Frogblock by Nismio
Frogblock joins the exalted ranks of such amphibian-themed indies as Frog Fractions and the Frog Detective series. It doesn’t really have much in common with them, though!
Instead, what we have here is a mobile puzzle game that recalls both the M.C. Escher inspirations of Monument Valley (one of our Top Mobile Games) and the seasonal atmosphere and frog-friendly dampness of Spring Falls.
It’s currently only out on iOS, a platform I don’t normally use, but serendipity provided me the opportunity to give this one a chance under unusual circumstances. I caught up with composer Jason Haug, one of Nismio’s three-person dev team, at an event for my day job (he’s a family member of one of our management team).
While a work gala isn’t the typical set and setting for my game review work, the relaxing yet cerebral nature of Frogblock made for an unexpected momentary escape from the surrounding chaos of networking and buffet lines.
Ponds and Pondering
“Are you good at spatial reasoning?” asks Haug, handing over his iPhone with a pre-selected later-game level already loaded.
“Not…great.”
“Working on this game actually helped me get better at it,” he assures me, and it actually makes sense. Each level in Frogblock is an Escher-inspired optical illusion of cubical blocks. Rotate the level by sweeping the screen, and you’ll reveal new paths; what looks like empty space from one direction is the path to victory – or at least one necessary step along the way – from another.
To progress, just find that path, move your frog to the glowing, swirling orbs that mark each level’s goal, and gulp down your victory snack with a screen-tap.
It’s head-scratching but in a satisfying way; even starting mid-game, I made it close enough to the goal before asking for help to feel reasonably accomplished. And when Haug reset things to let me start from the early levels, things really started to come together in my head.
Peaceful Puzzling
Frogblock really is oriented more toward the aforementioned 3D spatial reasoning than, say, the anticipatory pathway-building of Sokoban and its hundreds of successors, and while the initial concept might be harder to grasp (at least for brains wired like mine), it also feels less ultimately punishing.
That might also have a lot to do with the chosen aesthetic here and the fact that Frogblock is meant to be relaxing as well as challenging. The art is minimalist but expressive, evoking idyllic amphibian habitats of mossy stone and lazily floating lilies rather than fetid swamp, and our protagonist itself is a pleasantly chunky hopper, appealing without falling into the trap of cartoonish cuteness.
Crisp lines and a mostly muted color palette enhanced by seasonal effects add to the sense of tranquility, as does an original score that draws on both classic ambient and contemporary lo-fi, with bloom effects adding a hint of mysticism.
The Verdict:
The end result is a sense of pervading calm that counteracts the occasional stalls and frustrations that accompany any puzzle game, especially one so cerebral.
Meditative yet challenging, Frogblock is probably best played under a tree by a softly babbling brook; failing that, it would work well on any quiet, balmy summer night.
If none of these options are available, though, it’s still highly playable even at a crowded fundraising event.
Frogblock will be released September 25 on the Apple App Store.
Check out the official trailer for Frogblock below:
