Even though Zapper is almost a clone of the once and future Frogger redux released for PlayStation as an update to the classic arcade hit, we like it. In fact, we like it a lot. This Gamecube version reminds us of why Puzzle games make for good absorbing fun, and in this case, for some pretty engaging party gaming. Nobody necessarily cares about fancy graphics in a Puzzle game so long as the challenge is present, but Zapper looks plenty nice to bring home to Mother. Every screen of every level is full of movement, and the lighting effects for your 'zap' and the little lightning bugs that charge your 'super zap' look awesome. No slowdown is noticeable in the least, and this becomes especially apparent in Multiplayer mode. The sound effects steal the show, but the music is nice as well. Zapping, jumping through hazards and interacting with characters is accompanied by sounds right out of a cartoon, and the whole look of the game is very over the top. But in a good way.

Zapper sets up a situation that, while strange, makes for some great gaming. Playing as Zapper, you set out to rescue your little brother Zipper from a thieving magpie, appropriately named Maggie. Yes, there's no doubt this game might be a bit young to be appreciated by each and every Puzzle fan out there, but as my old pirate friend likes to say, 'Thar be some good gaming in thar...'

Zapper happens to be quite limited in his movement. He hops from one space to another, one jump at a time. He can also launch himself into the air for a 'Super Jump' or brief hover, useful for those times when you have to get over an obstacle or keep yourself out of rushing water or away from deadly enemies. Funny how the enemies don't look terribly threatening, but they'll put you in a dead place just as easy as the scary looking enemies. Tracking down Maggie is as simple as keeping tabs on the eggs she's always dropping, but that doesn't mean they're easy to find. A helpful twitch of his antennae, and Zapper usually can draw a bead quick on those eggs. Not to give the impression this is some kind of passive Easter Egg hunt, because Zapper does have some firepower. His normal (and creatively named) Zap is pretty good, but using special power-up bugs to upgrade him to a Super Zap adds a whole heck of a punch. Other power-ups available are for the usual things like protection, points or extra lives.

Zapper the game is played in a series of short levels within a stage, and after you successfully find all of Maggie's eggs in a level you move on to the next. Gathering all of the power-up points available in a level will get you a Bonus Round, and pulling a hat-trick within a stage earns you a Bonus Level. The one-jump routine doesn't have to be stale, and Zapper does a nice job showing how a small idea can translate into good gameplay. Most of the levels are built on timing, learning how to follow divergent paths to reach the object you want, and dealing with enemies who follow a fairly consistent pattern most often. One thing that Frogger did well but Zapper does better is offer a sense of height. Using the 'hover' (jump and hold) ability will sometimes get you into secret areas, but many times you just have to look for a suspicious object you might be able to jump up onto and go for it. Mini-puzzles can be opened up within a level, and these are usually based on timing or combinations of everything you've learned up to that point. Gathering all the 'orbs' can be difficult, which is why you earn so many special things if you manage to get 100 percent of the orbs in a level or stage. But, gathering the eggs is going to happen if you follow the path and let logic lead the way.

Multiplayer and the makings of a good party game are also here along with the solid Single-Player Story Mode. Timed races are fun alone, and you can always go back through a level to face 'ghost' opponents who set the pace for your best time, but getting up to 4 gamers in the mix is definitely a step up on the fun factor from Story Mode. Better still, the games you play with friends are far from rehashed Single Player missions. After choosing a character, 5 game variations are available. Most all the modes seem to involve Zipper, although one is just pure destruction, 'kill or be killed' kind of thing. In fun variations on 'Capture the Flag' and 'Bomb' modes from other game, Zipper ends up being both the desirable thing to grab and the thing to avoid, depending on which Multiplayer mini-game you play. Power-ups are found in Multiplayer, and help you get the most bang for your buck against 1, 2 or 3 other contestants.

Like any good Puzzle game, Zapper introduces challenges slowly to give you a chance to adjust. Each of the cricket's special skills are introduced individually, sometimes given to you as a hint from a NPC. Once you have a chance to try the new skill out, or are forced to, it will make its way into other areas of the game. For instance, just like the model now common in Platform games for different crates that require different skills to be opened, Zapper includes a bunch of crates, enemies and objects that respond differently depending on what type of 'zap' you use. It's a shame more playable characters aren't available to offer variety, and the one-hop dynamic sometimes means you won't be able to adjust quickly in the face of danger, but it also means players without lightning reflexes who like their games more deliberate will dig into Zapper and have a blast.

Controlling Zapper feels a little strange at first, but there's method to the madness. Using the shoulder buttons will rotate the little guy, which you really need to master for those tight spots where you need to make a double-jump or hover. You'll learn the hard way a few times and then 'get it.' But, if you're on open ground and have room to maneuver, just point the analog stick or the D-Pad and off you go! More and more, as you play further into the game, the trick is getting into place quickly, pulling off a jump and choosing the correct direction to be facing. So, you'll end up coordinating that shoulder-button movement with jumping, zapping and even hovering. In the event that you don't get everything, the 'hub' concept lets you replay a difficult level, or you can practice in Arcade mode. Other than the peculiar feeling of rotating Zapper, jumping him and sometimes doing the Super Jump or hover, not much action is required from you as far as inventory or anything else. But, there's way more deliberation required before you take action, compared to standard Platform or Action games out there. Multiplayer controls are more 'no holds barred,' in keeping with the frantic action, so if only to play as a fun party game, Zapper delivers.

In fact, Zapper comes through as a great surprise, stacked against Puzzle games we knew we'd be getting, like Super Bust-A-Move and Monkey Ball. Compared just to those two, Zapper offers much more of a Platformer feeling, which should help bring both the action-oriented gamers and the folks with the big brains together. It looks fresh, plays great and has lots of extras calculated to keep you up until the wee hours trying to figure out how to get that last shiny orb...