Bonnie Bear Saves Frogtime is a hilarious game with a heartfelt message that we could all benefit from.
Just this past weekend, I took one more step into being less of an introvert. You see, I went to a rave. Yup, one of those thumping, obnoxious, and ear-deafening electronic music events. Why would I subject myself to it? Well, the truth is, I like to dance. Feel the music. Enjoy being with friends. The last time I went to such an outgoing situation was in 2019. I say this because I forgot that I am prone to dissociate in these moments. The large crowds, the loud music, and the social anxiety get to me. Feeling detached from reality, even if for a moment, is one of the worst feelings in the world. Like the story that Bonnie Bear Saves Frogtime tells, I am glad my friends had my back.
Bonnie Bear Saves Frogtime, as the title infers, is a deeply silly game. Underneath that veneer of unseriousness, though, is a tale as old as time, but one that bears repeating: friends are everything. Studies show friendships can help us live longer, healthier lives. But I digress. The game opens up with protagonist Bonnie Bear, a cartoony bear with a frog onesie, peacefully sleeping in his room. A close friend of his wakes him up at midnight because it’s his birthday! This celebration is short-lived, as conversations show that our dear Bonnie had been cooped up in his room for a long time.
I almost died in 2016. Well, maybe there’s no need to be so dramatic. But I did contract hepatitis A and fell ill. Could not get out of bed for long. As expected, my will to live, alongside my mental health, waned in those dark moments. And yet, one thing that saved me from that month-long disease was that one day, my closest friends surprised me by coming to my house. Although I could not laugh for long as I’d get dizzy, they made me remember that life is worth living and that the pain would dissipate. Eventually, it did.
They say friends are the family we choose, and I would like to hear the story of how Bonnie Bear found his family. A giant jester head, a sentient pineapple, and an…elf made from wood? are the friends that remind Bonnie of his self-worth. Not only them, but the tabletop minigame that revolves around the story, at least in the beginning. Frogtime is a deceptively simple game where your frogs need to get to the enemy’s field to cause damage and win the game. You can also customize your frogs by wearing little hats. Heh. The point is that Bonnie is able to get out of his rut by working towards a goal and being willed on by his friends.
Birthdays are always emotional anniversaries. We get to reminisce about how far we have come and the uncertainty of the future. We could feel inadequate, accomplished, or eager for the moment to pass. In my case, I go back to last August, when over 100 (!!!) of my internet friends took the time to write a birthday e-card with some of the most heartfelt messages that I have ever read. I think that the “debate” of whether internet friends are real friends can be put to rest. In any case, I often wonder what it is all for, and I will forever cherish that moment for reminding me: to connect with others.
Bonnie Bear Saves Frogtime is out now for Steam and Nintendo Switch.
