So maybe Nintendo will never make a truly great Paper Mario ever again. Lucky for us, Moonsprout Games may have cracked the chemistry of what many fans actually want from the series in Bug Fables. If you’re still mad about Sticker Star, or you’re still reeling about Color Splash, do yourself a favor and nab this masterpiece as soon as possible, and see what all the buzz is about. Rest assured, that even if Origami King turns out to be a dud, 2020 will see at least one great game with Paper Mario mechanics…even if it doesn’t bear its name.
At the end of the day, Bug Fables is wearing its inspirations proudly on it’s sleeve, and still adding on its own experiences that are both meaningful and fun for players. I had a blast with this game, and I highly recommend it to all kinds of players, whether they be looking to dive into a fun story with lovable characters, trying a more tangible, interactive combat-focused game, or just attempting a challenge. Bug Fables does not pull its punches, especially in it’s hard mode, but it gives such bountiful rewards, that I am simply left having to return the favor.
I would give this game a rating of around 9.6. It is a nostalgic representation of what made the original Paper Mario games so loved. The setting is pretty original for this type of game. The art style is nice to look at and goes well with the setting. The characters are by far one of the best parts. The main trio has their own mini stories that end up coming together as a uniform team who share the same goal. This goal takes great gameplay and uses it to freshen up what many fans of gaming have wanted for so long. It has amazing moments from beginning to end, and is truly an underrated and magical experience, truly fitting of a fable.
A Love letter toold-school Paper Mario Rpgs, at first I wasn't convinced with the bug theme but the visuals and the story are so well done I just have to love it. Definitely a must have for turn-based rpg fans. Excellent fighting system and hours upon hours of fun. Congratulations to the whole Dev team
If you love classic Paper Mario games, Bug Fables is an absolute must-have. It eases you in with everything you know and love from the Nintendo RPGs, then consistently impresses with new tweaks and innovations. It may lack the built-in charm of the Mario brand, but I fell in love with the characters and story just the same. I can confidently say it has earned a spot alongside the games that inspired its creation.
Bug Fables is much more than a loving tribute to the first two episodes of the Paper Mario franchise: it is a beautifully crafted rpg adventure that any Switch owner should not miss.
A bit of a triumph, Bug Fables is a superbly polished independent tribute to the first two Paper Mario games – but that's not to say it doesn't have its own, strong identity. The sheer familiarity is a little bit wearying at times – seriously, it's like it's been traced over in places – but Paper Mario with the serial numbers filed off is still a very good time. There's plenty to see and do, a rather compulsive card game to play and hidden secrets all over the place. Add all this silky-smooth performance, a splendid soundtrack and turn-based combat that's never less than engaging and you've got a surefire winner here. Maybe now people will quit "bugging" Nintendo for a throwback Paper Mario. Pun intended. (Sorry.)
Bug Fables: The Everlasting Sapling does an excellent job capturing the Paper Mario spirit while still being its own game and having its own identity, and the journey onto the Switch is essentially flawless. Though some of the platforming sections can be a little frustrating at times, the effort is all worth it to indulge in the fast-paced, well written tale of a trio of bugs.
Bug Fables: The Everlasting Sapling was made as a tribute to the Paper Mario series and in an attempt to recapture the spirit of the first game of the series. While Bug Fables does not succeed in this purpose, it does deliver a good game, with an addictive combat, well structured plot (and a lot of dialogues), as well as game world that's a marvel to look at. So while the more spiritual goal to pay tribute to Nintendo's series went off the mark, the secondary objectives to make a good game are undoubtedly successful.
This game is genuinely amazing and what I'd hope to get from anyone the modern Mario rpgs, if you're tired of origami king or color splash spend a fraction of that money on getting this strictly better game!
A cute game with likeable characters.
But it suffers of a few badly implemented mechanics I thought wouldn't exist anymore nowadays.
Three examples:
- The approximative controls when interacting with the environment, especially when using the bee's weapon.
- The problem you can't buy items in bulk. You have to restart the buying process for every single unit of an item.
- The missing of a combat restart option. When you're in a combat and you see in advance you'll lose it, you whether have to restart the whole game to get back to the last save spot or wait until every member of the team died.
Although it's got those technical anachronisms it's still a nice game to play.
Bug Fables is pleasant all around, but it really loses steam. The chapters all go on a little too long and things become tedious. I frequently found myself thinking, “oh no, not again” when activities/tasks would arise. I enjoyed the game, but the tediousness really brought the overall experience down.
i wrote a whole comprehensive review before meta critic just deleted it for no reason, and i'm not wasting my time writing that again, so instead i'll just say...
The art is ugly, the writing and story telling is bad, the combat is lacking, and the game is overall just overrated nostalgia bait.
SummaryFollow Vi, Kabbu, and Leif as they uncover the secrets of the Land of Bugaria! Explore and combine your team's abilities to solve puzzles, defeat powerful enemies and find ancient treasures!