A level-based 3D platformer with a lot to collect and as much junk as you want.
Frogun belongs to the class of 3D platformers and explores a single bite-sized level filled with jumps, moving platforms, enemies, coins and more. And then move on and do it all over again. With dozens of levels to play, some of which have boss fights and races, and come with complete completion such as finishing in a certain amount of time or completing without dying, Frogun is the first It offers much more than you think.
The story revolves around a budding young explorer named Renata who follows her parents who have not returned from an expedition. Along the way, she encounters a man named Jake who claims Renata wants some great treasure, a buddy who sells all sorts of cosmetic hats for coins, and a giant spider-like boss. One of every stage’s collectibles is a series of notes that also shed light on Renata’s parents’ investigation, but Frogan’s real draw is the titular tools, everything you shoot throughout the game.
Levels are usually grouped thematically, such as winter, lava, and caves. These worlds consist of about half a dozen stages, including world-ending races and boss battles. If you have collected enough in-game collections, such as the green “Eymerald”, or if you have completed enough stages within the recommended time limit, use these achievements to add 1 health point to his meter. can be raised. Considering the difficulty curve is pretty solid, it’s definitely worth buffing your hit points.
A given stage has a number of objects to collect, each associated with a specific completion metric for that stage. Picking up all the coins, notes, and Emeralds requires a fair amount of skill, especially when dying resets you to the first or most recent checkpoint of the stage. If you aim to fully complete a level 100%, you will almost certainly need multiple attempts. You have to find the fastest route, make it to the end without dying, and discover hidden coins and secret areas. I enjoyed Frogun the most when I was trying to complete all levels as quickly as possible. Many stages can be completed within minutes. It’s not a huge stage, but it does take a lot of skill and patience to hook all the last coins. Aside from linear paths through each world, how you play the game is largely up to you.
Froggans can actually talk during cutscenes, provide hints during gameplay, and act like grappling hooks. When Renata needs to cross an impassable gap, Froggan’s long red tongue can be released with the press of a button. If you hit a wall or trampoline, you will be pulled in that direction immediately. You can also use the Froggan to pick up bottles or smaller enemies and fire at larger enemies or specific obstacles. You can shoot accurately.
Controls are solid most of the time, but there’s still some jank and stickiness that can lead to unfortunate deaths. exacerbated on some levels by Luckily, the camera controls are fairly reliable, and moving and jumping minute by minute is a pleasure. The visual simplicity makes it easy to see everything Renata can pick up and where she can explore while doing a masterful job of recalling the past.
The Switch doesn’t have a plethora of 3D platform games, let alone games that consist of multiple small levels as opposed to large, open spaces like Super Mario 64 or Banjo-Kazooie. In the end, Renata and her frog-shaped gun became a goofy but capable pair, and I loved how much their adventures kept pushing me to complete one more stage. You can unlock a two-player duel mode, but there’s good reason to go back solo to every level to perfect your performance. I agree that what the world needs right now is love, but even a small frog wouldn’t hurt.
