Personal Computer News


Frogger
By Sierra On-Line
IBM

 
Published in Personal Computer News #025

Toad Runner

Sega has put its popular leaping game Frogger on the IBM PC. It's the same concept as the arcade version, where you move a frog vertically, horizontally, left to right past obstacles to get the slimy green creature back home.

Objectives

You've got to get several frogs across a busy highway without getting run over and across a river without falling in. But, watch out for the deadly snakes, otters and diving turtles who'll try and get you. And if that's not enough to compete with you've also got to beat the clock by getting your frog safely home in 120 beats.

There are three levels of play - normal, advance and expert. If you play a normal game you get five frogs to play with and if you play advance or expert you only get three.

In Play

Ready to jump off, the options menu came on the screen. First of all I redefined the keys for easier play and chose my skill level.

Now picture a busy street in the West End of London - I'll use the same tactics. Wait for a break in the traffic, then shoot across like a bullet. You've got to get the timing right. Several times my frogs ended up as corpses.

The next obstacles is to cross the river. You need good finger co-ordination for this bit.

By stepping over turtles, snakes and other watery creatures you can dock your frog safely home.

The turtles do have a tendency to disappear as you land on them - thus resulting in your frog falling in with a big splash.

The way frogs drown in Frogger has always puzzled me... If the turtles can handle water, why can't I?

On several occasions I scored a few bonus points by beating the timer, gobbling an insect or getting home safely. Your highest score, your present score and the number of frogs you have left is continuously displayed.

And during play by using the function keys you can alter the sound, pause the action and make the graphics a bit clearer by changing the background colour select.

Verdict

After you have learnt to master this hopping game, you should have no problems in scoring high points.

There are several options of play and this gives a bit of variety. Frogger will keep you entertained for a few hours or so - but whether you'll want to keep going back to it or not depends on whether you get hooked. I certainly didn't.

Max Phillips