Ribbit King

"It's not easy being green..."

I've been searching around for lesser-known games these past few months. I was looking for something fun and refreshing besides all the big releases this summer. A few weeks ago, I came across a copy of Ribbit King. When I started playing, I wasn't quite sure what to make of this strange little title. Ribbit King seems so simple and similar when compared to other games, but its strange concept and quirkiness make this game so undeniably appealing.

Now, I've seen plenty of both good and bad plotlines in my time. But I can only shake my head in wonder at the strange creation that the Bandai team has produced. Your name is Scooter, and you're a construction worker living on the planet Hippitron. Scooter is summoned by the leader of this world and asked to save it. Apparently, the key to Hippitron's survival lies with the valuable Super Ribbinite. We don't know what this mysterious element is, nor are we told as to how it could possibly so important. But hey, you're saving the world, so there's really no need for explanation, right? In order to obtain the Super Ribbinite, Scooter must play through a series of sports tournaments. If he becomes the champ, he gets the only item to ensure the salvation of his planet. But Scooter isn't just playing any mundane sport like baseball or soccer. No, he will play everyone's other favorite pastime: Frolf. This sport is essentially golf, except with frogs. That's right, Scooter gets to use his construction worker skills to hit live amphibians over long distances. Let's see Tiger Woods do that!

So we aren't working with the sanest plot ever conceived. But with the sheer amount of wackiness, you'll likely forget about the virtually useless storyline. The characters seem like hybrids of Animal Crossing inhabitants and South Park characters, slightly blended with anime facial expressions. Scooter is a shy but talented young man, earnestly seeking to save the world. His best friend is a picnic basket. I don't know what kind of mind came up with having a talking picnic basket as a sidekick, but my prayers go out to them. But a talking picnic basket is just the beginning. You'll meet a wide variety of kooky characters during your intergalactic travels. The Frolf Announcer has an open-mouth grin permanently etched onto his alien face. There's only so much of that grin we can take before we fall laughing out of our chairs. But a picnic basket and a slightly creepy announcer are just the tip of the iceberg. You're going to meet all sorts of Frolf players from around the galaxy. This game is stuffed with offbeat humor that can be either appreciated or hated. While the quirkiness of this game is one of its most endearing aspects, it ultimately depends on the gamer's perspective to appreciate it.

All kookiness aside, Ribbit King is essentially a golf game. Sure, you get to smack frogs around the fairway, but the basic gameplay mechanics remain unchanged. Your goal is to get the frog into the large hole across the landscape. The real importance lies with the placement of your frog shot. Playing in a Frolf tournament isn't quite so grand as the Pebble Beach Invitational. The Frolf fields are fraught with all sorts of hazards and other interactive elements. Luckily, your frog is tough enough to weather all sorts of life-threatening situations. It can get crushed or eaten by wild animal, do face plants against tree trunks, and swim in boiling lava. The frog may become fatigue and require attention, but it will always be ready and willing to play a match for you.

But don't purposely aim the frog into danger. Although it may seem entertaining to watch your frog go flying into the unknown, it's still important that you keep your priorities in check. You're given points based on various pickups and avoiding hazards. If your frog happens to land near a fly, it'll hop and catch it midair, thus allowing it a bit more travel distance. If it lands in water, it'll swim downstream until it comes to a shoreline. If the frog lands in or near a hazard, you'll lose points. It's little aspects like these that allow you to rack up the points necessary for your victory. Your goal is to get the frog into the hole at the end of the course, but it's the placement of your shots that creates the difficulty and need for strategy. It takes a somewhat keen eye to see possible shots that could lead to maximum point bonuses and your overall success.

Ribbit King's interesting characters and strategical gameplay are supplemented with decent graphics and sounds. Since this game has no real time limit, you can spend plenty of time enjoy your surroundings and character designs. The graphics are by no means top par for Gamecube standards. The character designs seem just a tad blocky. The facial expressions are over exaggerated and have almost no realism. Instead, the characters and levels are designed with a more cartoonish theme. Anyone who's ever played Animal Crossing will recognize the design immediately. This certain lack of realism can either be appealing or dissatisfying, depending on your own preferences. However, the simple graphics end with the characters. Aside from the characters and a few of the Frolf courses, everything is rendered with excellent surface texturing and lighting effects. Water flows freely and smoothly throughout the courses. You can see your reflection on the shiny floor of the F.U.V., the Frolf Utility Vehicle. This balance between fantasy and reality makes for some interesting viewing pleasure. Also, each character has a distinct voice that adds more flavor to their already kooky appeal. The music is calm and laid back, allowing you to concentrate on the Frolf tournament at hand. These may not be the best audio or visual presentations we've seen on the Gamecube, but they are certainly better than average.

So where does this leave this golf game gone wacky? Ribbit King has enough wackiness and interesting aspects to make it a truly fun gaming experience. With a wide variety memorable characters and levels, there will be plenty of things to discover. The underlying need for strategy becomes more pronounced as the game gets progressively harder. For all you golf fans out there looking for an alternative to Mario Golf, take a look at this game. If you prefer something more fast-paced or engaging, you might want to look elsewhere. I'd recommend giving it a rental at the very least. With its strange, yet endearing approach to an under appreciated sport, Ribbit King has the potential for a huge cult following. Sadly, it also has a much higher chance of falling under the radar of most mainstream gamers. But if you're looking for something that's just a little off center and has great potential for an entertaining time, Ribbit King might be just what you need.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 06/27/04