First look: Zapper

Infogrames has released a handful of new shots of its diminutive new game hero Zapper in action. Zapper, who was created by the same team responsible for developing Frogger 2, is a cricket with the ability to zap enemies using his antennae.

The game will see players guiding Zapper through six themed worlds--each containing several levels--on a mission to rescue his kid brother, Zipper, who has been kidnapped by Maggie the evil magpie queen. Areas Zapper will need to negotiate en route to Maggie's nest include a Wild West ghost town, a jungle canopy full of nut-throwing squirrels, and a sawmill filled with spinning blades, wood chippers, and the like.

According to Infogrames, Zapper has been designed with classic gameplay principles in mind, and it features a gentle learning curve to ensure that new gamers won't be intimidated. The later levels of the game, which will feature some challenging obstacles and brain-teasing puzzles, are apparently demanding enough to satisfy even the most experienced gamers. In addition to the single-player adventure, the game will feature support for up to four players in head-to-head competition in a series of minigames.

Zapper is due for release on the PS2, Xbox, and PC in November. The GameCube and Game Boy Advance versions of the game will be released in February 2003. For more information, check out our previous coverage of the PS2 and PS2 versions of the game.