1UP has reported that the arcade shooter, Wolf of the Battlefield: Commando 3 and Frogger 2 will be making its way to Xbox Live Arcade this week.

Both titles will be available this Wednesday and are priced at 800 Microsoft Points each.

Frogger: Ancient Shadow is Konami’s latest return to the popular Frogger franchise, which was originally hailed for how well the company integrated a unique jumping mechanic into the gameplay. This latest batch of Frogger games – which includes a PlayStation 2, Xbox, and GameCube rendition (the PSP and DS versions are labeled as Frogger: Helmet Chaos) – contains a new challenge mode, some multiplayer games, and a remark of the classic 1981 arcade game; however, the offerings are plagued by their controls and a missed target audience. This is one for the trash bin.

Ancient Shadow features a simplistic, sufficient plot: the evil Dr. Wani has returned to the swamp and driven all the bugs mad, thus endangering the life of any frog who happens to be wandering by. Determined to investigate the problem (and eventually stop Dr. Wani), Frogger sets out on an adventure to explore the swamp and discover how he can help clear up the situation. While the storyline premise is far from engaging, as the game is targeted for kids (who loathe long cutscenes and complicated themes), it’s enough.

Gameplay in Ancient Shadow is equally as basic. Players control Frogger as he jumps from platform to platform, dodges patrolling bugs, and solves small puzzles. The control scheme is appropriately simplistic and Frogger super-jumps (double-jumps), performs a regular jump, and shoots out his tongue for a convenient tongue-grab. The tongue-grab maneuver is vitally important as it enables gamers to move special platforms, swing from ledges, or cross long gaps. If you’re bothered by the setup you can adjust the scheme through the options menu, but for reasons I’ll quickly get into, the point is moot. Maneuvering throughout the field is performed via the D-pad (there’s no analog option), and for precise turning the shoulder buttons (L/R) are used. Standard gameplay has players zoom through a level by performing incredibly fast small hops that go from panel to panel or by jumping across gaps; you encounter timed platforms (bridge panels, logs) and tongue-grapple points as well, but the most difficult thing you need to consider is whether to use a small or big jump to get from A to B.

There are roughly 30 levels with a few levels per stage, and all levels are full of cute bugs scattered about on set paths for that added element of “danger”. Frogger has four health blocks, and once they’re depleted you start back at the last checkpoint or the beginning of the level (depending upon how you “die”). As mentioned before, the game utilizes timed platforms that sink below the watery depths after bearing Frogger’s weight a moment. The usual way to handle them is by jumping aboard, turning with a shoulder button, and then jumping off again.

Anyone bored of the single-player, story mode can enter multiplayer with up to three other players (or computer-controlled bots); there are eight minigames ranging from jump rope to bug dodging, and they’re more enjoyable than anything the story mode has to offer. There’s also a challenge mode that functions on a time-attack basis: you complete a level as quickly as possible. Lastly, Konami included the 1981 arcade classic of Frogger for more diehard fans, which is worth a look.

The game’s presentation is playful and well-suited for kids. Ancient Shadow’s storyline is told through cute cutscenes while its gameplay unfolds on colorful – if not dull – landscapes. Water flows naturally and harbors fish, plants, and lily pads while the majority of panels are either bland dirt patches or fresh green grass. The quirky background music is befitting and embellished by that Louisiana, banjo flare, and the voiceovers – obviously targeted toward kids – are decent. 

Considering how Frogger is such a simple game, it’s amazing how easily Konami screwed it up.

While the control scheme is extremely basic, it’s not intuitive, and you’ll repeatedly die because you accidentally turn in the wrong direction for a maneuver and/or accidentally hit the wrong jump button. No where is this better illustrated than in those instances when you have to jump to a platform, turn around, and then jump to another platform before the one you’re on sinks, because the two-second window isn’t enough for the time it takes to hit the buttons; this is primarily because you have to tap the shoulder buttons several times to reposition Frogger, and even if you manage to do that you’ll instinctively hit the wrong jump button and still take a dip. This problem is enhanced by the camera, which is a tilted, top-down perspective that can’t be adjusted and makes it difficult to determine proper depth, resulting in more pool-side visits.

What’s more frustrating than the fact that Frogger, who is a frog and who was not only born in the water but exists in a body that is built to handle it, can’t swim is that the game’s difficulty is solely based on the control scheme and not the actual gameplay. Though you can adjust the controls – that is, re-label the double-jump, jump, and tongue-grab buttons – the option doesn’t help, as not only will you still hit the wrong button but you’ll still have to contend with their unresponsiveness; you’ll take a dive whenever you forget how many times you’ve tapped a directional button, as Frogger is always one panel behind.

These control problems are further compounded by the fact that you can easily glide through 95% of the level before running into a particularly difficult platform/jump that spills you into the water, sending you back to the last checkpoint or (more frequently) to the start of the level. In other words, while you’re not backtracking per se, you’re often forced to re-complete the majority of a level several times. This isn’t fun – it’s tedious, and I don’t like it.

The patrolling, maddened bugs make for laughable enemies, as their attacks consist of walking – that’s right, walking – on visibly marked paths. The enemies don’t even react to Frogger’s presence; they just keep on walking. To avoid them, simply avoid them: hop around. I’m extremely curious as to how walking bugs can in any way be considered a departure from the norm – don’t bugs usually walk?

By far the biggest problem in Ancient Shadow is that its target audience – the kiddies – won’t be able to play it due to the control scheme, but that’s assuming they’d even want to experience the game’s bland, boring world. Moreover, its childlike presentation and horrendous dialogue deters the adult crowd, despite the inclusion of the arcade remake. The eight minigames, which play better than the game itself, in no way warrant the game’s price; Konami would have been better off just re-releasing the 1981 classic with more 3D minigames under a $9.99 tag.

Frogger: Ancient Shadow is an uninspiring platformer with unintuitive controls, bland gameplay, repetitive environments, and a missed target audience – kids aren’t going to have neither the skill nor the patience to play this game, if they even have the desire to. Ancient Shadow also lacks any kind of interesting plot whatsoever or a legitimate gameplay challenge, as dying because of the control scheme/camera doesn’t count. The multiplayer games are somewhat more fun but insufficient, and although the arcade remake may interest some diehard Frogger fans, this game is nothing more than a colossal waste of time. Hop on by.

Repetitive, uninteresting, and boring. Faulty controls, troublesome camera. Why bother?

Frogger looks decent in 3D. Colorful but repetitive environs. Nice menu background.

Voiceacting is adequate. Decent background music.

If you like hopping through grass and falling into the water to re-do levels.

Some minigames and the addition of classic Frogger, but this interests for about 15 minutes.

]]> Fri, 04 Nov 2005 14:38:00 -0600 The Gaming Horizon Archive http://www.gamebump.com/go/gh_review_frogger_helmet_chaos_psp http://www.gamebump.com/go/gh_review_frogger_helmet_chaos_psp http://www.gamebump.com/go/gh_review_frogger_helmet_chaos_psp# This review was originally published on Gaming Horizon, GameBump's predecessor. Its format does not match our own but we support its content. It was written by Brian Mohr.

Starting off in the early 1980’s, Frogger was a hit that put you in the role of a frog trying to cross a busy street. Now our hopping friend has evolved into the 3D realm with his latest incarnation coming on the PlayStation Portable in Frogger: Helmet Chaos.

The game puts you in the role of Frogger as he battles a crocodile named Dr. Wani who has found a way to control animals with helmets. The story isn’t the most interesting part of the game, but it gives you an idea of where you’re headed. Overall, the game doesn’t quite do Frogger justice and makes me wish for more of the good old days.

First off, the actual comic sequences are pretty attractive and colorful. Even if the story isn’t very interesting, the comic book style cutscenes look very good on the PSP and stand out on the glossy screen. The actual voicework that coincides with the comic is also very well done as there is a steady variation between voices and steady tones. Konami didn’t find just anyone to fill the voicework; instead they wanted to make it good. The actual in-game music and menu music is also nice and similar to what you’d get in a Mario or Sonic title. It’s upbeat and helps keep the action going while sticking to the environments on-screen.

As for in-game graphics the game still uses an overhead view, but this time in 3D, which keeps you directly in the Frogger experience. Frogger himself is well designed and cute. He moves appropriately, hops in various ways, and uses his tongue. All of these actions look good on the screen. The enemies are also well developed, but more than that the environments are beautiful. Everything is colorful with flowers and trees shaded in deep blues and greens, which all show well on-screen. All the graphics are very crisp and they really do the PSP justice with a solid framerate to boot.

The actual controls are pretty intuitive after a bit of play time. By pushing the D-pad, Frogger hops in the direction you want one space at a time. To jump a space, you simply push the X button. To jump in mid-air you push triangle. To stick out your tongue push square and to adjust your direction press the trigger buttons. The controls can get a little confusing early on as you can confuse multiple buttons to jump, but it is simple and to the point. You can also combine the tongue and mid-air jump to swing across trees.

One other note is that the game features a lot to do with approximately 30 levels to play through and a variety of four-player minigames. Players are able to uncover side quests in most levels and unlock extra content and mini-games by collecting coins. If that’s not enough, the game does feature game-sharing and multiplayer support as well. This is especially nice as you only need one copy of the game to play the minigames with friends. Of course one of the minigames is the Classic Frogger which plays just as well as it used to, although you’ll have to turn the handheld sideways.

There are a few problems with Helmet Chaos, most notably is that the game gets tedious after just a little while of playing. The goal of the approximate 30 levels is to get to the end of each map. The problem with this is that you can land on save points in the middle of levels, but if you die by hitting an enemy or falling in the water (can’t Frogger swim yet?) a few times you have to start at the beginning of the level again. When starting over you’ll find yourself rushing through the parts you did to get back to where you screwed up; I found myself become irritable and thus careless going through these parts and this resulted in me pressing one of the buttons by mistake and falling into the water, causing me to have to do it all over agai. If that’s not bad enough, I also found myself still occasionally pressing the wrong button by mistake and falling into the water and dying. These parts become very frustrating as you’re just looking to finish the level.

The actual boards are kind of dull. The first few are fun as you face various blocks that you must push/jump on and trees to swing across amongst other things. After a bit of time though, it becomes the same old thing and the result of this is a pretty dull experience later on. Enemies will also be in the way although they make things much easier by staying on a set path which is kind of silly.

The minigames in Frogger have a few issues of their own. Most notable of these is that they don’t tell you the rules of each game you’re about to play. Instead you’re just trying to figure it out as you go along. To figure out how to play each game I had to go to the booklet and read about each of them. I found that to be a real problem as many people may not keep the booklet with them on the road especially with a portable game. Why couldn’t they include the rules when selecting a game on screen?

The other problem with the minigames is that they are also dull. Classic Frogger is a great addition that I still love, but the other games just didn’t keep my interest for more than one round. The areas to play in were small and the in-game action was tedious.

Frogger: Helmet Chaos certainly seems to be directed towards a younger gaming audience with its colorful environments, cute characters and simple controls. The game is pretty childish with a straightforward story mode and a nice selection of multiplayer games. The problem is that I found neither part very engaging. The gameplay gets tedious and boring after a short while of play. Beyond that, the game just doesn’t do anything new for the platform genre and thus I’d say Frogger is no more than an average title.

The controls are temperamental, but simple once you have them down. Dull gameplay.

The visuals stand out on the PSP screen with deep, rich coloring. Solid framerate.

The in-game music is upbeat and fits the mood of the various environments. Solid voicework.

The first few levels are fun but after that the gameplay becomes routine.

The single-player and unlockables will keep you busy, but the minigames aren’t worth playing.

]]> Wed, 19 Oct 2005 21:38:00 -0500