Beyond the Pond: A Look Back at the Frogger II: ThreeeDeep! Ad
In the mid-1980s, video game ads weren’t just promotions—they were bold promises of adventure. One of the most striking examples is Parker Brothers’ ad for Frogger II: ThreeeDeep! (1984), which dared players to leap “Beyond the Pond” and into uncharted danger.
At first glance, the ad grabs you with oversized, comic-style lettering splashing out of the water. A frog’s legs dangle in motion, as if it’s already mid-jump into action, while a dragonfly hovers on the “O” like a little hint of the perils awaiting our amphibian hero. This was a game determined to expand on the original Frogger’s simple street-crossing challenge, and the ad made sure players knew it.
From the Street to the Sky
The tagline “ThreeeDeep!” wasn’t just playful exaggeration—it was literal. The game offered three distinct levels of play: underwater, on the surface, and up in the sky. The ad spells out the dangers lurking in each layer, with everything from sneaky eels and powerful currents below, to hippos and sharks at the surface, and finally, a flying dragon named Clyde waiting to zap you from above. Suddenly, the hazards of crossing traffic in the original Frogger felt tame compared to this multi-tiered gauntlet.
A New Kind of Challenge
What’s clever about this ad is how it paints the game as a natural evolution. Frogger isn’t just trying to get home anymore—he’s exploring whole new worlds. The copy promises you’ll “need eyes in the back of your head” and challenges players’ reflexes in ways the first game couldn’t. It cleverly taps into the ‘80s arcade mentality: the idea that video games were supposed to test your skill, reflexes, and nerve.
Retro Charm
Another charming detail is the way the ad highlights the different platforms available—Atari 2600, 5200, ColecoVision, and Commodore 64—complete with pixelated screenshots showing the new environments. For gamers of the time, these screenshots weren’t just decoration; they were a peek into what your system could do, and proof that you’d be getting something more than just a re-skinned Frogger.
Why It Stands Out Today
Looking back, this ad captures that magical moment in gaming history when sequels weren’t just about “more of the same”—they were about bigger worlds, crazier challenges, and a chance to outdo what came before. The excitement is palpable, and even today, you can almost feel the arcade joystick in your hand as you read lines like, “Are you up to the challenge? Find out. New Frogger II ThreeeDeep!”
For retro game enthusiasts, this ad isn’t just nostalgia—it’s a snapshot of a time when video games were leaping boldly forward, one pixelated hop at a time.
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