Frogun Encore [Review]
Frogun Encore is the lovely sequel to the game Frogun (obviously). Frogun Encore is a multiplayer platformer developed by Molegato and published by Top Hat Studios and CouchPlay Interactive. As you can tell by the name of the game, Frogun is a game that uses a unique Frog Gun that adds to the platforming. Instead of shooting bullets, the frog launches its tongue in the direction you’re aiming. Grabbing and pulling enemies to you or pulling yourself to a wall like a hook shot.
The platforming is clean and fun, though slightly difficult for someone not seasoned in the genre. Luckily, the respawn is quick and painless, aside from the dying bit. If you’re playing co-op, dying or falling off a ledge will cause your character to go into a New Super Mario Bros.-style bubble that will save you. The only issue is that the bubble is slow and frustrating when it can’t keep up with the still-alive player. The game has a pleasant way of reminding you of older games that you would find on something like the Sega Saturn. Even down to the music that isn’t all that great and perhaps annoying. You can see inspiration in the game through the coin-collecting system reminiscent of Spyro and his gems, or even the character voices that remind me of Banjo and Kazooie. Now, while the game is trying to remind you of the feeling of an old game, it isn’t trying too hard to be nostalgic because it doesn't need to be. The game has a polygonal art style not because it needs to be (like older 3D games) but because it wanted to have that style. Which makes the game look like it has its unique voxel style. It has its own identity and stands out because of it.
The game has thought and insight put into it and its level designs. The levels are filled with coins and collectibles; there isn’t a moment you have to stop and wonder where it is you need to go next. The levels are straightforward to navigate with a few secrets here and there with collectibles or a teleporter. There are also little features that add some depth. Like the ability to aim your frog gun, the feature is something you think you won’t need at the beginning of the game but learn that it is necessary for more accurate shots you wouldn’t be able to get otherwise.
Any issue I have with this game is small and petty, to be honest. I wish I could pick the hat I would like to wear instead of unlocking it for it to appear in levels later. But in the end, that doesn’t affect the gameplay and doesn’t matter. The game is great, the movement is clean, and you can enjoy all of this with another person with the game's newly added co-op feature with this newest installment in the series. Frogun Encore is a delightful platformer that I will give a 7/10. The game is currently available on Playstation 4/5, Switch, Xbox One/Series, and PC
