The Frog for Whom the Bell Tolls (opens in new tab)

'While game’s title is a reference to “For Whom the Bell Tolls” by Ernest Hemingway...'

This is actually much, much older than Hemingway.

  No man is an island,
  Entire of itself.
  Each is a piece of the continent,
  A part of the main.
  If a clod be washed away by the sea,
  Europe is the less.
  As well as if a promontory were.
  As well as if a manor of thine own
  Or of thine friend's were.
  Each man's death diminishes me,
  For I am involved in mankind.
  Therefore, send not to know
  For whom the bell tolls,
  It tolls for thee.

  --John Donne

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Donne

For me personally this is one of my all time favourite games. It has a lot of charm and humour.

It looks like it's a zelda-like game, but because combat is deterministic rather than skill-based, it's really more of a puzzle game

What serendipity, I've just begun my own play through a few days ago after having learned of the game (as most of those in North America have) through the Link's Awakening cameo. It's thoroughly charming, makes me sad it never enjoyed a proper release outside of Japan.

If any readers here have an interest in retro gaming or (like me) loved Link's Awakening back in the day, I highly recommend giving it a look.

Thea article says the title is a reference to Hemingway, but Hemingway's use of it was a reference to John Donne. The latter is far more familiar to me. Its no more relevant to the game though.

From the title I'd assumed this was a mixed metaphor between boiling the frog and facing impending doom.

Maybe I need to stop AI doomscrolling for a bit.

Oh hey, it's the game I remember from the cameos in Link's Awakening and the Wario Land series. Honestly, I don't think anyone associates Mad Scienstein with this game anymore, given his appearances in Wario Land 3, 4 and Dr Mario 64.

It's a really fun little game with lots of character. I played the translation and picked up an original copy on my last trip to Japan.

> despite a few twists at the end: the Princess does not escape her fate

Which is? What fate?