Are they bugs? Or are they snacks? Or maybe they are something else entirely! Bugsnax (2020) Is a unique adventure game that borrows features from old-school 3D platformers, collectathons and first-person shooters. Set on the mythical Snaktooth Island, you are a grumpus (this world’s equivalent of people) working as a journalist and investigating the mystery of an expedition to the island. What first appears to be a casual story evolves into something more than most players would expect from a game with such cheerful and colourful marketing with a compelling cast of characters that you cannot help but become invested in.
Gameplay 7/10
The core gameplay centres around the eponymous ‘Bugsnax’ and the player’s quest to catch them. Along the way you will meet a varied cast of characters that will have plenty of side quests for you to help with, mostly centred around catching certain Bugsnax. How players catch these delectable creatures can vary as you obtain different gadgets to aid in this quest and the Bugsnax themselves have different natures, traits and personalities which presents a puzzle to the player about how best to capture them. There are some extra mini games throughout the game but these felt like mostly filler and a temporary step away from catching more Bugsnax, which did become noticeably repetitive about halfway through the game and at times felt more like a chore than actual fun. Thankfully, the game narrative proved to be a strong motivator to overcoming the grind and did help give the core gameplay strong purpose.
Game Narrative – 9/10
Bugsnax (2020) has an excellent game narrative that clearly cares a great deal about each character they put into the game. Even having finished the game I can fondly recall characters such as Shelda, Cromdo, Wiggles and Beffica and also explain to you their personality quirks and interests and probably give an impersonation of them such is the extent of their character development. The story starts off with a straightforward premise that has you gradually explore more and more of the environments on Snaktooth Island and meeting and assisting its many characters that many players will genuinely start to care about. I shall not spoil the ending, but rest assured there is a unique twist to the ending of Bugsnax (2020) that I definitely did not expect but found myself intrigued with, and delighted by, the bold direction the story took. If I have any criticism with the story, it might be that the idea of meeting, befriending and helping each character slowly becomes repetitive when it becomes obvious that you are simply going through the motions of bringing characters around to coming to terms with their own character flaws as individuals. This however does not significantly damage the great narrative that Bugsnax (2020) has managed to pull off.
Art Direction – 9/10
The cartoony, exaggerated and often absurd art direction of Bugsnax (2020) works very well with the silliness of the overall concept of the game. The colour palette and use of matte colours to clearly signify different objects and environments works well to indicate to players clear differences in game features whilst remaining consistent with the fictitious cartoon premise of the game. It was also interesting to see different models of similar Bugsnax, such as Kwookies and Cheezers, which are essentially recoloured variants of the same Bugsnax design, to show environmental variations of Bugsnax in different climates. This did at times feel a little creatively bankrupt, but the remodels weren’t so prevalent as to feel like cheapening the premise of finding and capturing all one hundred different Bugsnax.
Audio Design – 9/10
When thinking of audio design for Bugsnax (2020) the first, and most iconic, thing that comes to mind is the ridiculous voices of the Bugsnax themselves. Having clearly taken inspiration from Pokémon, the Bugsnax repeatedly say their own names and have their own unique voices, pitch and accents. I can clearly hear the deep, direct voice of the Bopsicles and the wispy sharpness of the Noodlers. Unfortunately, I can also here the disturbing moans of the Weenyworm which still disturbs me even now so it is fair to say some voices were better than others. Aside from the Bugsnax voices, other audio design, such as character interactions and gadget sounds, definitely work well to make the world of Bugsnax (2020) feel lively and full.
Score and Music – 9/10
I have had the pleasure to achieve the Platinum Trophy in Bugsnax (2020) twice, first when it came out and second within days of writing this review. In that whole time I had not forgotten the music of this game and it has, on occasion, creeped back into my mind as an earworm. The two most prevalent themes are the main score that plays upon entering Snaxburg, the main hub of the game, and the Iconic theme song, ‘It’s Bugsnax!’ by Kero Kero Bonito. The music is clearly infectious and I definitely think it is great. I am only hesitant to give it a full 10/10 because I am not entirely sure if the music repeating in my head is brilliant or annoying. Either way it is definitely iconic!
Game Design – 5/10
The overall game design of Bugsnax (2020) is basic. The map of Snaktooth Island gradually unlocks different areas with new Bugsnax and characters to see. These new areas each have some unique features but these ultimately do not go very far in testing the player in terms of skill or exploration. Perhaps this is where Bugsnax (2020) does not lean far enough into its platformer inspiration and could be an area to improve in any future games. As an adventure game, the level design and mechanics is decent enough and does not overstay its welcome and is occasionally broken up with a boss battle but even these are limited and often have similar mechanics to resolve.
Technical Execution – 4/10
Technical Execution is another area where Bugsnax (2020) can find improvement. The game ran just fine and there was nothing game-breaking in my time playing. However there were definitely many noticeable bugs and glitches that impacted the experience. There were occasional framerate drops when entering new locations and the AI of the Bugsnax themselves was often inconsistent with them behaving a certain way in one instance and then failing to acknowledge the player character at all in the next. There were also instances when Bugsnax glitched into the environment, such as when a Bopsicle became stuck in a cave. In the bigger picture, these glitches were minor and easily reset by leaving and returning to an area, but this did highlight how far Bugsnax (2020) has to go to be a refined game.
Character Design – 10/10
This is where Bugsnax (2020) shines the most. The characters are amazing, loveable and memorable. From Wambus Troubleham the farmer, to Snorpy Fizzlebean the paranoid inventor and sworn enemy of the Grumpinati, each character is unique and the game goes to great lengths to let you know that. If you choose to complete the side quests for each character (and you absolutely should!) you will be rewarded with great character development, sorrow, humour and a great gaming experience as you help your newfound friends on Snaktooth Island. The Bugsnax themselves are lively and charming and the grumpuses you meet are a great source of inspiration that some players may just learn a thing or two from. There is also an interesting mechanic in game where the Bugsnax can physically change the form of characters which enables you to design the gumpuses however you wish!
Overall Fun – 7/10
Game Direction – 7/10
The overall fun of Bugsnax (2020) is very good. The audio, music, game narrative and character design create a very unique experience that many people will enjoy. The gameplay itself is good but could definitely be improved with more creative game design and more refined technical execution. This could hopefully lead to more creativity in future games, perhaps including more platforming or puzzle mechanics. The vision that game director, Kevin Zuhn, has for Bugsnax is a strong one that leaves plenty of room for development in the future. I personally loved playing Bugsnax (2020) and believe it to be a very good game that, hopefully, has a very bright future!
Overall Rating – 76/100
