Hands on with Frogman on iPhone

It's a bird! It's a plane! No, it's a mutant anthropomorphic frog leaping across traffic.

A game that promises to be better at delivering the Frogger experience than Frogger itself, Frogman has you hopping across rush hour streets and canals in classic arcade form.

Yet this impressive 3D interpretation leaves behind the old arcade for a snazzy style that fully exploits the power of iPhone and iPod touch.

The story is a sad one: former scientific research partners are unwittingly trapped inside their own contraption with a frog and a fly. What results is a cross between man and animal - one becomes entangled with the fly, while the other is twisted with the frog.

The former feels empowered by his new form and endeavours to take over the world. Frogman, however, feels like an outcast and only comes forth from the shadows to stop the machinations of Dr Fly.

Unfortunately, Frogman can't just flick his tongue out and put an end to the whole thing. Under your guidance, he must traverse a series of levels filled with moving vehicles in order to save innocents threatened by the bad doctor. In other words, you have to weave through traffic by hopping between lanes.

It's Frogger - let's be honest. Developer Revolutionary Concepts knows this and is biting down hard on what it views as a completely restoration of this style of gameplay.

To be sure, the most recent incarnations of Konami's franchise have been sub-par and Frogman intends to do it right. All it takes is a look at the phenomenally detailed graphics to know that this is on the right track.

Three control schemes are offered: flick, accelerometer, and virtual D-pad. The flick configuration is set by default and is the one I prefer.

Careful navigation is a must because you're only granted a limited number of lives at the start of the story. Earning additional lives means collecting green mutagen orbs scattered about each stage.

These are optional, though, and your main objective is saving the handful of people situated precariously at the edges of the road. Save the first victim and the camera does a swift spin to reorient the level.

In this way, Frogman makes the most of its gorgeous environments without feeling terribly repetitive. 34 levels are promised in Story mode, with some of those featured in the unlockable Challenge mode. High scores will also be available via Agon Online.

What it clearly lacks in originality, Frogman more than makes up for in quality. Revolutionary Concepts is tackling something tough, yet if this initial hands on is an indication of what to expect of the final iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad release then there may well be reason to hop for joy come late April.