Bugsnax

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Bugsnax
Bugsnax box art.jpg
Developer(s)Young Horses
Publisher(s)Young Horses
Director(s)Kevin Zuhn
Designer(s)John Murphy
Programmer(s)
  • Kevin Geisler
  • Devon Scott-Tunkin
Artist(s)
  • Christopher Stallman
  • Megan Varde
Writer(s)Kevin Zuhn
Composer(s)Seth Parker
EngineIrrlicht Engine
Platform(s)
Release
  • macOS, Windows, PS4
    • WW: November 12, 2020
  • PlayStation 5
    • NA/OC: November 12, 2020
    • WW: November 19, 2020
Genre(s)Adventure
Mode(s)Single-player

Bugsnax is an adventure video game developed by independent game studio Young Horses. In the game, players explore a mysterious island and attempt to find and capture the eponymous half-bug-half-snack creatures. The game was unveiled via an announcement trailer shown during Sony's PlayStation 5 live-streamed reveal event on June 11, 2020.[1] British indie pop band Kero Kero Bonito performed the game's theme song, which was featured in the announcement trailer.[2] The game was released on November 12, 2020 for the PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows, and macOS.[3] An expansion pack, Bugsnax: The Isle of Bigsnax was announced on October 27, 2021 and will release in the first quarter of 2022.

Gameplay[]

Bugsnax is a first-person adventure game, in which players traverse Snaktooth Island trying to find and capture different species of Bugsnax using various contraptions. 100 Bugsnak species are available for capture.[4] Once captured, the Bugsnax can be fed to the local Grumpuses, which transforms their bodies based on the properties of whatever Bugsnak they eat.[5]

Plot[]

Players control a nameless newspaper journalist, who one day receives a film strip in the mail from Lizbert Megafig, a disgraced explorer. Lizbert details the mysterious Snaktooth Island, inhabited by creatures called Bugsnax who are "half bug and half snack", and encourages the journalist to come to the island and document them for the world to see. Intrigued, the journalist makes their way onto the island, only to discover from Lizbert's assistant Filbo Fiddlepie that she has gone missing, and all the other Grumpuses that joined her on her expedition have scattered. Filbo requests that the journalist help him bring the others back to their makeshift home of Snaxburg so that they might band together and find out what happened to Lizbert.[4]

The journalist proceeds to return the Grumpuses to Snaxburg, one by one. However, the Grumpuses regularly argue with each other, and each of them have a specific issue in their life. Two Grumpuses, Snorpy Fizzlebean and Shelda Woolbag, believe that there is a secret conspiracy behind the island. Snorpy believes that the "Grumpinati" are controlling the Bugsnax, while Shelda, who refuses to eat Bugsnax (in public), warns of their harmful "toxins". One night, Snaxburg is attacked, and signs appear warning its residents to leave the island. Wiggle Wigglebottom, a banjo-playing singer, believes that the "Queen of Bugsnax" is planning to eat the Grumpuses.

After the journalist manages to bring all residents back to Snaxburg, a volcano erupts, triggering an earthquake that destroys the village. They are soon joined by Eggabell Batternugget, the village nurse and Lizbert's partner, who leads the journalist and Filbo to Lizbert's location. Upon arriving, they discover that Lizbert has been mutated into a giant creature made up of various Bugsnax. She reveals that Bugsnax are actually parasites that eventually transform anyone who regularly consumes them into more Bugsnax, and urges the group to flee the island while she attempts to keep the Bugsnax under control as their queen. Eggabell chooses to become part of the "queen" as well in order to support her efforts. Filbo and the journalist return to Snaxburg, which is now under attack from various Bugsnax. After fending off the Snax, the journalist, Filbo, and any surviving villagers leave the island on a balloon ship.

After returning to the mainland, Filbo stays with the journalist and acts as a witness for their story, in which they intentionally omit any mention of Bugsnax. Their supervisor, Clumby, is impressed with the story, but fires the journalist as she did not expect them to return. Filbo then decides to run for Mayor, asking the journalist's help.

Saving every Grumpus during the finale unlocks an alternate credits sequence, which reveals that Lizbert and Eggabell have been de-transformed, and a post-credits scene. In it, Clumby can be heard talking to a mysterious voice, believing that the journalist is hiding the truth and deciding to keep watch on them. The two are heard repeating "tu quid edas" (Latin for "you are what you eat") and "omne vivum ex Bugnsax" ("all life from Bugsnax"), implying them to be members of the Grumpinati. Meanwhile, a single Strabby (a Bugsnak resembling a strawberry) emerges from inside the ship.

Development[]

Young Horses took about six years to develop the game in order "not to burn out", as well as "to figure out what the game was."[4] The initial idea was when the company's creative director Kevin Zuhn drew a sketch of a "Wafflepillar"—a caterpillar made out of waffles.[4] Initially the gameplay was inspired heavily by Pokémon Snap, but over time the gameplay evolved into "a weird amalgamation of all of these different game ideas."[4] In addition to Pokémon Snap, the final game also takes inspiration from Ape Escape, Dark Cloud and Viva Piñata.[6] Zuhn also stated that during the developmental phase, the storyline for Bugsnax was intended to be much darker.[7]

The game was first revealed via an announcement trailer during Sony's Future Revealed PlayStation 5 event on June 11, 2020. The trailer featured the game's theme song "It's Bugsnax!", performed by British indie pop band Kero Kero Bonito. The song became popular in its own right, with GamesRadar calling it "the internet's new favorite meme ingredient", also writing "even if you haven't heard of Bugsnax, the game, there's a good chance you've probably heard Bugsnax, the theme tune."[5]

Reception[]

Bugsnax on the PlayStation consoles received "generally favorable reviews", while the Windows version saw "mixed or average reviews", according to the review aggregator Metacritic.[9][8][10] Several critics noted how the story and presentation was perceived as light hearted but that the ending's effect gave the plot a dark tone. The game was also praised for its emphasis on character development and worldbuilding.[18][19][20]

LGBT-video game blog Gayming Magazine praised the game's inclusion of same-sex couples.[21] The game was nominated for a GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Video Game.[22]

Sales[]

Despite releasing as a launch title via PS Plus on PlayStation 5 for two months, Bugsnax has outsold Octodad: Dadliest Catch, Young Horse's previous hit indie game.[23]

Potential sequel[]

In January 2021, Young Horses confirmed that a followup to Bugsnax is in the works. However, the team has not yet determined whether this will be in the form of a successor or downloadable content.[24]

During PlayStation's State of Play on October 27 2021, Bugsnax: The Isle of Bigsnax was announced as a free update coming in the first quarter of 2022.[25] It has been confirmed thus far for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5.[26]

References[]

  1. ^ Chris, Plante (June 11, 2020). "The new game from Octodad creator is Bugsnax and it features cuddly, living food". Polygon. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
  2. ^ "Bugsnax Song Writer Explains How Band Kero Kero Bonito Crafted The PS5 Game's Catchy Theme Song". GameSpot. June 28, 2020. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  3. ^ "Bugsnax's Official Website". Bugsnax. June 11, 2020. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  4. ^ a b c d e Suddi, Aran (June 19, 2020). "Interview – Talkin 'bout Bugsnax and its surprising inspirations with Young Horses". The SixthAxis. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  5. ^ a b Avard, Alex (June 26, 2020). "Big in 2020: Talkin' about Bugsnax with Young Horses co-founder Phil Tibitoski". GamesRadar. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  6. ^ Gilbert, Ben (June 20, 2020). "Here's how an adorable and bizarre new game from a tiny indie studio stole the show at the big PlayStation 5 reveal". Business Insider. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  7. ^ "Bugsnax's Original Ending was Darker Than Release Version". January 23, 2021. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  8. ^ a b "Bugsnax for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
  9. ^ a b "Bugsnax for PlayStation 4 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved November 12, 2020.
  10. ^ a b "Bugsnax for PlayStation 5 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
  11. ^ "Bugsnax Review". IGN. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  12. ^ "Bugsnax Review: Delicious and Nutritious". GameSpot. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  13. ^ "Bugsnax review: "A fantastic blend of bizarre and brilliant"". GamesRadar+. November 9, 2020. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  14. ^ "Bugsnax Review – Creative Nonsense". Game Informer. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  15. ^ "BUGSNAX REVIEW". PC Gamer. November 9, 2020. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  16. ^ "Bugsnax Review: Stranded on an Island and Lovin' It". USgamer. November 9, 2020. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  17. ^ "Review: Bugsnax". Destructoid. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  18. ^ "Bugsnax's Ending Is Some Wild Shit, But It Doesn't Really Work". Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  19. ^ "Bugsnax may not be scary, but it's still one of the most unsettling games I've played all year". November 18, 2020. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  20. ^ "HOW TO UNLOCK BOTH BUGSNAX ENDINGS AND WHAT THEY MEAN". Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  21. ^ Henley, Stacey (December 8, 2020). "The Queer Paradise of Bugsnax". Gayming Magazine. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  22. ^ "The Nominees for the 32nd Annual GLAAD Media Awards". January 28, 2021.
  23. ^ "Bugsnax is Big Sales Success for Young Horses Despite Being A Free PS Plus Game". February 2, 2021. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  24. ^ "Bugsnax DLC Or A Sequel Looks To Be On The Way To Conclude The Game's Story". Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  25. ^ "Bugsnax: The Isle of BIGsnax - State of Play Oct 2021 Reveal Trailer | PS5, PS4". YouTube. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
  26. ^ "Visit the Isle of BIGsnax in a free Bugsnax update coming next year". October 27, 2021. Retrieved October 28, 2021.

External links[]

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