Frog Hop Review (TehCupcakes)
Frog Hop is simply a great platformer. It is accessible for newcomers and hardcore mode provides a challenge for even the most veteran of gamers.
The low-res art might throw some people off, but it is just an artistic decision, and the retro style goes well with this game. Nothing about this game is "low-effort". Level design is great, with a number of hidden rooms and secret paths for the completionist to uncover. Music is catchy and fits the theme perfectly. Story is not needlessly complex and is conveyed beautifully without need for dialogue. Design-wise, Frog Hop is polished all the way around.
Control in Frog Hop just feels right. It is simple without being dull. At first, the slow ground movement may feel much slower-paced than what most platformers offer. However, you soon will find nodes that you can attach to and swing off of which dramatically changes how you traverse maps. (As well as bouncing off enemies, which can be chained together in various places.)
Charms add some nice variety to play-style, while being completely optional which I think is a nice touch. There are a few that feel dramatically more useful than others, but they are mostly just there for fun and none of them make you game-breakingly overpowered. Which charm you want to use is going to depend on the type of play you enjoy and to some degree the particular level, if you are having trouble with a specific area. I think this is a fantastic addition because it allows the player to take a game aspect they dislike and make it more bearable - every game needs options like this.
Honestly, there's not much to dislike. Additional content is always welcome, but in playing through the game I felt like the length was perfect for what it is. It kept me interested all the way through, and by the time I finished the final boss I felt satisfied with the variety that I experienced throughout the game. I was also willing to go back through and collect all the gems without feeling like it was a grind.
There is plenty to appreciate about Frog Hop, so if you give it a try, I'm pretty sure you won't regret it. $5 is a totally fair price for a solid platformer that makes an identity for itself.