![review-trog.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmR6GAShmHMJJEy9MycLeb58LJ4huNavTcYyvP3m1jR52G/review-trog.jpg)

The Atari era was filled with *Pac-Man* clones that put you in control of a character running around a maze scooping up pellets or dots.  From *Alien* to *Wizard of Wor*, maze games were hugely popular in the early 80's.

By the late 80's they had all but vanished.  Nobody wanted to play simple, single-screen *Pac-Man* clones when they could be playing *Double Dragon*, *Outrun* or *R-Type.*  The genre still managed to hang on a by thread though and *Trog!* was released to arcades in 1990.  A year later, it was ported to the NES and it remains a game that is rarely discussed.

![20171121_002146.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmS1kg7N8tpaXRuyqGZMxPe2fgUqVfGrzESsoyV5jEcD7A/20171121_002146.jpg)
<center>*My copy of Trog has definitely seen better days*</center>

# Gameplay
***
![](https://steemitimages.com/DQmWE18SjU8Em2ZBMjGuAv9HpNDz3PvJ4mMJ9wFSK7bGdgV/image.png)

At its core, *Trog!* is a simple *Pac-Man* clone.  You, or you and a friend in co-op mode, control your dinosaur and the object of the game is to navigate the maze and pick up the eggs that match the color of your character while avoiding the cycloptic cavemen who want you for dinner.

Your dinosaur has a single attack in the form of a short-range punch that you can use to knock out the cavemen, but using it requires you to get in close and its a risky move.  As was common in games like this, power-ups will periodically appear on the screen that allow you to freeze the cavemen, increase your movement speed, or turn you into a large dino that can chomp down the cavemen for a short amount of time (essentially the power pellet from *Pac-Man*).  Once all the eggs have been collected, an exit will open up so you can move on to the next level.

The biggest gripe I have with this game is the controls.  Your dinosaur moves in a straight line until they hit a barrier or you change direction.  Controls are extremely sluggish and require you to think ahead and press the direction you want to turn before you get to the intersection.  The control problems really drag down the fun factor of the game.

# Presentation
***
![](https://steemitimages.com/DQmQuhtoKqb2JSmJabap3eZeytYm1k4C8cbp8Dut2Uavb6i/image.png)

Let's be real, *Trog!* is a very basic looking game, especially considering it was released in 1991 which is the same year beautiful games like *Battletoads* and *Ninja Gaiden III* graced the console.  The original arcade game used digitized claymation to bring the characters to life, but the humble NES wasn't capable of that type of detail and the visuals have been significantly downgraded for the port.  

Sprites are very simple and lack a lot of color.  Most seem to be drawn using no more than 3 colors.  Backgrounds are very basic as well, often using no more than 2 colors to represent a simple pattern.  The images between levels are far more full of life and personality, but they only serve to reinforce how dull the graphics of most of the game actually are.

Music and sound effects are nothing special, but don't punish your eardrums either.  Very average and forgettable.


# Verdict
***
![](https://steemitimages.com/DQmTRr1PSugiqsqEdJxJsBZ1GokoXysyqFqDFynRr6EV97X/image.png)

The gameplay is very basic, but can still be fun in a simplistic kind of way.  The new layouts and stage hazards the game introduces keeps you interested to see what challenges are coming next.  However, the horrible controls really hold this game back.  If you can get used to them, some fun can be had, but there are better games of this type on the NES and other consoles.  I'd say genre fans should pick it up, but otherwise it can be safely avoided.

## Score 4.5/10

<center>
![Decorative-Line-Black-PNG-Image.png](https://steemitimages.com/DQmSHbisKuhhmHYNa9Wu8Ybb6kDXwLTWjNW1hYwaqNfU4HN/Decorative-Line-Black-PNG-Image.png)

## Thanks for reading.  As always, upvotes, resteems and comments are appreciated! ##
</center>