The Bug Butcher!
So The Bug Butcher has been sitting in my steam library for a few years now. This charming little indie title is listed as a shorter game , so let's squash these bugs and add another name to the "completed" list.
Revisiting the game after a few years isn't so bad, the controls and game mechanics are simple and arcade-like in nature; run side to side, dash, shoot, and activate powerups. Objectives are simple, just shoot all the damn bugs before they overtake you and the scientist(s) and mind the timer! While simple, gameplay is really rewarding. The game is a little more complex than just running and shooting. As enemies fill the screen, they will often bounce around game area, requiring you to time their rebounds and sprint underneath them to make your shot, keep in mind, you can only shoot toward the ceiling in this title.
Every few rooms there's and elevator boss type mission that turns up the intensity with some environmental hazards and tougher enemy types. For example; while some enemies will get launched back into the air from your bullets, others will fall right through your projectiles and crush you.
Enemy types mostly are of the 'bouncy ball' variety, though others will crawl on the ceiling and dangle their long gross tentacles to snatch up scientists, others are of the face-hugger type, with a short distance jump and the ability to one-shot the player. I found all these challenges welcome, though at no point reaching a difficulty that made me want to quit.
The final stage wasn't so hard, roll credits, a little "thank you for playing" gave me Super Mario World nostalgia, very nice.
Another title down, tons to go. Stay tuned for more backlog busting, reviews, and top-level critique. Until then, stay hydrated, homies!
The Bug Butcher was developed and published by Awfully Nice Studios back in 2016. Players will control a space exterminator, tasked with protecting the scientists of an off world laboratory.
Strafe left and right firing at the ceiling to kill the bouncing bugs and catch any dropped coins or useful powerups, all while avoiding collisions and building up your combo score. After beating a few levels visit the shop to upgrade your base stats and powerups, then it's onto the next area, or revisiting previous levels to gain a 3 star rating and more coins. The Bug Butcher's main selling points are the smooth animation, cartoony graphics and addictive gameplay, this is all accompanied by equally charming sound effects, with some large enemies emitting a little "pffrt" sound when spawning their young. The Bug Butcher really is a textbook indie game, though like all games, it's been sitting in my backlog for far too long.
As Good As I Remember
Playing The Game
Enemy types mostly are of the 'bouncy ball' variety, though others will crawl on the ceiling and dangle their long gross tentacles to snatch up scientists, others are of the face-hugger type, with a short distance jump and the ability to one-shot the player. I found all these challenges welcome, though at no point reaching a difficulty that made me want to quit.
The final stage wasn't so hard, roll credits, a little "thank you for playing" gave me Super Mario World nostalgia, very nice.
In Closing
There's really something nice about revisiting a game and it being as good or better than you remember. The Bug Butcher is a solid title, a little short, but it's built for replay-ability. A great game for couch co-op and casual play, it's even been released on Nintendo Switch.
Another title down, tons to go. Stay tuned for more backlog busting, reviews, and top-level critique. Until then, stay hydrated, homies!
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