Frogger 2: Swampy's Revenge

Frogger 2: Swampy's Revenge
Developer(s)Blitz Games (PS, DC, Win)
Game Titan (GBC)
Publisher(s)Hasbro Interactive
Director(s)Darren Wood (PS, DC, Win)
David Lubar (GBC)
Producer(s)Team Spirit (PS, DC, Win)
David Walls (GBC)
Designer(s)Alex Rigby (PS, DC, Win)
Joff Scarcliffe (PS, DC, Win)
David Lubar (GBC)
Composer(s)Andrew Morris (PS, DC, Win)
Scott Marshall (GBC)
SeriesFrogger
Platform(s)PlayStation, Game Boy Color, Microsoft Windows, Dreamcast
Release
  • NA: 21 September 2000[1][2]
  • EU: 13 October 2000 (PC, PS)
Dreamcast
  • NA: 12 October 2000
Genre(s)Action
Mode(s)Single-player, Multiplayer

Frogger 2: Swampy's Revenge is an action video game developed by Blitz Games and published by Hasbro Interactive for the PlayStation, Game Boy Color, Microsoft Windows, and Dreamcast. The game is part of the Frogger series, and the sequel to the 1997 remake of Frogger, featuring similar 4-way movement gameplay in a 3D world and 6 different environments. Unlike its predecessor, Frogger 2 features a choice of different characters to play with in the game, several multiplayer modes, and an in-game storyline. A Nintendo 64 port of the game was planned, but was later cancelled.[3]

Gameplay

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The PC and console versions of Frogger 2: Swampy's Revenge features significant changes to the gameplay that differentiates it from its predecessor. Although the gameplay objective of the Frogger series remains unchanged (the player has to collect five small frogs in order to win the game, all the while avoiding level-specific obstacles and enemies), the general gameplay has been retooled to a more traditional platformer. The level design structure has been changed to a more linear format, compared to the complex level maps from its predecessor which requires the player to actively explore and seek out the frogs. Due to the linear nature of the levels, all five frogs placed sparingly throughout each level, doubling as checkpoints for the player should they lose a life. The gameplay also lacks a time limit, though the player is graded at the results screen on how fast they completed the level.

The gameplay has also been significantly expanded from the predecessor. Players can now choose from a selection of frogs (with players alternating between Frogger and Lillie in story mode), albeit they all share the same moveset. Frogger's "super jump" from the first game (an ability that allowed him to jump to higher-placed platforms) was expanded to also allow Frogger to perform a "double jump" after using it, which can be used for clearing platforms with short gaps in front of them. Likewise, the ability of Frogger to croak was tweaked to allow players to use them as a beacon of sorts to find the small frogs-when Frogger croaks (represented by a circle that expands outwards from him), the small frogs will croak back through a similar beacon that the player can use to determine their location. Frogger also retains the ability to use the tongue to devour insects is also present, which like in the previous game can grant the player a higher score or an extra life depending on the insect consumed. Levels now include 25 coins scattered throughout each level that player can collect; with the reward for collecting them all in one level playthrough being a new game mode or an additional playable character. The game also features a multiplayer mode, which supports two players in the PlayStation version (four with a multitap) and can support up to four players in the Dreamcast and PC versions.

In contrast, the Game Boy Color version of Frogger 2: Swampy's Revenge plays a lot closer to the original arcade game, though this game also has changes as well. Instead of collecting frogs, the player merely has to reach the end of each level, avoiding obstacles along the way. Flags are marked as checkpoints for the player to respawn to should he lose a life, and gems can be collected as a means to add to the player's score. A time limit also exists, so the player has to quickly reach the end of the level before the time runs out. Twenty four levels are spread throughout five worlds (Frog Ponds, Gator Lairs, Ice Caves, Lava Pits, and Lost Mines in chronological order) for the player to complete, with Frogger and Lillie available as playable characters.

Plot

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Swampy, a crocodile whom Frogger jumped on in the past, gets revenge on Frogger by stealing the many baby frog siblings of his girlfriend, Lillie Frog. Frogger and Lillie pursue Swampy through various worlds rescuing the baby frogs along the way. Swampy travels to space, where he uses a satellite to broadcast a commercial for his own game, Swampy: The Game. Frogger follows in a rocket that Lillie manages to activate, and corners Swampy in a space station, where a device transports them back to Earth during Halloween. Swampy attempts to create his game in a factory under a haunted house, by using the baby frogs. Frogger and Lillie attempt to stop him, but end up trapped in a cage being lowered towards a pit full of magma. Swampy's plan goes errant after one of the baby frogs, named Tad, escapes the conveyor belt and starts playing on the controls, in the process freeing Frogger and Lillie, releasing the other baby frogs, and severely damaging the machine, quickly building up into an earthquake. After the frogs escape, the factory and mansion explode from the malfunctioning machine, and Swampy is flung off into the distance.

Development

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The game was announced on 5 May 2000, in a press release.[4]

Reception

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The PlayStation version received "generally favourable reviews", while the Dreamcast and PC versions received "average" reviews, according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[9][10][11] Jeff Lundrigan of NextGen said of the former console version, "It won't win any awards for originality, but Frogger 2 accomplishes what it sets out to do and proves enjoyable enough."[34]

The game was a runner-up for GameSpot's annual "Best Puzzle Game" award among console games, losing to Samba de Amigo.[38]

Frogger 2 sold nearly 1 million units by March 2001.[39] As of May 2006, it has sold more than 2 million units for the PlayStation.[40]

Notes

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  1. ^ Three critics of Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the PlayStation version each a score of 7/10, 4/10, and 5/10.
  2. ^ In GameFan's early viewpoint of the Dreamcast version, three critics gave it each a score of 72, 63, and 66.

References

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  1. ^ Gentry, Perry (22 September 2000). "This Week's New Releases". Gamecenter. CNET. Archived from the original on 21 October 2000. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  2. ^ Fudge, James (21 September 2000). "Frogger 2: Swampy's Revenge Released". Computer Games Strategy Plus. Strategy Plus, Inc. Archived from the original on 3 October 2003. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  3. ^ "Frogger 2 - Nintendo 64". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 6 August 2015. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  4. ^ "From Pac-Man to Action Man, Hasbro Interactive Unveils the Hottest New PC and Video Games At the Electronic Entertainment Expo". Business Wire. Berkshire Hathaway. 5 May 2000. Archived from the original on 18 June 2013. Retrieved 26 July 2021 – via The Free Dictionary.
  5. ^ "Frogger 2: Swampy's Revenge for Dreamcast". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 5 May 2019. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  6. ^ "Frogger 2: Swampy's Revenge for Game Boy Color". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 22 May 2019. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  7. ^ "Frogger 2: Swampy's Revenge for PC". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 30 May 2019. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  8. ^ "Frogger 2: Swampy's Revenge for PlayStation". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 27 May 2019. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  9. ^ a b "Frogger 2: Swampy's Revenge for Dreamcast Reviews". Metacritic. Red Ventures. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  10. ^ a b "Frogger 2: Swampy's Revenge for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Red Ventures. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  11. ^ a b "Frogger 2: Swampy's Revenge for PlayStation Reviews". Metacritic. Red Ventures. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  12. ^ Thompson, Jon. "Frogger 2: Swampy's Revenge (DC) - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on 14 November 2014. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  13. ^ Hunt, Drew. "Frogger 2: Swampy's Revenge (PC) - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on 14 November 2014. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  14. ^ Thompson, Jon. "Frogger 2: Swampy's Revenge (PS) - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on 15 November 2014. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  15. ^ Navarro, Alex (18 October 2000). "Frogger 2: Swampy's Revenge (PC)". Gamecenter. CNET. Archived from the original on 27 October 2000. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
  16. ^ Lackey, Alan (1 November 2000). "Frogger 2: Swampy's Revenge". Computer Games Strategy Plus. Strategy Plus, Inc. Archived from the original on 3 July 2003. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  17. ^ Handy, Alex (March 2001). "Frogger 2 [Swampy's Revenge]" (PDF). Computer Gaming World. No. 200. Ziff Davis. p. 113. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  18. ^ Pfister, Andrew (October 2000). "Frogger 2 [Swampy's Revenge] (GBC)" (PDF). Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 135. Ziff Davis. p. 188. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
  19. ^ Lockhart, Ryan; Funk, Joe; Mielke, James "Milkman" (December 2000). "Frogger 2: Swampy's Revenge (PS)" (PDF). Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 137. Ziff Davis. p. 213. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
  20. ^ Helgeson, Matt (December 2000). "Frogger 2: Swampy's Revenge (DC)". Game Informer. No. 92. FuncoLand. p. 124.
  21. ^ McNamara, Andy (December 2000). "Frogger 2 [Swampy's Revenge] (GBC)". Game Informer. No. 92. FuncoLand. p. 141.
  22. ^ Higgins, Geoff "The Judge" (October 2000). "Frogger 2 [Swampy's Revenge]". GameFan. Vol. 8, no. 10. Shinno Media. p. 48. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
  23. ^ Ngo, George "Eggo"; Weitzner, Jason "Fury"; Van Stone, Matt "Kodomo" (October 2000). "Frogger 2 [Swampy's Revenge] (DC)". GameFan. Vol. 8, no. 10. Shinno Media. p. 16. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
  24. ^ Davis, Ryan (11 December 2000). "Frogger 2 [Swampy's Revenge] Review (DC) [date mislabeled as "May 17, 2006"]". GameSpot. Red Ventures. Archived from the original on 25 January 2001. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  25. ^ Davis, Ryan (18 December 2000). "Frogger 2 [Swampy's Revenge] Review (GBC) [date mislabeled as "May 17, 2006"]". GameSpot. Red Ventures. Archived from the original on 11 February 2001. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  26. ^ Walker, Trey (19 October 2000). "Frogger 2: Swampy's Revenge Review (PC)". GameSpot. Red Ventures. Archived from the original on 10 December 2000. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  27. ^ Davis, Ryan (7 November 2000). "Frogger 2: Swampy's Revenge Review (PS) [date mislabeled as "May 17, 2006"]". GameSpot. Red Ventures. Archived from the original on 12 December 2000. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  28. ^ Suzi Sez (30 January 2001). "Frogger 2: Swampy's Revenge (GBC)". GameZone. Archived from the original on 27 August 2005. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
  29. ^ Da bomb mom (20 November 2000). "Frogger 2: Swampy's Revenge Review - PC". GameZone. Archived from the original on 5 October 2008. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
  30. ^ Justice, Brandon (17 October 2000). "Frogger 2: Swampy's Revenge (DC)". IGN. Snowball.com. Archived from the original on 4 February 2001. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  31. ^ Harris, Craig (26 September 2000). "Frogger 2 [Swampy's Revenge] (GBC)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 4 December 2000. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  32. ^ Kim, Steve (19 October 2000). "Frogger 2 [Swampy's Revenge] (PC)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 15 August 2002. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  33. ^ Kim, Steve (17 October 2000). "Frogger 2: Swampy's Revenge (PS)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
  34. ^ a b Lundrigan, Jeff (November 2000). "Frogger 2 [Swampy's Revenge] (PS)". NextGen. No. 71. Imagine Media. p. 131. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  35. ^ "Frogger 2: Swampy's Revenge". Nintendo Power. Vol. 137. Nintendo of America. October 2000.
  36. ^ "Frogger 2: Swampy's Revenge". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine. No. 38. Ziff Davis. November 2000.
  37. ^ "Frogger 2: Swampy's Revenge". PC Gamer. Vol. 8, no. 1. Imagine Media. January 2001. p. 153.
  38. ^ GameSpot staff (5 January 2001). "Best and Worst of 2000 (Best Puzzle Game Runners-Up)". GameSpot. CNET. Archived from the original on 6 December 2002. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  39. ^ Barzegar, Karine G. (2001-03-05). "Atari makes a comeback". New Bedford Standard-Times. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  40. ^ "Frogger: The Great Quest Preview". GameSpot. May 17, 2006. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
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