Kaeru no Tame ni Kane wa Naru (1992). Play online

Summary

Kaeru no Tame ni Kane wa Naru, sometimes just called "The Frog" by fans, is an off‑beat action‑RPG for the Game Boy that only ever saw a Japanese release. The Prince of Sablé traverses the world in two distinct perspectives: a top‑down view for towns and fields, and a side‑scrolling mode for dungeons, each letting you bump into enemies to trigger an automatic showdown.

Combat plays out without turning to a separate battle screen; a dust cloud erupts when contact is made and victory depends on the Prince’s gear, attack speed and current form. The game’s three transformable states—human, frog and snake—grant special movement and interaction abilities, from sky‑high frog jumps to a snake’s ability to slither through narrow passages.

Developed by the Metroid‑team veterans at Intelligent Systems and Nintendo R&D 1, it runs on an early engine that later powered The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening. Composer Kazumi Totaka contributed the quirky soundtrack, and Yoichi Kotabe earned a special‑thanks credit for illustration.

Though obscure outside Japan, the title lives on as a series of nods in Super Smash Bros., where the Sablé Prince appears as a spirit and assist trophy, cementing its cult status among retro enthusiasts.

Storyline

In the far‑away world of Kaeru no Tame ni Kane wa Naru, two childhood rivals—Prince Richard of the Custard Kingdom and the carefree Prince of Sablé—spend their youth competing in games, though Richard always wins at fencing. One day a messenger from a neighboring realm warns them that the evil King Delarin has invaded the Mille‑Feuille Kingdom and abducted the beautiful Princess Tiramisu. Eager to outdo his friend, Richard darts off in a boat while the Sablé Prince chases after him, and during their journey both princes, along with several companions, are magically turned into frogs.

The witch Mandola, who brews potions granting frog and snake forms, becomes their guide. With the help of Jam the thief and the rideable mech Ikari‑Z, the transformed heroes battle the Croakian army and uncover Delarin’s true nature—a snake planning a feast of frogs. In the climax Mandola is revealed to be Princess Tiramisu in disguise, and the frogs are restored as peace returns to Mille‑Feuille.