Game Review: SokoFrog

By Al

Players: 1
Platforms: Nintendo Switch, XBox, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5

SokoFrog is a Sokoban-like game that's out now on all major consoles. As the name implies, it plays in the style of the classic video game, Sokoban. For those that aren't familiar with it, Sokoban is a puzzle game that relies on a block-pushing mechanic to make up its gameplay. There actually seems to be a bit of resurgence in Sokoban-likes, and SokoFrog is releasing with a surprising amount of competition. What does SokoFrog offer that makes it unique? Well, we're going to be taking a look at the Nintendo Switch version today and hopefully find out! Let's get into it!

If you went into SokoFrog thinking that you'd be getting a story that explains why there is a frog moving around boxes, then you're going to be disappointed. SokoFrog drops you straight into the action, and doesn't even give your frog avatar a name. There actually isn't a whole lot to SokoFrog beyond the gameplay itself. The adjustable options are limited, the title screen barely exists, and doing things like finding the level and frog select menus can be surprisingly difficult considering how simple that aforementioned title screen is. While this means that there isn't anything too complicated to explain here, it also means that the game doesn't offer much in the way of presentation. I don't normally like to pick on indie releases, but having a nice title screen, and decently featured options, should be the standard for any commercially released game. It definitely would've done wonders here.

Even though SokoFrog borrows heavily from the Sokoban formula, it does things quite a bit differently when compared to its namesake. Unlike the original Sokoban, where you had to place several boxes onto pre-designated spaces, SokoFrog only requires you to place a single key block onto a key space to open the door that leads to the next level. There are other boxes for you to deal with in each stage, but these only exist as movable obstacles, and can usually be destroyed so that they're no longer an issue. While this single-block mechanic makes things far simpler than the standard Sokoban gameplay formula, it isn't without new challenges of its own. One block or not, the path to the key space is never easy. You'll often have to plan out your route in advance before taking your first move, and you'll find that the reset button becomes your best friend. There are even some levels where you can successfully unlock the door, only to then realize that there is no clear path to it. SokoFrog is by no means a hard game, but it offers enough challenge to always keep you on your toes.

There's more to completing the game than just pushing the key block to the key space, as many of the game's levels have challenges that go beyond what I've mentioned so far. Essentially the game is broken up into 20 level chunks, each having their own look and feel. They also have their own unique hazards as well. Across the game you'll be dealing with spikes that kill your frog and destroy boxes, open pits that can crossed safely by pushing pillars into them, ice platforms that can only be crossed once, lily pads that sink and reappear over time, bombs that destroy blocks, and so on. All these obstacles have to be taken into account when moving the key block, but each set of levels usually gives you stage or two where you're able to play around with the new mechanics. There are also other gameplay elements at work like the parasols that block the view of spaces they're above, the darkness that extends beyond your field of vision in the caves, and even the ice stages which require you to push the key block from one side to the other via the slippery ground. You'll also have the opportunity to unlock new playable frogs every ten levels or so. Though the game is rather simple, it does offer enough variety that its simplicity never comes off feeling like a bad thing.

Visually SokoFrog looks like something you'd find on an 8-bit console, though it still manages to exude a charm that's hard to describe outside of playing it yourself. All the levels look unique, the stage hazards and obstacles are well-designed, and there's even a lot of variety among the playable frogs. Obviously I found myself wishing that there was more to the overall presentation, or that the gameplay area took up more screen real estate, but I found it hard to find fault with the graphics themselves. Unfortunately, things aren't so positive when it comes to music. I actually wasn't completely sure the game even had music as I barely ever heard it during the first half of my playthrough. It took me turning up the in-game sound all the way up in the options menu, and blasting my TV as loud as possible, for me to finally hear what the game actually sounded like. While the music isn't anything special, it's not necessarily bad either. My big issue with the sound has to be its mix, but it also doesn't offer much in the way of sound effects. A great soundtrack can easily save an otherwise mediocre game. Though SokoFrog is anything but mediocre, I did find myself thinking that a decent retro-inspired soundtrack would've made the already enjoyable experience more memorable.

There's no other way to say it: SokoFrog is a very short game. I beat the first hundred levels in about an hour, and finished the game in its entirety in about two. There's 100 main levels, 50 bonus levels, and 18 frogs to unlock. There isn't any reason to go back to the game once you've beaten it, but the game up to that point is actually very fun. It's biggest saving grace has to be its price, as $4.99 feels like the perfect price for the amount of content one gets here. If you're a fan of Sokoban-style games, then you owe it to yourself to pick this one up. It's cute, fun, and changes up the gameplay enough to make the experience worthwhile. It's not the best Sokoban clone I've played, but I didn't regret a single minute I spent on it. Everyone else? Well, it's cheap enough that it won't break the bank if you're just curious, so I say give it a go!

Check Out SokoFrog on Nintendo Switch:
https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/sokofrog-switch/

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Story: N/A
Gameplay: B
Graphics: B-
Music/Sound: C-
Value: B+

Overall: B-

Pros:
+ A fun Sokoban-like that features 150 levels.
+ The graphics and characters are cute and have a neat retro vibe.
+ New gameplay elements added in each set of levels keep things interesting.
+ Offers the right amount of challenge to players of all skill levels.
+ Very affordable at just $4.99.

Cons:
- The music is very quiet by default, and doesn't really add anything to the experience.
- Can be fully beaten in a couple hours if you know what you're doing.
- The slightly loose controls can cause you to accidentally screw up a level.
- Though fun and affordable, SokoFrog is a rather small game that isn't very deep.

A copy of this game was provided to us free-of-charge by the publisher for the purpose of this review. This did not affect our review in any way.

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