The Xbox Live Arcade version of Konami's coin-op classic Frogger should be instantly recognizable, even though it's received a major graphical overhaul complete with colorful hi-res elements and background art. The basic idea is that you have to get a tiny green frog across a crowded freeway by dodging traffic, over a rushing river by leaping from turtle to log and finally into one of five little froggy-homes at the top of the screen. Along the way, speedsters attempt to crush you into amphibian paste, snakes slither on the logs hoping to get some tasty frogs' legs and crocodiles impersonate the safety of the passing logs in order to fool you into hopping gingerly into their gaping maws.
Like most of the Xbox Live Arcade retro reissues, Frogger enjoys added multiplayer functionality over Xbox Live. You can either compete or cooperate with a friend to get your toad-cousins across the freeway/river gambit. It's no Uno, but it's a fine way to chat with your friends all over the world while playing a game that doesn't challenge your intellect too much.
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Unfortunately, also like most of the Xbox Live Arcade revamps, Frogger has the same mushy control issues that will have you ripping fistfuls of hair from your scalp after head-planting your frog into the corner of his little cubby-home. Still, this is more a criticism of the lousy d-pad that comes standard on the 360 controller than it is of the actual game, so hopefully Microsoft will hear our cries of frustration and release an arcade stick that complements these great games.
