Coolest computer game of '89: Frog. (not Frogger)

[Samson The Cat]

I wanna talk about some really old computer game from 1989 for some reason.

Don't be fooled by the hilarious graphics. The game play is really thought through. It's not just a reaction game, you'll also need strategy. Different difficulty levels allow you to adjust the game to your needs.

You can download it here. If you don't have an old computer (386!), or don't trust exe files like this one, use an emulator like DOS emulator like DosBox (works best with 4000 cycles). Note: The saving, respectively the loading of saves games doesn't work with DosBox!


The resolution of 640x350 is meant for full screen mode on a 4x3 screen. Some screenshots use the German text. Don't worry, you can play in English.

So what is it about? You are a frog that jumps throughout levels. In each one, the goal is to eat all the food. That is mostly flies, in some levels it's locusts, bees, maggots. The levels have unique enemies and get gradually harder. You control the frog almost all keys from the keyboard. Keys in the upper rows let the frog jump higher than those in the bottom row. Keys to the left let it jump to the left, keys on the right... well you got it.


An early level. Just don't jump into the net. Try to collect some bugs before leaving finishing the level by eating the remaining flies. The spider is harmless, you can eat it too.

Dragonflies will appear at random. The bright ones give you points and instantly transfer you to the next level. The dark ones cost you point and through you back a level. Both can be annoying at times.


Watch out, or careless people might step on you. (I left out the death scenes, but they are hilarious. Try out the game)


Locusts - the frog cannot always eat flies only.


What really makes the game cool beside the humor are the ladybugs that cross your way. If you catch one, you get a "gimmick". A list of gimmicks is shown when pressing F3. Using gimmicks is essential in later levels. Each has a function. In this situation I could have used a "nail" to kill the roller that's trying to kill me... well I have go without one. There's an in-game help text with information about all the different gimmicks.


The vampire frog must avoid the light while eating bats.


There's usually more going on in the game. These screenshots make it seem emptier than it is. I wanted to catch the frog eating an insect here. The other bees are still in the hive and have to be disturbed to leave it.


In the later levels, enemies from previous levels work together.
In number 29 beside bar, roller and spider net, there will be stork, bird and scorpions. You can only survive that with the use of some gimmicks.


Avoid the pike. Go for the dragonfly. On the far right, you see a caterpillar. Eating caterpillars attracts other frogs...


...that's how you gain more lives. Here quicker is better, or else the stork will get you in this level. The female frog comes by, when you catch 4 caterpillars - the last one has to be a bright one (bright = good). The frog will also come by, when you use the "pheromone" gimmick, in case you have one. If you happen to eat a dark caterpillar as the fourth, a frog of the same sex will be there. That's bad news, unless you have a "hormone" gimmick that will cause a sex change.

Please check this out. I translated it for you! (I lost the original English language file long time ago.)

High point count strategy for master players (takes some skill, as only suitable in higher difficulty modes):
In one of the bees levels (preferably the one with the pike), use a "team" gimmick and starve the second frog by letting it jump, but not eat anything. Shortly before it would die (at about -21 points), jump it into the water. The life-saving butterfly (gives you lotta points) will come by, but you eat it with your main frog. Then the next comes by, but you also eat that one with the main frog. Repeat this for as long as you want. When the bees are still in the hive you can do this until a dragonfly spoils your work. The frog in the water won't grow restless (as on land) and therefore cannot starve after making a move. Do not move the second frog, once in the water though.

[Val]

Hey man ...
these games are really good. I play them until today!
I have in my CPU like 1500 Atari games. Of course you remember Atari from Polivox huh?
This your game remembers me the old Odyssey from Philips. This one:



Thanks Samson for the good memory!

[mced]

Those were the days, when there was a resources limit than could only be filled with imagination.

[Val]

^
Ditto!