Game Rant: Ribbit King

Developer: Bandai
Publisher: Bandai
Platforms and release dates (US): Nintendo Gamecube (June 8, 2004), Playstation 2 (June 15, 2004)
Genre: Sports

Ribbit King is a strange game with a strange story, does strange work here?

The Story Mode centers around a carpenter named Scooter. The king calls Scooter in to explain the crisis. The fuel source of the planet is about to run out, and if they don't get more, the planet not survive. The King enters Scooter in the Frolf tournament (Frolf = Frog + Golf), where the grand prize is the Super Ribbonite that powers the planet. The King also gives Scooter a sidekick named Pikwick, a walking and talking picnic basket, to assist Scooter. Scooter and Pikwick go off to the F.U.V. (Frolf Utility Vehicle) and enter the tournament.

The gameplay is like Golf, but with frogs (hence the term "Frolf"). The objective is to get the most points you can on each hole in 4 hole matches. You have 8 strokes to get as many points as you can and get your frog in the hole on each hole. To get more points, various gimmicks are spread throughout the courses, from Bubbles and Spider Webs to Mines and Giant Beasts. On some events, you will be prompted to waggle the Right Stick back and forth rapidly or press a button at the right time, with better performances earning more points. If you string events together on one stroke, you can get a multiplyer up to an x4. Each hole starts at a value of 1500 points for a Frog-In-One. One the 2nd stroke and after, it is 1000 Points for a hole out. If another player gets their frog in the hole, the bonus will start to deplete each stroke by 100 points, so on the next stroke, the hole-out bonus will only be 900 points, then 800 points, then so on. In Stroke Play, whoever has the highest score at the end of the 4 holes wins. In Match Play, whoever wins the most holes wins. In Stroke Play, there is also a surprise bonus worth 100-300 points awarded at the end, which can help decide 1st. Stroke Play can be played with up to 4 players, all on 1 controller or separate controllers, with CPU filling in for empty spaces if you choose. The Story mode is where you unlock everything for the Vs Mode. There are 5 different planets to play on, with different themes, and they have their own gimmicks. You can also use items that help you to get more points or to help your frog with upgraded abilities for that stroke. Also, some frogs have different stats, like some can swim in Lava while others can't. The CPU is simple, they will take the same shots every time, but that doesn't mean that they will go down without a fight! The gameplay is pretty fun, trying to milk out as many points as you can in each shot is strategic.

There is also a bonus disc called Ribbit King Plus included. As you earn bottle caps and achieve various milestones in Story Mode, you unlock short movies to watch.

Bottom Line: Ribbit King is an enjoyable game for a time, but it can get tired after a bit. I still recommend a Play or Rent.