Frogs have sort of a weird pressence in games don’t they? From the classic Frogger to Slippy to Battletoads, amphibians arent an unusual sight, but they still feel like a somewhat unusul choice for a hero. Possibly because they’re slimy and traditionally associated with witches. Maybe Mongrel with its half frog, half human hero, Finch, can change that image. Finch’s multi-species heritage gives him mysterious powers, as well as some extra agility- something he’ll need to get through this action-platformer. The game uses elements most obviously from metroidvania games, but also apparently draws inspiration from Zelda and Conker’s Bad Fur Day.
From the looks of the concept art and trailer, the game will feature some unique and vibrant character designs. The animations on the main character in particular are a little silly, though in a good way. Finch looks like he’ll be a fun protagonist to play as. Npc’s shown so far, aside from some humans, include a yeti-like duck, one that looks like a large, bipedal sloth, and the ovotarian trolls. However, the concept art of the enemies found in an icy area interest me most. The eerily colored purple and blue enemies, some of which have creepy glowing eyes, look like they’ll fit perfectly into a haunted tundra.
Most of the rewards are pretty standard, including things like soundtracks, getting an npc based on you, and books. However, the highest tier reward caught my eye.
That’s right, for less than $2,000 you can own your very own soul. What you would do with a soul is a little questionable, but I suppose if that’s what you want, this is the game to back.
This is the second time that Norway based development team Fischmell has tried to fund Mongrel. The first time around, the game just barely missed its mark. Hopefully this time, the game will fare better. Mongrel still needs about $22,000, and the fundraiser has 27 more days to go.
