Bugsnax was one of many standout games revealed during Sony’s PlayStation 5 Future of Gaming event back in June. Created by OctoDad: Dadliest Catch Developer Young Horses, this kinda bug kinda snack themed game more than exceeded my expectations and has enough charisma to appeal to both kids and adults alike. Here are more of my thoughts on why this is one PlayStation Plus PS5 offering that may be worth downloading right now.
Bugsnax could be best described as a single-player first-person narrative-driven adventure game. After receiving an invitation to Snaktooth Island from fearless explorer Elizabert Megafig, you are tasked with exploring the mysteries of the island along with the fascination behind unique bugs turned delicacy items simply called Bugsnax. As an investigative journalist, players are able to interview the island’s inhabitants known as Grumpuses, examine clues, capture Bugsnax, and participate in cool and challenging puzzles.
A World Filled With Personality And Life
One of the very first things that fascinated me is just how entertaining both the story and writing actually are. The narrative structure revolves around uncovering the truth behind Elizabeth’s disappearance, the phenomenon behind Bugsnax, and why it transforms body parts of every character who consumes them. Interestingly enough, many of the themes tackled within the game appeal to all types of audiences regardless of age. For a game that has been secretly in development for the last 6 years, you can tell that Young Horses has thought long and hard about this world and the characters within it, effectively creating a very polished concept as the end result. Every Grumpus has a certain level of charm and personality to them that keep interactions interesting and you’ll in turn be guaranteed to have a good time exploring the island and all of its wonders.
Another one of Bugsnax‘s strengths lies within its core gameplay mechanics. As you travel through various parts of the island and meet different characters, you have the ability to scan, lure, and capture various types of Bugsnax using cleverly orchestrated contraptions. This is where the puzzle elements come into play as you will need to use your head and tools to successfully complete dedicated objectives and quests. In addition to this, you also gain access to a Bugapedia diary early in the game that reveals likes, dislikes, and ways to catch certain creatures. As I mentioned above, the development team has gone above and beyond to commit to this wacky idea and it shows just by how creative and profoundly engaging the overall experience is.
Fun Gameplay And A Memorable Soundtrack
I absolutely love the art style used to create this game. Every Grumpus that you’ll come across has different characteristics about him or her that makes them unique. The talented actors and actresses that voice these characters succeed in adding extra layers to their personality counterparts which in turn leads to some memorable and comical performances from beginning to end.
To go along with great voice acting, the original soundtrack for Bugsnax is absolutely mesmerizing. The iconic “It’s Bugsnax” theme by Kero Kero Bonito is wildly catchy and I was surprised by how invigorating the rest of the music from the game is too. To get a better idea of what I mean, you can listen to the entire soundtrack right here.
An Even Greater Value With PlayStation Plus
If you are still on the fence about whether or not this game is worth your time, then I would like to take a moment to remind you that it is currently available to PlayStation 5 PS Plus subscribers for free until January 4th, 2021. This is an overall excellent value for what you are getting here and means that you have a little bit of time to explore this game for yourself and see what it has to offer.
Bugsnax is a clever, and captivating narrative-driven adventure game designed to keep you entertained for hours on end. By creating a unique world filled with kinda bugs kinda snacks, Young Horses has succeeded in fully embracing a new concept and has in turn created a fun PS5 launch title worth checking out.
This review was written based on a digital review copy of Bugsnax for the PlayStation 5 provided by Young Horses and Popagenda PR.
