUMBER OF PLAYERS
	1
	CONNECTIVITY
	no
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Hopping back a generation, when Frogger was re-created on the PlayStation, retro gaming was only a mere fad -- a few Intellivision Collections were produced, but nothing too extravagant. However, when Hasbro released Frogger people went nuts! You couldn’t turn your head without seeing a classic re-created into 3D environments, so you could imagine how stale the entire retro genre became.

Arcade classics are still being recreated today, and for the most part, they are turning out well, but when Konami got their hands on the Frogger license, things really got ugly. An entirely new next-generation console was opened up to them with the PS2, and they create the extremely dismal 3D adventure title Frogger: The Great Quest. The game was a critical flop: Not many saw hope for the Frogger series, which was extremely disappointing after the shocking performance of Frogger 2 on the PSOne.

However, with the release of Frogger Beyond on the GameCube, Konami sheds new light on their shiny new franchise. The title comes as a pleasant surprise for retro and puzzle gamers alike. With excellent, bright graphics and music that taps your toes, Frogger Beyond was probably the best budget title of 2002.

visuals

The latest installment of Frogger is extremely rich with color. The variety of environments in the title look very detailed, and the colors look as if they were drawn with oil pastels on a canvas rather than a computer. The level design within the environments is great. While some bits may get stale after a while, you’ll always be faced with new challenges at every turn. The animations are smooth and blend in with the colorful environments extremely well. It’s very surprising how everything was put together nicely.

The character design is something that seems a little on the strange side of things. There’s the main frog, dressed in overalls, a wise head-honcho frog that has extremely long facial hair, and then there’s a frog in charge of one of the 7 realms that has… err… breasts. The characters fit well into the cel-shaded look of the CG cinemas that piece together the cute story. These movies look very well put together and have better detail than a CG cartoon like Cubix and match the animated wizardry that is Reboot.

audio

My first instinct was to laugh because the main title music is reminiscent of a Kid Rock Detroit-style funk rock. I didn’t know whether to like it or to quirk a brow and continue playing as if it didn’t exist. Thankfully, the rest of the soundtrack doesn’t follow the same trend. Some of the music features more of a bluegrass-like tune that keeps your toes tapping while thinking about your next move.

The voice acting leaves something to be desired, but it gets the job done. While the acting is average, the sound effects more than make up for it. Throughout the game, I hardly noticed any major bugs in the sound system and the effects are crystal clear. Nothing grates on the nerves, and I certainly don’t believe anything should have been changed. All around, they’ve done a great job on the audio.

gameplay

On Frogger’s birthday, he must journey to the Chamber of the Elder Council and meet with the Elders in order to undergo the mysterious “Rites of Passage.” To complete this mission, he must traverse eight different realms and make it back in one piece.

Anyone who played Frogger knows what to expect. Hop around without falling, being squished, eaten, or otherwise killed. Sounds too easy, right? Of course it does! I assure you that state of mind will change when you encounter hundreds of obstacles and a boss monster at the end of each realm.

As a puzzle game, the title reflects the thinking aspect of gaming better than any other puzzle game I’ve played on the GameCube to date. The title is great for a young kid to develop critical thinking skills and may not prove to be too much of a challenge for an eight or nine-year-old. The classic Frogger gameplay is kept in tact and works better than ever in these new 3D environments. Controlling Frogger is a breeze using the D-pad, which is extremely useful for intense situations. The controls are solid and work very well with blending into the classic gameplay on the next generation console.

multiplayer

N/A

overall

Frogger Beyond has far surpassed the expectations that I initially had for this game. Konami did an excellent job with recreating Frogger and creating a challenging puzzle game for the GameCube. The overall quality of the game surprised me and showed me that I shouldn’t take things for granted! For a cool 30 bucks, I highly recommend this title to someone looking for a quick challenge or anyone looking for a nice retro experience. Check it out!

8.0/10