Game:

Bug Fables: The Everlasting Sapling (2019)

Duration: 4:07:18

5 views

0

As I've said, I have not enjoyed myself this much with a game in a long time.

I've been looking forward to this:
Gameplay: 9/10
I'm probably biased, but this game work into the Paper Mario battle style flawlessly. World map traversal is also interesting with plenty to find in the world. This game also gives a neat iteration on its inspiration by having a party of three where enemies prioritize the leader more often in addition to the leader dealing 1 more damage. The medal system works as well as you'd expect if you played TTYD. There are even a few unique combos were mixing items that cause status effects give the character with the equipped badge special buffs. A flaw I see is that there are obvious roles for the party, so eventually you settle into a meta if you're facing the hardest bosses on hard mode. That meta being Kabbu with defense and the favorite one badge, taunting most turns, Vi stacking damage boosts and using the built in Power Bounce damage mechanic to deal crazy damage and Leif passing the damage charge buff to Vi or making Kabbu invincible for a turn. Although, a meta exists there is some skill needed for blocking moves. The interactivity in what is a turn based fight is what make me love this system.

Story: 8/10
The main story is alright. It has a few good moments in it. And some plot is hidden behind bestiary entries they don't tell you to look at (eh). But the game's story shines with the side content and learning about all of the different characters. The Spy feature is really good how all 3 main characters have their own opinions about enemies in battle. Even using the feature outside of battle, every single map has a unique message (sometime multiple) and banter between the characters and most NPCs have extra messages if that feature is used on them.

Sound: 7.5/10
Rating this part is hard. The music, although almost all good, feels like it could be mixed better. I can't say I would do better, but I feel like if someone went through and did a "super arrange" version of the OST, I could put this at a 8.5 or a 9. Outside of the OST, the many little sound effects are nice, and quite a few of them are stuff that'd be right at home in TTYD.

Graphics: 9.5/10
I can't complain much. Bug Fables holds a style well through the whole game. Some of the 3D stuff in battles, like spider legs, look wonky. That's all I got for the bad. Environments look good and varied (outside of the desert because sand) and the eeriness of everything in the last area is kinda great. NPCs often have varying sprites, especially those involved in the story. And many of the sprites are quite expressive.

Other Stuff:
There are bonus codes that add fun modifiers and limiting yourself can lead to interesting challenges, but once you complete all of the games quests and gauntlets, there's no new content. It's still a good 40 hours on hard mode though.

Overall: 9/10
I'm breaking the averaging of the scores because I think my 9/10 is what the game deserves. Even if the OST could be mixed better, it still fits right at home in this game. If you like turn based RPGs or would give Nintendo all of your money for a true Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door successor, play this game.

Now I get to jump from my favorite genre to one I usually avoid. Let's go platforming.

Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/mTezKYn
Watch the stream live at: https://www.twitch.tv/adamantspartan
Streamed on: February 25, 2022

Other Statistics