Trog (video game)
| Industry | Video game development and publishing |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States |
Area served | North America, Europe |
Key people | George N. Petro, Jack E. Haeger, Kurt Mahan, Chris Granner |
| Products | Trog (video game) |
Trog is a maze-based arcade video game created and distributed by Midway Manufacturing in 1990 across North America under the "Bally/Midway" brand, with Williams Electronics handling its release in Europe later on. Players assume control of one of four dinosaur characters who are chased by cavemen known as "Trogs." The gameplay resembles that of Pac-Man, involving item collection within a maze and utilizing special power-ups to gain an advantage, supporting up to four participants simultaneously. Initially designed as a puzzle and strategy hybrid, the game was redesigned into a style similar to Pac-Man following unfavorable feedback from testers. It features unique claymation visuals branded as "Playmation" by Midway. Ports for the Nintendo Entertainment System and MS-DOS were launched by Acclaim Entertainment in 1990 and 1991 respectively, though these versions limited multiplayer to two players. Both the arcade original and the NES adaptation garnered favorable reviews.
Gameplay
In Trog, players take on the roles of Theropod-like dinosaurs—Rex, Bloop, Spike, or Gwen—navigating through 49 islands in the realm called "Og," which is inhabited by one-eyed cavemen referred to as "Trogs." The objective involves gathering colored eggs scattered throughout maze-like environments while evading these hostile cavemen.
Differing from Pac-Man, the dinosaurs can perform attacks with punches at any time without needing power-ups. Various power-ups appear randomly to assist players in completing levels: red flowers boost movement speed; ice cubes temporarily immobilize all Trogs; pineapples transform the player into a T-Rex capable of devouring Trogs (akin to Pac-Man's power pellets); and firebrands provide brief fire-breathing capabilities.
The multiplayer mode accommodates two to four players competing to collect eggs matching their character’s color first. Participants can both attack or defend against each other, although power-ups affect every player equally. Many stages lack barriers, making it possible for characters to fall into surrounding waters if not careful. Trogs are also vulnerable to these hazards and can be knocked off edges for extra points.
Players can select from three difficulty settings: Easy, Advanced, and Expert. Arcade operators have the ability to modify difficulty levels without player knowledge. Completing Advanced mode grants a 200,000-point bonus, while Expert mode awards 400,000 points. As players advance through levels, Trogs become more intelligent and begin deploying traps such as fire pits, wheels, catapults, and transportation chambers, adding strategic complexity to gameplay.
Development
The creation of Trog was led by George N. Petro and Jack E. Haeger, both of whom had previously contributed to Midway projects including NARC. Haeger was responsible for crafting the artwork and developing the distinctive "Playmation" clay animation graphics used for character models. Programming was handled by George Petro alongside Kurt Mahan, while Chris Granner composed the music and sound effects. The original design concept titled "Revision 4.00" envisioned a puzzle/strategy experience where players controlled a hand placing bones to direct dinosaurs. This initial idea received negative feedback during testing phases and nearly resulted in the project's cancellation. Nevertheless, Midway continued development due in part to their investment in clay animation assets and a tester’s recommendation to pivot towards gameplay similar to Pac-Man.
Release
Trog launched in arcades in North America through Midway in March 1990 and subsequently reached European arcades via Williams in February 1991. A DOS port developed by Software Creations appeared that same year but supported only two players with Bloop and Rex as playable characters. In October 1991, Visual Concepts produced a version for the Nintendo Entertainment System published by Acclaim across North America and Europe. The NES adaptation featured several changes including revised graphics and audio, support for two players instead of four with Bloop and Spike as selectable characters, along with additional modifications.
Reception
Mark Caswell from Zzap!64 offered a favorable assessment of the original arcade edition of Trog. Similarly, the Nintendo Entertainment System adaptation garnered positive feedback from various reviewers.
Legacy
The arcade cabinet for Trog makes a brief appearance in the 1991 movie Terminator 2: Judgment Day. Characters originating from the game are included in subsequent Midway releases: one Trog can be found as a targetable "easter egg" in Revolution X, while dinosaur figures show up as adversaries in the "Rickety Town" stage of CarnEvil, which also features a Trog as a frozen display. It is worth mentioning that Haeger was responsible for the creation and direction of CarnEvil.