Menlo the Frog
| Menlo the Frog | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Presage Software[2] Windy Hill Software[1] |
| Publisher(s) | Windy Hill Software[2] |
| Platform(s) | Windows[2] Macintosh[2][3] |
| Release | January 1996 (retail version)[1] |
Menlo the Frog, also known as Menlo the Frog -- A Musical Fairy Tale, is a 1996 video game from Windy Hill Software. The game is a self-described musical fairy tale that takes young children on an adventure in which they learn musical skills, the value of exploration, critical thinking and some simple arithmetic.[4] It is for ages 3 to 7.[5]
Gameplay
[edit]Menlo the Frog — A Musical Fairy Tale takes children on a journey through an animated world, blending traditional storytelling with interactive musical learning. The story follows Menlo the Frog and Princess Winnicent as they confront the King of Later, who has stolen the key to music. To restore harmony to their land, players guide the characters across whimsical realms — from serene underwater paradises to eerie castles and swamps — engaging in musical challenges and moral quests along the way.
Gameplay balances structured narrative progression with open-ended exploration. Kids can follow the story linearly or dive into various activities using a clickable "map of the realm," which also doubles as a pause-and-return feature. The game's interface encourages replayability through diverse mini-games:
- High/Low Singing Clams: Helps children recognize pitch by interacting with sea creatures offering spelling, reading, and counting guidance.
- CanBe Critter Bridge: Lets players compose melodies using animal placement, adjusting instrumentation and tempo, with a grumpy troll managing resets.
- Beat and Rhythm Rainbow: Teaches rhythm by encouraging kids to tap in time with music via the space bar.
Advanced animation tools and sound design replicate the fluidity of classic cartoons, ensuring lifelike lip synchronization and immersive audio layering. With no parental guidance required, Menlo the Frog caters to a wide developmental range, promoting musical and moral growth.[1]
Development
[edit]Menlo the Frog was developed by Windy Hill Productions, a company based in Menlo Park, California.[6][1] Presage Software helped develop the game.[2] Ed Bogas composed the theme music, score, and lyrics for the game.[1]
Reception
[edit]| Publication | Score |
|---|---|
| Evansville Courier and Press | 4/4[7] |
| The Boston Globe | 5/5[8] |
Evansville Courier and Press gave the game a rating of 4 out of 4, saying "Simply put, Menlo the Frog is the best children's music program we've ever seen".[7]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e "New Kids Edutainment CD Delivers TV-Quality Animation and True Interactivity; "Menlo the Frog" Interactive Learning Cartoon Brings Musical Fairy Tale to Children Ages 3-7". Business Wire. September 18, 1995. Archived from the original on March 20, 2025. Retrieved March 20, 2025 – via Gale Research.
- ^ a b c d e "Presage Products - Menlo the Frog -- A Musical Fairy Tale". Presage Software. Archived from the original on June 14, 1997. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
- ^ Paulson, Mary. "Menlo The Frog: A Musical Fairy Tale". PC Magazine. Archived from the original on December 22, 1996. Retrieved March 28, 2025.
- ^ Magid, Lawrence (January 17, 1996). "The Cutting Edge: Compututing / technology / Innovation : Some Standouts in Software for Children". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on January 23, 2025. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
- ^ Furger, Roberta (December 1995). "Kids' corner: big fun for little tykes". PC World. Archived from the original on March 20, 2025. Retrieved March 20, 2025 – via Gale Research.
- ^ "About". Windy Hill Productions. Archived from the original on December 2, 1996. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
- ^ a b "Menlo the Frog: A Musical Fairy Tale". Evansville Courier and Press. May 15, 1996. p. 15. Archived from the original on April 14, 2025. Retrieved March 20, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Baratz, Adam (December 18, 1995). "Bringing out the composer in your kid". The Boston Globe. p. 30. Archived from the original on April 14, 2025. Retrieved March 20, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
External links
[edit]- Official website (archived)