No Disney film is complete without a
massive franchise following, and their latest animated feature is certainly no
exception. “The Princess and the Frog” transplants the classic tale from an
idyllic setting to the unmistakable atmosphere of Louisiana in the early 20th
century. Perhaps more remarkable was the modernization of the tale itself, which
deftly dodges the “damsel in distress” stereotype in favor of something unheard
of: a young woman who actually wishes to take charge of her own destiny.
To their credit, Disney managed to
weave this tale within a very friendly atmosphere of traditional hand-drawn
animation (you remember those days, don’t you?) However, as the story travels
down the inevitable path from feature film to video game, much of its original
strength is lost. On the merit of its title alone, it is perhaps unsurprising
that “The Princess and the Frog” caters heavily to the demographic of young
girls. After all, no self-respected dude would be caught dead with such a game
in his software library, right? Sadly, it is not the self-imposed limits of a
target audience that bring down the game adaptation. It is the shift in emphasis
from a tale of personal empowerment to a tale of frivolous superficiality.
Taking on the role of the
aforementioned “princess,” the player guides Tiana toward her goal of owning a
successful restaurant. Mind you, this is not a restaurant or business simulation
that is being targeted to young girls. Rather, the gameplay consists of a series
of mini-games, 25 in all. Despite the film’s original efforts to convey female
empowerment, Tiana is still engaging in fairly mundane and feminized tasks, from
working in the kitchen to trying on dresses. Of course, there is little denying
that the game delivers on a very fundamental premise – it’s fun to play.
Most of the success within these
games also brings an extrinsic reward. The somewhat awkward use of Mardi Gras
beads as currency allows the player to access new content and items, such as
furnishings for the all-important restaurant. As these treats follow the
player’s success within the mini-games, it is possible that very young players
will find themselves somewhat frustrated, particularly in the trickier
challenges. Thankfully, the mechanics are simple enough to grasp and the
presentation is consistently attractive, making excellent use of the film’s
unique animation and color palette. It is disappointing to see that such a
conventional route was taken in delivering the story to a game format. However,
“The Princess and the Frog” does manage to achieve an enjoyable experience for
the whole family.
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Gameplay: 6.0
Simple and fairly
familiar mechanics keep the mini-games accessible for younger audiences.
Graphics: 7.0
A very
conventional transition from film to game, and it’s easy to recognize the
cinematic origins. The “bluesy” atmosphere is also a nice touch.
Sound: 8.0
The audio is
generally strong, but the musical highlights really steal the show. This will
likely be a huge attraction for young players.
Difficulty: Easy
It remains to be
seen how the youngest players will handle some of the games, but it’s quite
obvious this was intended as casual fare.
Concept: 7.0
Not exactly a
revelation, but a somewhat refreshing departure from the tired movie-to-game
platformer.
Overall: 7.0
“The Princess and
the Frog” successfully conveys the lighthearted spirit of the original film, and
presents itself as something completely approachable for young girls. Given the
film’s surprisingly nuanced composition, it is only regrettable that some deeper
elements weren’t put into play for older audiences.
