Bug Fables: The Everlasting Sapling

that sure was a bug fable

It's like the first two paper mario games but with bugs
what more could you want?
Great game, loving it so far

This game is spectacular in both it's story telling and gameplay department, never missing a beat and always managing to keep the pace flowing in this 30+ hour long experience.

It builds off of Paper Mario's mechanics of simple combat with a item, badge and FP system and perfects it.
Gone are the typical partners and instead we get three party members with unique applications against every enemy in the game, often making you think about how you want this and following turns to play out.

Badges are generally well utilized and can focus from unique character specific buffs and special attacks to general team wide / ally buffs. Often I would switch out badges for fighting bosses or generally roaming the world.

Items have played a way more prevalent role compared to my playthroughs of PM64 and TTYD; they are cheap and plentiful and encourage using them in battles often to help scrape by or gain an advantage.
Cooking and combining items was really well done, you can cook and pretty much transmute every item in the game either by cooking a singular or combining two items together.
It was fun to experiment to see what recipe I would unlock by doing this.

Hard Mode is another system that is really well executed, sharing similar ideas with Terraria's Expert Mode.
Most enemies are given buffs in the form of health, attack and defense, with some enemy behaviour also being made more aggressive. This comes with the benefit of being given more experience, currency drops, better item drop chances and badges being given for free as soon as they would've become available in normal mode from an NPC.
This is something I've always wanted in Nintendo's RPG games but was always disappointed when the game becomes boring due to a lack of difficulty.

The story was really fun to follow, often surprising me and keeping me guessing what would happen next.
I also found myself often going out of my way to see what every NPC had to say and see what the main party had to say about each room and enemy, everyone oozes with personality, especially the main trio.
The music and visual presentation was always a treat.

If you are reading this and you haven't played this game before, play this game on hard mode and you will have the best classic paper mario esque experience you will probably ever have.

I have never played a Paper Mario game in this style before, the only one I ever have played was Paper Mario Color Splash. I loved that game for the characters and world it had, even if I have to admit that it does fall short in some places, especially with combat. A friend of mine recommended Bug Fables to me and after taking a look at it, I decided to pick it up, thinking "This will be a fun little distraction for the next few days." Fast forward 1 week and I have just now beaten the game and it has already become my 2nd favorite RPG ever.

The combat is really, REALLY fun in this game. There's a lot you can do with the medals to create tons of different and unique builds as well as the depth of the combat system without any of that, although the interesting medals do bring it up a notch. The music is also incredible, within your first 3 hours of the game you'll probably have turned the music volume all the way up or higher than all the rest because bad music is just not a thing in Bug Fables. There's an insanely large variety of characters in this game and each one is unique and interesting in their own ways. The main cast is incredibly likeable and there's never a dull moment in any of the interactions. Even the side/background characters are really memorable, as each one gets their own unique model. Even if you don't talk to them at all you will likely be able to recognize most of them. This game has a lot of lore, and it's all really good, I had a really limitied understanding of it yet I was still completely invested in it and the main story during the entirety of my 22 hour playthrough.

I do have a few gripes with this game, mainly being that some fights can be a little tough without specific builds and there are some confusing points where it's a little unclear where exactly the game expects you to go/what it expects you to do. There's also the problem with some bosses just being able to kill your entire team with sometimes unstoppable combos which can be quite annoying at times. It's also not that nice to take away healing saves after the first chapter when there are places like Chapter 3 where you can just get stuck without the option to heal, only being able to fight to save up 8 berries (main currency) for a full heal. If you only tend to bring items for bosses and not for wandering around you will likely have some trouble. The game is just generally kinda stingy with some resources, unless you're willing to do extra grinding which can in some cases throw off the already questionable balancing of some sections.

Even though those problems exist, they get outshined incredibly hard by just how fun the game is in general. It's a really well crafted adventure that just feels good to play, and it already has me wishing I could go do it all for the first time again. Buying this game full price is an absolute steal. If you've been considering buying Bug Fables, I highly, highly recommend you go ahead and play it.

Even if you've never played its inspirations, this game is still incredible. Highly recommended for anyone who's really into character interactions.

I have poured over 80 hours in to console, 15 on switch, and can confirm that this game is worth way more than 9$

It's an awesome game, I recommend! An enjoyable play with awesome main cast of characters, listening to their dialogues was always a treat! The game comes with "rumors" button where you can click it in any place or next to any NPCs and the party will talk about them; such a simple yet great way for world-building.

I'm surprised it took me 45 hours to complete the main story! I was expecting to be done with the game in 10-20, but it provides a positively surprising amount of content! And I'm still not done with everything.

The combat is also pretty nice. The numbers are generally low, which makes it much easier to see the difference certain effects cause; it's definitely a strong impression when your attack deals 3 instead of 2 damage.

hrrrrnghhh. Oh those is buges

Too many bugs

bugs

If you enjoy Paper Mario games or the Mario & Luigi series then you'll love this game

Is bug and is Fable

it good

if you enjoyed the first two paper mario games you will love this

-Fun gameplay loop with lots of customisation to change how you battle

-Amazing character writing/World building

-Cute art

if you enjoy these kinds of RPGs i highly suggest

them queer beetle and moth makes me MAD

Buggy

god all of the bugs are so hot

you telling me a bug made these fables?

Paper mario if it were good

Bug Fables is amazing in terms of feeling like the classic Paper Mario games while having its own characters and story to tell. Lots of passion and love put into every aspect of the game. Highly recommend to try it out if you have the time.

Very good game, thats all i have to say

Peak Fiction

I've got to say, if this isn't my favorite RPG (i don't know which that is!), it's definitely got my favorite characters, dialogue and story. Never played that paper mario, so i can't comment on the similarities like a lot of people like to on this one, and can also confirm you do not have to be a fan of that to love this.

Love the combat. The game deals with small numbers, rarely two digits of damage ever, and very consistent (even when it doesn't feel like it) rules you'll gradually learn if you pay attention. Once you've mastered it, you'll always know exactly how much damage you or a given enemy's different attacks can deal under specific conditions. This doesn't mean the repeated regular battles in new areas get old fast with this little randomness, as you'll still be managing your resources to try and get through however many there'll be. Put on the hard mode you get right at the beginning if you want it even a little bit, it's fun.

The best part about this game for me though, hands down, was the yap button. They undersell it so bad, introducing it as the 'i'm stuck and need a hint' button. Press it at any unique screen, and your party plus sometimes the extra follower you have at some points in the story will talk to each other about it- press it within interacting range of any unique character and they'll gossip about them to their face. Truckloads of entirely optional dialogue, there's even one per party member per unique enemy. I *adored* getting to new areas for this reason primarily, and the conversations were always gold. So glad the party never gets any bigger, it gives them so much room to know each other.

I love this game i wish bugs were real

Bug Fables: The Everlasting Sapling is a perfect example of taking an existing concept, adapting it with a unique spin, and adding upon said initial concept with new ideas to elevate beyond and make itself unique. In this case, this game delivered a JRPG experience akin to the Paper Mario series while creating a distinctive art style and theming with insects and environments that immerse players into a world that will charm and captivate them from starting their playthrough. In addition, Bug Fables: The Everlasting Sapling adds to these points by introducing new gameplay features, such as Turn Relay, along with mixing and matching positioning within battles to allow players a unique style that makes it stand out from the series that inspired it.

Overall, I highly recommend that anyone who loves the "Paper Mario" series, is a fan of JRPGs, or an indie enthusiast try this game and see what charm there is within Bug Fables: The Everlasting Sapling.

I guess for background, I've known of this game since about a week before launch, played about 10 hours, and then got spoiled on some big plot points and stopped playing. Also, while I've played up to chapter 3 in TTYD my paper mario knowledge bank is super small.

Finally over 3 and a half years after when I last tried playing the game, I sat down and did a whole replay, up to and past where my old file had stopped. And turns out that the several of my friends who had this either as one of their favorite games or just straight up their favorite game, they were right. This game really is something special, and I see it.

First off, the heart and soul of this game resides entirely within Team Snakemouth and their interactions with not only themselves, but the entire world. They were all lovely to have, their different personalities giving a fun range of emotions throughout.

The world design I wanna also get to because it does something I never see non open games do anymore, which is reward exploration. During chapter 4 I decided to go somewhere, and I gained multiple levels, found an item for a quest I didn't even have accepted, and beat a pretty tricky optional boss. And then after that I went on my merry way enjoying the various rewards (such as the medal I got for beating the optional boss).

And with that, while I didn't explore the combat much it seems like there's a ton of fun stuff you can do. I cleanly took out a lategame boss in 3 turns just utilizing the various buffs I could put onto one character and making them dish out a powerful multi-hit attack which felt really fun.

I also thought the general plot was interesting, and some twists and turns really did perk me up when they happened, and I even got a little bit of a surprise in there once or twice (would've been more had it not been for the 5 year old spoiler).

What most people see in Bug Fables is a return to form that a series has not tried to go back to. What I see, without any bias to have, is a really fun RPG that feels expansive in it's little world with a big yet extremely charming cast.

Very cute. Funny bug game.

This game is amazing. An incredibly solid RPG that fans of the Mario RPG games will sure love. I was not expecting to spend so much time on this little RPG about bugs.
I've played a bunch of other RPGs with similar mechanics, and my issues with them are simply the games are far too easy. I'm 99% sure that they never even made a game over screen for the Mario and Luigi series because the developers must have known that no living soul would ever see it. But this game has the right amount of challenge, since it gives you the hard mode from the very start. The battles feel well designed and tactical since every single enemy in the game is designed with a clear weakness to one of your party members abilities.
The story is fun, the characters are so lovable, the music is catchy. 10/10 wish I could play it for the first time all over again.

peak game

A fun, charming game with a neat story. I really enjoy how this game has a variety of strats you can use as well as actual difficulty compared to classic Paper Mario. There were a bit too many Beemerang hold puzzles in the first half of the game for my liking.

Aside from a few softlocks and general jank when it comes to movement and puzzles, the game's great.

I put in over 100 hrs on the switch version and would give that version a 10/10. I always recommend this game for anyone looking for hidden gems. The steam version does have the error of not showing the correct button prompts, but still a great game 9/10

I really enjoyed my time with this game, I just 100% completed it and I had fun for nearly the entire time. The game has great characters that are charming and enjoyable to follow along with, the turn-based gameplay is fun and customizable, and the art style is simple but effective. I highly recommend this game!

incredibly enjoyable game, go play it

10/10

paper mario 64 / ttyd but bug

Hidden Gem

SPOILERS AHEAD

The video game industry today is overwhelmed with endless amounts of expensive downloadable content and season passes, giant budget games that take decades to release (if they do at all), unfinished games that are "finished later" with updates, and live service games that can never be played again once the powers that be pull the plug.

Bug Fables: The Everlasting Sapling is a shining beacon of hope, a dazzling reminder of what video games used to, and what they still can, be. From its remarkably quick (compared to most games nowadays) development time, especially for an independent game, going from conception to release in 2017(?)-2019, to the fact that it released to the public as a complete, finished game. In fact, the only thing stopping this game from being a cult classic release on the Gamecube or PS2 are the infrequent FREE content updates, which by no means "finishes the game later." Regardless, within those three years of dev time, the developers packed an experience that you will never forget.

Its gameplay outside of battle is a blast and part of the reason its that fun is exploring the beautiful world that the game has to offer. You will run about the Ant Kingdom with its anthill, the Bee Kingdom and its hive with its complex honey factory chugging along, and the technologically advanced, somewhat futuristic Termite Kingdom, among so many others. As you talk to all of these places' inhabitants, they will all stick in your mind, as they are all unique and have unique stories to tell, something that is so very appreciated in a RPG. If you have the game's artbook, this undoubtedly leads to cries of "I remember you!" on every page as you read through it. That is how memorable even the smallest of side characters end up being. And through the lore books, tattle system, and overworld tattle system, you discover more and more about the world, and endear yourself to these wonderful characters.

Its gameplay inside of battle is remarkable for just how exceptionally it manages the old phrase of "easy to learn, hard to master." Once you figure out how it works, an entire world of strategies is at your disposal, so long as you know how to use your medals, items, and status conditions correctly. The creativity and ingenuity that this game's battle mechanics produce will leave you a smarter person after playing, after you say to yourself throughout so many times "what would happen if I did this?" or "if I do this, can I do this with it?" The advanced strategies for this game will leave you shellshocked, and there isn't really any singular "OP" strategy, either. You can beat this game in any way you like, any way you discover, which leads to an endless amount of replayabilty, for no two playthroughs of Bug Fables will ever be exactly alike. Some will blast through it an overpowering Vi, some will tank with a defensive focused Kabbu, and some will freeze and breeze through with a boosted Leif.

Now that I have mentioned the game's protagonists, its feels like a better time to talk about this game's story. And what a story it is. The plot is not told through endless, no input from the player, pre-rendered cutscenes either. It is told through cutscenes, of course, but it is also told through the gameplay. It is also told through your head, as the story's very structure encourages you to make inferences and craft your own theories on the very few, deliberate questions it leaves. The plot itself breeds creativity, and encourages you to stay immersed in the world by adding on to it yourself even after beating the game.

Not only does the story inspire you to create, but it will also inspire you to *live life*. Through this game's seven chapters, you will laugh (a lot), you will sob, of both sorrow and joy, and you will cheer. There is such a range of topics that is dived into in this story, from the overwhelming survivor's guilt of having been sacrificed for by your dearest friends, the struggle of living in and trying to prove yourself to a place that doesn't seem to want you nor understand you, and the unfathomable reality of getting a second lease on life, only for it to have been long, long after you had passed.

In case you couldn't tell, these are the stories of Kabbu, Vi, and Leif, respectively. Before the game's events and during the game's events they have all suffered, all in their own ways. But though they have suffered, they do not take their pain out on others. As the three grow closer to each other, towards the end practically becoming family, they help pretty much every single bug they come across. They help others, so they don't have to suffer like they did. Team Snakemouth are the complete opposite, the direct antithesis to the main villian, Hoaxe. Hoaxe has also suffered like Team Snakemouth, but he does not have the strength of character to do what they do. He wants power and status, and not just that, he wants everyone else to suffer like he did.

To put it more simply...

Hoaxe: "I suffered, why shouldn't they?"

Team Snakemouth: "I suffered, and I'll do my best to help others because of it."

That, along with the idea that you should be yourself and listen to what your heart tells you, are what I believe to be the main themes of this game's story. Be Team Snakemouth. Love your family and friends. Help others in every single way you can. Protect your loved ones. Have fun. Laugh. Create good times. Be Team Snakemouth, not because you'll be rewarded with fame or fortune or power, but because its the right thing to do. Because you will be happier, feel more fulfilled, and feel content with your life if you do so.

I was going to mention how parts of this game's story will lead you to asking yourself questions about life itself and what it all means, but you just saw that for yourself, didn't you? This game will leave an everlasting impression on you, one that will make you a better person. It did for me.

Bug Fables is a triumph in the sometimes bleak modern video game industry, but it is not just that. It is a statement of what a video game can truly be. It is a masterpiece, not just in gaming, but in *art* as a whole. It is something that tells you that being kind is still the right way to live life, in a world that oftentimes will tell you otherwise. Chivalry, despite what they say, is not dead. It can be found right here, in Bugaria. And once you find it there, you'll discover that it's alive in your own heart, too. It was always there. It was just waiting for the day that you would select it.

Goodwill, altruism, and kindness have and always will be transcending, overpowering, and everlasting.

Masterpiece/10.

🪲🐝🦋

A fantastically crafted small-numbers JRPG that is dripping with passion, style, and love at every single moment.

The writing is tight, The combat is well-constructed in a way that is fun and encourages a ton of different play-styles, and I would GLADLY kill and die for every one of the main characters.

I cannot emphasize enough how much I'm loving this game. May very well turn out to be among my favorites.

9/10 I had seen this game recommended as a good indie RPG. I decided to pick it up after much contemplation. I have to say this is one of the best video games, I have every played. The story bits were amazing and super charming. Also the characters especially the main trio are outstanding. In terms of gameplay, it a little bit on the boring side but I expect that out of an RPG game. This game is worth every penny.

P.S. No spoilers but the ending made me cry and I was so sad it was over.

honestly just a wonderful game that was fun to complete 100%
medal builds in this game are insanely fun, i reccommend you pick all medals if you plan to pick this game up
kabbu is the goat i love him

Scrunkly bugs.
10/10

this is a homage to one of the greatest games ever made ( paper mario thousand year door ) and i loved every second of it.

i wrote a review of this game on YouTube and gave it a 9.7/10, i love this game with all my heart and i sincerely hope you play it

Very good rpg would highly recommend even if you dont play paper mario

i would violently impregnate crisbee for free

Let's be real, you already know if this game is going to appeal to you or not. It's basically Paper Mario. If you're here for that, cool, buy it. If not, why are you here?

This game has a lot of bugs.

Ok so if you (like I was) are unsure about this game because "doesn't it look too simplistic? And in the videos I see attacks only do 1 or 2 damage at most?" - then I'm here to reassure you that it IS in fact a great game, and its overwhelmingly positive rating is absolutely deserved. This game was obviously made with love, and it definitely shows.

The combat system basically requires you to experiment - you will NOT become able to steamroll through everything just by leveling up... in fact, the base damage level of your characters will remain at 2 all the way until you hit the level cap. But there are other ways to increase your team's power, and every single unit of damage or defense or HP really counts, and it's just so... pure and precious.

There's a good storyline too, with backstories for all your characters to be explored, and most or all of it is some combination of awesome and touching/wholesome. Some humor, too. An example: one character might become a card dueller, with the other 2 being just on the side, cheering/supporting... except one of them is so supportive that when the first one takes damage in game, this one would be affected by it more from the spectator position, just from sheer empathy. Awesome, funny and wholesome, all at once.

Oh and the simplistic style is one of the appeals - the characters here have felt more expressive than in some AAA titles. Sure, those games might have 3d models, floating particle effects, DLC costumes for customization, etc - and here one of the characters only has one eye visible with the rest of his face always in shadow, and yet I could STILL feel more emotion from him than from some of those AAA games' characters.

After many months of my friend nagging me to buy this game I finally forked over the cash and bought it. I don't regret it in the slightest. Growing up and playing Paper Mario on my grandparents old N64 this game was a trip back into those times. Its a love letter to the old Paper Mario games.

bugs

I don't know what to say, but this game has been my favorite game of all time ever since I played it.

It takes a lot of inspiration from the Paper Mario RPG series, and even know I never touched the series of spin-offs, nor knew anything about it, this game still had such an effect on me.

In terms of gameplay, its phenomenal. The combat is diverse enough to where you can do so many different playstyles, and I've found myself on my FOURTH replay of the game, with a completely new style of combat thanks to the medals and traits of the characters. It's very fun turn-based combat, which feels very fast, and the blocking mechanic makes you feel like you aren't just waiting for the other side to finish their animation. There's so many things to do, with side-quests lending you great rewards that make the game easier.

The story is also amazing. Despite being a focus on bugs, it is the most classic fantasy/fairy tale vibe I always love. The characters from the main, the side, to the background characters all have adorable designs and great stories, and I especially adore the designs of the wasps. There's lots of twists and turns, and the worldbuilding and the clear unanswered question of "what happened to humanity?" is fascinating to me. There's so many little things about the game, and the further you get, the more you want to know and figure it out.

I love everything about this game, but it wasn't just a good game. It got me to appreciate bugs in a completely new lens. It's amazing to be outside when you recognize bugs as another animal and not just a pest, especially when even the smallest, most "boring" bugs, each survive in unique and fascinating ways. I even got into keeping mantids just because of this game.

Great game, great vibes, great story and gameplay. 10/10, I don't think I'll ever stop coming back to it.

i love bug fables i love bug fables i love bug fables i love bug fables i love b