Frogger (Coleco)

Frogger follows the perilous journey of a frog determined to return home. The frog must cross a busy highway and a river filled with moving logs and creatures, dodging danger at every step. The premise mirrors the original Konami arcade game released the same year, condensed for Coleco’s miniature tabletop format.

Players control the frog using a four-direction joystick positioned on the front panel. The goal is to move the frog upward through two distinct zones: a lower section representing a multi-lane road and an upper section symbolizing a river. Vehicles in the roadway flash across the display, and contact with them costs the player a life. In the river zone, the frog must hop between moving logs and avoid sinking into the water. Successful navigation into one of the home bays at the top of the screen advances the stage and increases difficulty.

The VFD display renders all motion in bright green and red segments, accompanied by simple sound effects for hopping, collisions, and successful arrivals. The gameplay loop remains faithful to the arcade’s structure but simplified for hardware limitations—fewer lanes, fewer simultaneous enemies, and a slower pace suitable for the small tabletop device.