Bug Too!

Bug Too! is a side-scrolling platforming video game developed by both Realtime Associates and SegaSoft. It is the sequel to Bug!, which was developed and published by Realtime Associates and Sega. It was first released for the Sega Saturn on December 6, 1996 in North America. It was later ported to Windows devices on December 10 of the same year in both North America and PAL regions. Finally, it was released in PAL regions for the Sega Saturn on April 24, 1997. Players are given the option of choosing from Bug, Maggot Dog, or Super Fly, a trio of action movie stars, who must proceed through a series of mostly 2D levels across multiple zones, with a boss level at the end of each zone.

Bug Too!
European Saturn cover art
Developer(s)Realtime Associates
SegaSoft
Publisher(s)Sega
Platform(s)Saturn, Windows
ReleaseSaturn
Windows
  • NA: December 10, 1996
  • EU: June 1997[3]
Genre(s)Action, Platform
Mode(s)Single-player, Multiplayer

Bug Too! received mixed reviews, holding an average of 71% on Game Rankings.

Gameplay

Players can play as Bug, Maggot Dog, or Super Fly, all big-name action film stars, with the premise being that they were signed up to do a six-picture deal that they must complete all in one day.[4] Bug Too! is played like a traditional side-scrolling platform game.[5] The player character must make his way through all the levels in each zone, with a boss level at the end of each zone. Bug Too! has 3D levels, which take the side-view and tweak it. Bug can walk sideways up vertical surfaces and even upside down.[5]

Unlike the original Bug!, Bug Too! has a run button.[5] The two-player mode allows players to alternate playing the game and compete for high scores.[5]

When the player finishes a stage with at least 100 crystals collected, they are sent to one of several bonus stages. If the player collects a bonus stage's requisite number of Oscars, they earn an extra life.[6]

Development and release

Bug Too! is developed by both Realtime Associates and SegaSoft, the former which developed its predecessor, Bug!. When designing Bug Too!, the design team had to decide whether they wanted to build on the code of its predecessor or if they wanted to switch to using C compiler instead. They ultimately went with C compiler due to it being easier both to use and maintain.[7] It was first revealed at E3 1996.[8]

It was first release on the Sega Saturn on December 6, 1996 in North America, then ported to Microsoft Windows devices on December 10 in North America and PAL regions.[9] It later got released in PAL regions for the Saturn on April 24, 1997.

Reception

Bug Too! was met with mixed reviews. Critics were generally pleased with the series additions of the run ability[12][15][16] and new characters,[12][13][14][15][16] though some noted that there is little gameplay difference between them and Bug.[14][15] However, while the graphics in general were praised,[12][14][15][16] critics found the fixed side-view camera created frustrating problems with the gameplay, such as walls obstructing the player's view of Bug and difficulty judging distances when moving between the foreground and background.[12][15][16]

The four reviewers of Electronic Gaming Monthly deemed it an overall fun title, though not a must-have.[12] GamePro's Major Mike concluded, "Bug Too! meets the expectations of its predecessor and at times exceeds them. Fans of the first game will definitely want to check it out, and for all you newcomers, it's a great time to get bugged."[16] Lee Nutter of Sega Saturn Magazine similarly stated, "In all, Bug Too! is a top quality platform game surpassing its predecessors in all areas. But to be honest it really is just more of the same which is great if you liked the original. However, those who didn't won't find anything new to tempt them into purchasing it."[15] A reviewer for Next Generation regarded this lack of genuine innovation over the first game to be a particularly strong strike against it, and compared the game unfavorably to contemporary Saturn platformers Nights into Dreams and Sonic 3D Blast.[14] Jeff Gerstmann of GameSpot also compared it unfavorably to Sonic 3D Blast, and remarked, "The choice of films is far hipper than Spot Goes To Hollywood, but the game doesn't play much better."[13]

References
  1. "sega-saturn.com - software". 1996-12-15. Archived from the original on 1996-12-15. Retrieved 2023-05-04.
  2. Computer and Video Games - Issue 186 (1997-05)(EMAP Images)(GB). May 1997.
  3. "Sega Press". 1997-07-15. Archived from the original on 1997-07-15. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
  4. "Bug's Back for More!". Sega Saturn Magazine. No. 9. Emap International Limited. July 1996. p. 9.
  5. "Bug Too!: Not Even Raid Can Stop this Sequel" (PDF). Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 88. Ziff Davis. November 1996. pp. 198–9.
  6. Nutter, Lee (February 1997). "Jammy Bugger!". Sega Saturn Magazine. No. 16. Emap International Limited. pp. 50–53.
  7. Malek, Peter (October 10, 2019). "Bug! The Green Machine". Shiro!. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  8. "Bug Too!". Official Sega Saturn Magazine. No. 17. March 1997.
  9. "Bug Too! (1996)". MobyGames. Retrieved 2020-03-28.
  10. "Bug Too! for Saturn". Archived from the original on 2015-09-09.
  11. Romero, Joshua. "Bug Too! Review". Allgame. Archived from the original on November 15, 2014.
  12. "Review Crew: Bug Too!". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 90. Ziff Davis. January 1997. p. 61.
  13. Gerstmann, Jeff (January 7, 1997). "Bug Too! Review". GameSpot. Retrieved 2018-01-26.
  14. "Bug Too!". Next Generation. No. 28. Imagine Media. April 1997. p. 124.
  15. Nutter, Lee (February 1997). "Review: Bug Too!". Sega Saturn Magazine. No. 16. Emap International Limited. pp. 70–71.
  16. "ProReview: Bug Too!". GamePro. No. 101. IDG. February 1997. p. 76.
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