Is it normal for my game to start with Superfrog up in the air and then falling just to lose a life every time? This happens no matter if I'm doing a restart or a new game. I've pushed every key on the keyboard with no luck.

As for all I know you don't actually loose a life when this happens: It is just an animation/excuse for showing you how many lives you have left when you begin a level or loose a life.

When I start a new game with 7 lives, Superfrog falls and then I have 6 lives. If I start a game with 3 lives, then he had 2 lives after that fall. I'll have to look more, but that's what I'm seeing.

When you start a new game with 7 lives, Superfrog informs you that you have 6 lives left. I believe it doesn't count in the "current" life you are using. That means that when you start a game with 1 life, Superfrog will inform you that you have 0 lives left.

Thanks, Stockpile. But I've been paying closer attention and when I start a game with 7 lives (or 5 or 3), I fall from the sky, get the dizzy animation and Superfrog fades away just he does if I lose a live on the spikes.

You are probably right in that it says I have 6 left, but it seems strange the fall at the beginning should have the same graphics as when I lose a life in the game.

If you hit P, the pause menu comes up and you can see how many lives you have left. As the counter which appears above SF is a little confusing, the best indication is to use the pause menu if you're uncertain.

The counter which appears above SF when he falls is always the number of extra lives you have (not counting the one you're using), so when it says 0, you're on your last chance. The menu will say 1 if you ask it at this point.

I found that odd also but you don't actually lose a life.