M
MercyNews
Home
Back
Big Hops: The Adorable Frog Game That Encourages Chaos
Entertainment

Big Hops: The Adorable Frog Game That Encourages Chaos

The Verge2h ago
3 min read
📋

Key Facts

  • ✓ Big Hops is a new 3D platformer game starring a frog named Hop as its main character.
  • ✓ The game's narrative begins with Hop being taken away from his home, setting players on a quest to help him return.
  • ✓ Players must collect airship parts across several different areas to progress in the game.
  • ✓ The primary gameplay mechanic involves using the frog's tongue as a multi-purpose tool for interaction.
  • ✓ The tongue can function as a grappling hook, a way to break pots for coins, and a method for snagging food.
  • ✓ The game's design philosophy encourages players to 'break' its systems to solve problems, similar to The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.

In This Article

  1. Quick Summary
  2. A Frog's Journey Home
  3. The Power of the Tongue
  4. Breaking Is Believing
  5. A Fresh Take on Platforming
  6. Looking Ahead

Quick Summary#

Big Hops introduces players to a charming new world of 3D platforming, starring an adorable frog named Hop. The game immediately sets a familiar yet fresh tone, inviting players into a vibrant universe filled with cute animal characters and engaging storylines.

While the premise of a frog navigating a whimsical world is delightful, the gameplay mechanics are what truly set it apart. The core experience revolves around creative problem-solving and a surprising amount of freedom, creating an experience that feels both structured and wonderfully chaotic.

A Frog's Journey Home 🐸#

The narrative begins with a sudden separation. Early in the game, Hop is taken away from his home, setting the player on a mission to help him return. This journey is not a simple linear path; it requires exploration and effort across a few different areas, each meticulously designed with its own unique cast of characters and narrative arcs.

To achieve this goal, the primary objective is to collect airship parts scattered throughout these diverse environments. The game world is populated with other cute animal characters, each contributing to the storylines that unfold as players progress. The quest to rebuild and return home serves as the central driving force behind the adventure.

  • Help the frog named Hop return to his home
  • Explore multiple distinct areas with unique themes
  • Interact with a cast of cute animal characters
  • Collect scattered airship parts to progress

The Power of the Tongue#

Gameplay in Big Hops is defined by its central mechanic, which leans heavily into the protagonist's natural abilities. Because you play as a frog, the primary way to interact with the world is by slinging Hop's tongue. This versatile tool is far more than a simple attack or collectible grab; it functions as a multi-purpose instrument for exploration and puzzle-solving.

The tongue can be used in several inventive ways to manipulate the environment. Players can use it to grab pots, which can then be tossed to break them for coins, providing a source of currency. It also doubles as a grappling hook, allowing Hop to reach new areas that would otherwise be inaccessible. Furthermore, it serves as a quick way to snag food items, which likely play a role in health or progression.

  • Grab and toss pots to break them for coins
  • Use as a grappling hook to reach new heights
  • Snag food items scattered throughout the levels
  • Interact with various environmental objects creatively

Breaking Is Believing 🎮#

What truly makes Big Hops stand out is its philosophy toward game mechanics. While playing, there is a persistent feeling that one might be breaking the game. This sensation, rather than being a bug, is a core feature of the design. The game encourages players to push boundaries and experiment with its systems to find unique solutions.

This design choice draws a compelling parallel to a major title in the industry. The experience is reminiscent of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, where breaking the intended rules and physics is not just allowed, but is kind of the point. This approach empowers players with a sense of agency and creativity, making every discovery feel personal and earned.

Breaking it is kind of the point.

A Fresh Take on Platforming#

Big Hops appears to be carving out a unique niche within the 3D platformer genre. By combining an irresistibly cute protagonist with a gameplay loop that rewards creative exploitation of its mechanics, it offers something for both traditional platforming fans and those who enjoy more open-ended, physics-based puzzles.

The game's structure, which involves exploring distinct areas to collect parts, provides a clear sense of progression. However, it is the freedom afforded by the tongue mechanic and the 'break it' philosophy that promises a memorable and engaging experience. It successfully blends a lighthearted, charming aesthetic with a surprisingly deep and empowering gameplay system.

Looking Ahead#

Big Hops is shaping up to be a standout title that champions player creativity. Its unique blend of adorable aesthetics and a robust physics-based system offers a refreshing take on the 3D platformer genre. The game successfully demonstrates that sometimes, the most fun is found not in following the rules, but in creatively breaking them.

As players continue to explore its worlds and master the versatile tongue mechanic, the game promises a delightful journey filled with discovery. It stands as a testament to how modern game design can empower players, turning a simple quest to get a frog home into an unforgettable adventure of chaotic fun.

Continue scrolling for more

AI Transforms Mathematical Research and Proofs
Technology

AI Transforms Mathematical Research and Proofs

Artificial intelligence is shifting from a promise to a reality in mathematics. Machine learning models are now generating original theorems, forcing a reevaluation of research and teaching methods.

Just now
4 min
244
Read Article
'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' is a prequel to 'Game of Thrones.' Here's where the story fits in on a timeline.
Entertainment

'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' is a prequel to 'Game of Thrones.' Here's where the story fits in on a timeline.

Rhaenyra Targaryen, Dunk, and Jon Snow. Helen Sloan/Steffan Hill/Ollie Upton/HBO HBO's "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" is a prequel show in the "Game of Thrones" universe. The story is set about 100 years before the main series and 70 years after "House of the Dragon." At this point in the timeline, the Targaryen family is still in power, and the realm is at peace. "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" is HBO's latest spinoff series that fleshes out the sprawling fantasy world created by George R. R. Martin. The new show, which premieres on Sunday, is set in peacetime Westeros about a century before the first events of "Game of Thrones" — long before Jaime Lannister killed the Mad King Aerys, ousting the Targaryens from power and triggering a war for the Iron Throne. However, "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" is not the oldest Westerosi tale that's been brought to screen. It takes place several generations after "House of the Dragon," another prequel series focused on the Targaryen dynasty, which is heading into its third season later this year. Keep reading for a breakdown of where these three series fit on a timeline and how the main characters are connected. Warning: Light spoilers ahead for the George R.R. Martin book, "Fire and Blood." 'House of the Dragon' tells the story of a Targaryen civil war Emma D'Arcy and her dragons in "House of the Dragon" season two. Theo Whiteman / HBO "House of the Dragon" is adapted from "Fire and Blood," a fictional history book about the Targaryen family, sourced from various scholars and firsthand accounts that often contradict one another. The show focuses on a particularly fraught and bloody period in Targaryen history known as the Dance of the Dragons. At the beginning of season one, King Viserys I sits on the Iron Throne. He canonically ruled from 103 AC to 129 AC during a peaceful and prosperous time in Westeros. (The abbreviation AC denotes "after conquest," meaning the number of years after Aegon I conquered the realm and became the first Targaryen king.) After the deaths of his wife and newborn son, Viserys broke with patriarchal traditions and named his firstborn daughter, Rhaenyra, as his successor. However, Viserys later remarried and had more children with his second wife, Alicent Hightower. Upon his death, a civil war broke out between Rhaenyra and Alicent's eldest son, Aegon II, both of whom believed they should ascend to the throne. The war was fought between 129 AC and 131 AC. At this point in history, many of the royal Targaryens were dragon riders, meaning their armed conflicts were particularly deadly — for the humans, of course, but in a war between kin, for the dragons too. "House of the Dragon" season three will continue to explore the escalating violence between the half-siblings and their factions. The showrunners plan to wrap up with season four, and viewers will discover which Targaryen ends up on the Iron Throne — and whose lineage continues to rule Westeros for generations to come. 'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' introduces Rhaenyra's descendants Finn Bennett and Peter Claffey as Aerion Targaryen and Dunk in "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms." Steffan Hill/HBO "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" season one is adapted from "The Hedge Knight," a novella set in 209 AC, nearly eight decades after the Targaryen civil war ended. It's the first in a trio of novellas about Dunk, the titular hedge knight, and his young squire, Egg. Dunk is not a land owner, let alone a lord or a dragon-riding royal. He's an orphan from Flea Bottom — the poorest area of King's Landing — who was raised by Ser Arlan of Pennytree, serving as his squire. The pair did not have a permanent home, but rather roamed Westeros offering their services. While the new HBO show and its source material both focus predominantly on Dunk and other common folk, a few characters with familiar surnames help place the story in time. At a jousting tournament in Ashford Meadow, Dunk crosses paths with Prince Baelor Targaryen, heir to the Iron Throne and Hand of the King. Baelor is the great-great-grandson of Queen Rhaenyra and her husband-slash-uncle, Prince Daemon. (There's a lot of incest in the Targaryen lineage. It's best not to dwell on it.) Dunk meets other members of the royal family at the tournament, including Baelor's son, Valarr; Baelor's younger brother, Maekar; and Maekar's second son, Aerion. Bertie Carvel as Baelor Targaryen in "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms." Steffan Hill/HBO This is an awkward time in history for the Targaryens. Although the family still holds its seat of power in Westeros, it no longer has dragons. The population was severely diminished by the civil war, and over time, dragon eggs stopped hatching. Aegon I and his sisters conquered Westeros using dragons, and House Targaryen's connection to the magical beasts helped legitimize their claim to power — as if they were ordained to rule by divine right. Without dragons, the family lacks firepower, both symbolically and literally. Not to mention, their history of incest has led to a phenomenon known as Targaryen Madness. Some of them turn out to be disproportionately, inexplicably cruel. As Cersei Lannister later says, "Every time a Targaryen is born, the gods flip a coin." In "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms," we see how the common folk have begun to question the royals. Raymun Fossoway, a squire whom Dunk meets in Ashford Meadow, privately describes the Targaryens as "incestuous aliens, blood magickers, and tyrants." "They find themselves finally without the thing that put them in power, which is such a precarious position to be in," showrunner Ira Parker explained to Entertainment Weekly. "Fifty years on from the dragons, people are starting to ask the question, 'Well, why are we still letting them be in power?'" 'Game of Thrones' season one is set about 100 years after Dunk and Egg's first adventure Emilia Clarke and Kit Harington as Daenerys Targaryen and Jon Snow in "Game of Thrones." Helen Sloan/HBO "Game of Thrones" begins with King Robert Baratheon on the Iron Throne. House Baratheon managed to seize power from House Targaryen in 283 AC following Robert's Rebellion, sometimes known as the War of the Usurper. By the time the show begins, about 17 years into Robert's reign, there are only a few Targaryens left alive. The oldest is Aemon, who'd long ago renounced his royal title to become a maester. He's Maekar's third son and Aerion's older brother, though he never appears in "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms." Viewers finally meet Aemon at Castle Black when Jon Snow joins the Night's Watch. Maekar's great-great-grandkids, Daenerys and Viserys, are living in exile in Essos following their father's murder. It's later revealed in season seven (spoiler alert!) that Jon Snow is a Targaryen as well. He's the long-lost son of Daenerys' other brother, Rhaegar, and Ned Stark's sister, Lyanna. (Yes, that means Daenerys is Jon's aunt.) One of Dunk's descendants also appears in 'Game of Thrones' Gwendoline Christie as Brienne of Tarth in "Game of Thrones." Helen Sloan/HBO "The Hedge Knight" begins with Ser Arlan's death, leaving Dunk to make a new life for himself. He begins introducing himself as Ser Duncan the Tall and adopts a personal sigil for his shield: an elm tree and a shooting star at sunset. In Martin's main book series, Brienne of Tarth recalls seeing a similar shield in her father's armory, leading fans to speculate that Dunk is Brienne's ancestor. Martin confirmed this theory in 2016 at a sci-fi and fantasy convention in Baltimore. In his writing, he has also described both characters using the same phrase: "Thick as a castle wall." In addition to their hulking frames, Dunk and Brienne are both renowned for their loyalty and honor. Brienne became a fan-favorite character in "Game of Thrones" after swearing her allegiance to Lady Catelyn Stark, an oath that sends her on a quest to find and protect Catelyn's daughter, Sansa. Despite the rampant sexism she faces as an unfeminine woman in Westeros, Brienne perseveres and forms important bonds. She's rewarded in the final season of "Game of Thrones," when she's officially knighted by Jaime Lannister. She ends the show as Lady Commander of the Kingsguard. Attentive fans will know that Dunk had a similar rise. Despite his lack of wealth and status, he's still remembered a century later in "Game of Thrones" season four, when Joffrey is thumbing through a written history of the Kingsguard. "Four pages for Ser Duncan," Joffrey says. "He must have been quite a man." Read the original article on Business Insider

11m
3 min
0
Read Article
Charlize Theron, Bob Odenkirk and More Celebrate Carol Burnett’s Final ‘Palm Royale’ Appearance With Surprise Tribute: ‘You’re So Much More Than a Legend’
Entertainment

Charlize Theron, Bob Odenkirk and More Celebrate Carol Burnett’s Final ‘Palm Royale’ Appearance With Surprise Tribute: ‘You’re So Much More Than a Legend’

What began as a panel with key cast members to discuss the jaw-dropping second season of “Palm Royale” turned into a star-studded surprise tribute to celebrate Carol Burnett’s final appearance on the Apple TV series, Following a special screening of the show’s Season 2 finale on Thursday at the Wolf Theater in North Hollywood, Vince […]

21m
3 min
0
Read Article
LG C5 OLED & Apple M4 Mac Mini: Weekend Tech Deals
Technology

LG C5 OLED & Apple M4 Mac Mini: Weekend Tech Deals

Major retailers are offering significant price cuts on high-end electronics this weekend. Highlights include the LG C5 OLED TV and Apple's M4 Mac Mini, alongside gaming accessories and power banks.

28m
5 min
0
Read Article
AI is Transforming Tech Compensation: The Rise of the Superstar
Technology

AI is Transforming Tech Compensation: The Rise of the Superstar

Silicon Valley is rewriting the rules of compensation. Instead of punishing the bottom, companies are showering rewards on the top, with bonuses reaching up to 300% of target. This shift is fueled by AI, which amplifies the value of high-leverage individuals.

36m
5 min
0
Read Article
Technology

Smaller companies are rising quickly to challenge Big Tech as AI 's best trade

Reliable power, nuclear investment, data-center efficiency, and grid capacity are now core drivers of stock returns from the AI theme as demand ramps.

37m
3 min
0
Read Article
The Recurring Dream of Replacing Developers
Technology

The Recurring Dream of Replacing Developers

For decades, the tech industry has chased the dream of replacing human developers with automated systems. This article explores why the goal remains a recurring, yet unfulfilled, ambition.

1h
5 min
0
Read Article
73-Year-Old Teaches Seniors to Conquer Tech Fears
Society

73-Year-Old Teaches Seniors to Conquer Tech Fears

From a birthday slideshow to a thriving business, Anne Goldberg is empowering seniors to master smartphones and connect with family through technology.

1h
5 min
2
Read Article
Minnesota's War of Attrition Against Federal Forces
Politics

Minnesota's War of Attrition Against Federal Forces

As masked federal agents swarm the Twin Cities, Governor Tim Walz urges citizens to film ICE operations, building a database for future legal accountability.

2h
5 min
1
Read Article
How to Pair AirPods With Any Device: A Complete Guide
Technology

How to Pair AirPods With Any Device: A Complete Guide

AirPods work most smoothly with Apple hardware, but they also connect reliably to Android phones, Windows laptops, and other Bluetooth devices. This guide explains the pairing process for every platform.

2h
5 min
1
Read Article
🎉

You're all caught up!

Check back later for more stories

Back to Home