Bug!

From Sega Retro

n/a

  • Sega Saturn
    NTSC-U/PAL
  • Sega Saturn
    NTSC-J
  • Windows PC

Bug Title.png

Bug Saturn JP SSTitle.png

Bug PC Title.png

Bug!
System(s): Sega Saturn, Windows PC
Publisher: Sega
Windows PC
Sega PC
Developer:
Supporting companies:
Distributor:
Sega Saturn
Tec Toy (BR)
Sound driver:
Sega Saturn
SCSP/CD-DA (72 tracks)
Peripherals supported:
Sega Saturn
Saturn Backup Memory
Genre: Action[1][2]

















Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Saturn
JP
¥5,8005,800 GS-9063
Sega Rating: All Ages
Sega Saturn
US
$39.9939.99[4] 81004
ESRB: Kids to Adults
Sega Saturn
EU
MK81004-50
ELSPA: 3+ OK
Sega Saturn
DE
DM 139139[10] MK81004-50
USK: 0
Sega Saturn
PT
Sega Saturn
UK
£49.9949.99[8][9] MK81004-50
ELSPA: 3+ OK
Sega Saturn
PL
199zł199
Sega Saturn
AU
OFLC: G
Sega Saturn
BR
191026
Tectoy: 6+
Windows PC
US
$34.9534.95[12] 85025
ESRB: Kids to Adults
Windows PC
US
(Expert Software)
$19.9919.99[13] 6802
ESRB: Kids to Adults
Windows PC
US
(Jack in the Box)
85025
ESRB: Everyone
Windows PC
DE
DM 80.0080.00[15] MK-85025-50
USK: 0
Windows PC
UK
MK-85025-50
ELSPA: 3+ OK

Bug!, known in Japan as Bug!: Jump Shite, Fundzukechatte, Pecchanko (バグ! ジャンプして、ふんづけちゃって、ぺっちゃんこ) is a platform game developed by Realtime Associates and published by Sega for the Sega Saturn in 1996.

Story

Bug!, Cutscene.png

Cutscene

The plot revolves around the title character, Bug, an actor in Hollywood hoping to make his "big break." Players take control shortly after Bug has signed a deal for the lead role in an action film, in which his family is kidnapped by the evil Queen Cadavra and he is tasked with rescuing her. The gameplay takes place "on the set" of each scene of the movie, and cutscenes between levels show Bug moving from one set to the next.

Gameplay

Bug! is a "2.5D" platform game. For the most part, the game is played like a traditional side-scrolling title with movement restricted to a track. At various points in the level, Bug is allowed to travel towards or away from the camera, up vertical surfaces, and even upside down, adding a third dimension in the process. However, players are always confined to corridors, meaning gameplay is not as "open" as future 3D platformers, such as Super Mario 64. Though levels are built using 3D geometry, the objects in a level are represented by 2D sprites.

The game is set on "Bug Island" and consists of six worlds made up of three levels (called "scenes") each, with a final level culminating in a boss encounter (called a "finale"). Each level ends when Bug finds and jumps on a "Bug Stop." Levels often contain branching paths that lead to additional items or converge back to the main path. It is often necessary to find a switch or solve a simple puzzle in order to progress. Signs sometimes appear to warn the player of impending hazards or provide directions.

Bug walks with Left and Right and moves in and out of the scene with Up and Down. Platforms have borders to indicate edges that Bug cannot walk or jump through. Bug can push some platforms by moving into them. He jumps with C and ducks with L or R. Enemies come in the form of insects and are defeated by jumping on them. Bug can also gain two special attacks by finding items: a close-quarters zap attack with A and a ranged spitting attack with B.

Bug has a health meter depicted as a can of "Bug Juice." He can sustain five hits from an enemy or hazard before losing a life. Since platforms are all floating in the air, Bug also loses a life if he falls off a platform and onto the ground below. If he loses a life, he starts over from the beginning of the level or the last checkpoint. If he loses all of his lives, the game ends, but the player can find continues throughout the game. The game saves the player's progress to the Saturn's internal memory, allowing the player to start a new game from any previously completed level.

Items

Bug!, Items.png
Blue Crystal
Collect 100 to earn an extra life and a dragonfly icon. If the player accumulates a dragonfly icon for every level in a world, the player takes part in a special Dragonfly Ring Chase bonus level after defeating the boss.
Bug!, Items.png
Red Crystal
Equivalent to collecting 5 Blue Crystals.
Bug!, Items.png
Heart
Replenishes a fifth of Bug's health.
Bug!, Items.png
Bug Juice
Replenishes all of Bug's health.
Bug!, Items.png
1-Up
Gives the player an extra life.
Bug!, Items.png
Clapper Board
Gives the player an extra continue.
Bug!, Items.png
Spit Wad
Allows Bug to spit deadly globs at enemies with B. It can be done while ducking or jumping. Green shoots a single glob, red shoots two globs at a time, blue shoots three globs in quick succession, and purple shoots bouncing globs. Lasts until the end of the level.
Bug!, Items.png
Zap Cap
Allows Bug to unleash a bolt of electricity at nearby enemies with A. This attack can only be done a limited number of times per item. It can be done while ducking but not while jumping. Lasts until it is completely used, the level ends, or Bug loses a life.
Bug!, Items.png
Coin
Lets Bug enter a bonus level by finding Daddy-O Longlegs.
Bug!, Items.png
Statue
Collect 10 in a bonus level to earn an extra life.
Bug!, Items.png
Stunt Double
Temporarily swaps Bug for his "stunt double," a blue version of him that is invulnerable.
Bug!, Items.png
Surprise
Drops a mystery item or sometimes an enemy.

Levels

Bug Saturn Insectica.png

Bug!, Stage 1-2.png

Bug!, Stage 1-3.png

Bug!, Stage 1 Boss.png

  • Bug Saturn Insectica.png

  • Bug!, Stage 1-2.png

  • Bug!, Stage 1-3.png

  • Bug!, Stage 1 Boss.png

Insectica

Bug!, Stage 2-1.png

Bug!, Stage 2-2.png

Bug!, Stage 2-3.png

Bug!, Stage 2 Boss.png

  • Bug!, Stage 2-1.png

  • Bug!, Stage 2-2.png

  • Bug!, Stage 2-3.png

  • Bug!, Stage 2 Boss.png

Reptilia

Bug!, Stage 3-1.png

Bug!, Stage 3-2.png

Bug!, Stage 3-3.png

Bug!, Stage 3 Boss.png

  • Bug!, Stage 3-1.png

  • Bug!, Stage 3-2.png

  • Bug!, Stage 3-3.png

  • Bug!, Stage 3 Boss.png

Splot!

Bug!, Stage 4-1.png

Bug!, Stage 4-2.png

Bug!, Stage 4-3.png

Bug!, Stage 4 Boss.png

  • Bug!, Stage 4-1.png

  • Bug!, Stage 4-2.png

  • Bug!, Stage 4-3.png

  • Bug!, Stage 4 Boss.png

Quaria

Bug!, Stage 5-1.png

Bug!, Stage 5-2.png

Bug!, Stage 5-3.png

Bug!, Stage 5 Boss.png

  • Bug!, Stage 5-1.png

  • Bug!, Stage 5-2.png

  • Bug!, Stage 5-3.png

  • Bug!, Stage 5 Boss.png

Burrbs

Bug!, Stage 6-1.png

Bug!, Stage 6-2.png

Bug!, Stage 6-3.png

Bug!, Stage 6 Boss.png

  • Bug!, Stage 6-1.png

  • Bug!, Stage 6-2.png

  • Bug!, Stage 6-3.png

  • Bug!, Stage 6 Boss.png

Arachnia

Bonus levels

Bug!, Dragonfly Ring Chase.png

Dragonfly Ring Chase

The game has two types of bonus levels.

If Bug collects 100 Blue Crystals in a level, he earns an extra life and a dragonfly icon. The player enters the Dragonfly Ring Chase bonus level by earning a dragonfly icon for every level in a world. These bonus levels are played after defeating the boss. The player controls Bug while he is riding a dragonfly. The D-Pad moves in any direction; the vertical controls are inverted so that Up dives and Down climbs. The player must fly through the rings to reach the end. Collecting balloons increases the dragonfly's movement speed. The bonus level ends if the dragonfly fails to fly through a ring or collides with a ring. The player earns a continue if the dragonfly makes it to the end of the level.

There are also bonus levels that can be entered within each level by finding a Coin and taking them to Daddy-O Longlegs. The game contains many unique bonus levels, including a race against Sonic the Hedgehog. The goal of each is to collect as many Bug statues as possible before time runs out (or before Bug gets squashed, which ends the bonus level but does not cost a life). Every ten statues collected earns an extra life.

Bug!, Bonus Stages, Insectia, Boulders.png

Boulders
Bug!, Bonus Stages, Insectia, Boulders.png

Bug!, Bonus Stages, Reptilia, Sonic.png

Sonic
Bug!, Bonus Stages, Reptilia, Sonic.png

Bug!, Bonus Stages, Splot!, Moving Platforms.png

Moving platforms
Bug!, Bonus Stages, Splot!, Moving Platforms.png

Bug!, Bonus Stages, Quaria, Bubbles.png

Bubbles
Bug!, Bonus Stages, Quaria, Bubbles.png

Bug!, Bonus Stages, Burrbs, Wall.png

Wall
Bug!, Bonus Stages, Burrbs, Wall.png

Bug!, Bonus Stages, Arachnia, Boulders and Mushrooms.png

Boulders and mushrooms
Bug!, Bonus Stages, Arachnia, Boulders and Mushrooms.png

History

Development

Realtime Associates developed the game using Silicon Graphics workstations, which were then used to pre-render the game's characters and then convert them into sprites.[16]

According to producer Steve Apour, "Once we were working on Bug!, we'd meet twice a week to talk about gameplay, just to plow through it and decide what the system could do. Some ideas we weren't able to include, such as the 'wait animation' where Bug was going to leap up and come down right in your face."[17]

Legacy

By the end of 1995, 150,000 copies of Bug! had been sold in the US, making it the second most popular Saturn game (behind Daytona USA)[4][18]. In Europe, it was the best-selling CD game across all platforms for two weeks[4]. Bug! toys and merchandise were sold in the gift shop of Sega World Sydney. According to Sega, discussions were underway for an animated TV series, though this never materialised.

A direct sequel, Bug Too!, was released for the Saturn in 1996.

Production credits

Saturn version

  • Programmer: Michael DiMambro
  • Assistant Programming and Gameplay Design: Cheryl Harada, Steve Shimizu
  • Additional Programming: Chris MacDonald
  • Tools and Support: Eric Pugh, Glen Volk
  • Map Layout Design: Scott Stoabs, Dwight Velarde
  • Character Design and Animation: Jeff Cook
  • Lead Animation: Tom Grevera
  • Animation: Paul Drzewiecki, Doran Fish, Dan Goldman, Darin Hilton
  • Background Graphics: Phil Knowles
  • Additional Animation: Martin Foster, Mike Norville
  • Animation Cleanup: Rich Neves, Ann Petersen, Virginia Smith
  • Original Score and Sound FX: Greg Turner
  • Voice actors: John Frost (as Bug), Perry Keifer, Tim W. Jones
  • Producer: David Bean
  • Executive Producer: Dave Warhol
  • Special Thanks: Bob Meissner, Mike Mito, Sean Platter
AT SEGA
A Realtime Associates, Inc.
Sega Away Team Production
Source:
In-game credits
Bug Saturn credits.pdf
[19]

BUG! Japan Version
Source:
In-game credits (JP)


Windows PC version

Beam Credits
  • Executive Producer: Adam Lancman
  • Producer: Ben Palmer
  • Technical Design: Andrew Lacey
  • System Programming: Shane Lontis, Peter Litwiniuk
  • 3D Systems: Chris Schladetsch
  • Data Conversion and Programming: Eddie Retelj
  • Audio Programming: Ian Tran
  • Lead Tester: Shane Collier
  • Testers: Jared Quinert, Leigh Reynolds
  • Video Beam Player: Adrian Thewlis
  • Additional Audio: Marshall Parker, Gavin Parker
  • Additional Artwork: Mark Maynard
Sega Credits
Source:
In-game credits

Magazine articles

Main article: Bug!/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) #1995-14: "1995-14 (1995-12-22)" (1995-12-08)
Logo-pdf.svg

Bug Saturn US Postcard.pdf

PDF
Saturn US postcard
Bug Saturn US Postcard.pdf
PCGamer PL 06 Sega.jpg
Printed in PC Gamer Po Polsku (PL) #6: "Grudzień 1996" (1996-xx-xx)
PCGamer PL 06 Sega.jpg

Artwork

Physical scans

Saturn version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
89
91 №35, p40/41
Sega Saturn
90
Based on
2 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Alaab Alcomputtar (SA)
93
[20]
CD Consoles (FR)
64
[21]
Consoles + (FR) NTSC
95
[22]
Consoles + (FR)
94
[23]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
90
[8]
Edge (UK)
60
[24]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
79
[25]
Fusion (US)
100
[26]
Gambler (PL)
72
[27]
GameFan (US) NTSC-U
94
[28]
Game Players (US) NTSC-U
74
[29]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
85
[30]
GamePro (DE)
80
[31]
Gamers (DE)
80
[32]
Game Informer (US) NTSC-U
89
[33]
Hobby Consolas (ES) PAL
91
[34]
Joypad (FR)
85
[35]
Joypad (FR) NTSC-U
85
[36]
MAN!AC (DE) PAL
80
[37]
Maximum (UK)
75
[38]
Mega Fun (DE) NTSC-U
88
[39]
Magazina Igrushek (RU)
100
[40]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
94
[41]
Player One (FR)
85
[42]
Power Up! (UK)
85
[43]
Saturn Fan (JP) NTSC-J
55
[44]
Saturn+ (UK) PAL
89
[45]
Sega Magazine (UK) PAL
92
[9]
Sega News (CZ)
94
[46]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
95
[47]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
91
[48]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
63
[49]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
58
[50]
Strana Igr (RU)
53
[51]
Super Juegos (ES)
90
[52]
Todo Sega (ES)
95
[53]
Top Consoles (FR)
75
[54]
Total Saturn (UK) PAL
78
[55]
Ultimate Future Games (UK) NTSC-U
90
[56]
Última Generación (ES)
68
[57]
Videogame Advisor (US) NTSC-U
100
[58]
Video Games (DE) PAL
85
[59]
VideoGames (US) NTSC-U
70
[60]
Sega Saturn
83
Based on
43 reviews

Bug!

Saturn, JP
Bug sat jp back cover.jpgBugBox jp.jpg
Cover
Bug! Saturn JP Spinecard.jpg
Spinecard
Bug Saturn JP Disc.jpg
Disc
Bug Sega Saturn JP Manual.pdf
Manual
Saturn, US
Bug Saturn US Box Back.jpgBugBox US.jpg
Cover
Bug sat us disc.jpg
Disc
Bug sat us manual.pdf
Manual
Saturn, EU
BugBox eu.jpg
Cover
Bug sat eu disc.jpg
Disc
Saturn, DE
Bug Sat DE cover.jpg
Cover
Bug sat eu disc.jpg
Disc
Saturn, PT

Saturn, AU
Bug Sat AU cover.jpg
Cover
Bug sat eu disc.jpg
Disc
Saturn, BR
Bug Saturn BR Box Back.jpgNospine.pngBug Saturn BR Box Front.jpg
Cover

PC version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
{{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
Based on
0 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Hacker (HR)
71
[61]
LeveL (CZ)
71
[62]
PC Action (DE)
79
[63]
PC Gamer (US)
44
[64]
PC Games (DE)
76
[65]
PC Game Parade (IT)
80
[66]
Power Play (DE)
61
[67]
Score (CZ)
80
[68]
Secret Service (PL)
75
[69]
Windows PC
71
Based on
9 reviews

Bug!

PC, US
Bug PC US Box Back.jpgNospine.pngBug PC US Box Front.jpg
Cover
Bug PC US Disc.jpg
Disc
Bug PC US Box Back JewelCase.jpgBug PC US Box Front JewelCase.jpg
Jewel Case
PC, US (Expert Software)
Bug PC US Box Back Expert.jpgNospine.pngBug PC US Box Front Expert.jpgBug PC US Box Spine2 Expert.jpg
Cover
Bug PC US Disc Expert.jpg
Disc
Bug PC US expert jc front.jpg
Jewel Case
PC, US (Expert Software; alt)

Bug PC US Box Front JewelCase Expert.jpg
Jewel Case
PC, US
(Jack in the Box)
Bug PC US Box Front JitB.jpg
Cover
PC, EU
Bug PC EU front.jpg
Cover
Bug PC EU disc.jpg
Disc
Bug PC EU jc back.jpgBug PC EU Box Front.jpg
Jewel Case

Technical information

Main article: Bug!/Technical information.

External links

  • Sega of America webpage: Saturn
  • Sega of America webpage: PC
  • Sega of Japan catalogue pages (Japanese): Saturn

References

  1. File:Bug sat jp back cover.jpg
  2. 2.0 2.1 https://sega.jp/history/hard/segasaturn/software.html (Wayback Machine: 2020-03-04 08:13)
  3. https://groups.google.com/g/rec.games.video.sega/c/4ClA7-GJFzA/m/0EQtdEX9-Y4J
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 Press release: 1995-10-16: "BUG!"-mania hits Sega
  5. Computer Trade Weekly, "" (UK; 1995-09-18), page 96
  6. Sega Magazine, "October 1995" (UK; 1995-09-12), page 62
  7. https://groups.google.com/g/rec.games.video.sega/c/jeaGoAYETIo/m/Oz54xDeTE1EJ
  8. 8.0 8.1 Computer & Video Games, "October 1995" (UK; 1995-09-14), page 52
  9. 9.0 9.1 Sega Magazine, "September 1995" (UK; 1995-08-13), page 56
  10. Games World Magazin, "" (DE; 1995-0x-xx), page 16
  11. Press release: 1996-08-26: Sega Entertainment kicks off fall line-up with free PC games promotions
  12. Press release: 1996-09-09: SEGA ENTERTAINMENT GLAD TO HAVE A BUG! IN ITS SOFTWARE LINEUP
  13. 13.0 13.1 Press release: 1997-06-20: Sega chooses Expert Software for PC distribution agreement
  14. Computer Trade Weekly, "" (UK; 1996-10-21), page 20
  15. PC Games, "11/96" (DE; 1996-10-02), page 108
  16. https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/02/02/what-hath-sonic-wrought-vol-10
  17. GamePro, "January 1996" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 50
  18. GamePro, "January 1996" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 25
  19. File:Bug Saturn credits.pdf
  20. Alaab Alcomputtar, "" (SA; 1996-xx-xx), page 27
  21. CD Consoles, "Novembre 1995" (FR; 1995-xx-xx), page 98
  22. Consoles +, "Septembre 1995" (FR; 1995-0x-xx), page 118
  23. Consoles +, "Novembre 1995" (FR; 1995-1x-xx), page 170
  24. Edge, "November 1995" (UK; 1995-09-28), page 73
  25. Electronic Gaming Monthly, "August 1995" (US; 1995-0x-xx), page 38
  26. Fusion, "Volume 1, Number 1: August 1995" (US; 1995-0x-xx), page 78
  27. Gambler, "11/1996" (PL; 1996-xx-xx), page 1
  28. GameFan, "Volume 3, Issue 7: July 1995" (US; 1995-xx-xx), page 13
  29. Game Players, "Vol. 8 No. 9 September 1995" (US; 1995-0x-xx), page 58
  30. GamePro, "September 1995" (US; 1995-xx-xx), page 46
  31. GamePro, "November 1995" (DE; 1995-10-04), page 52
  32. Gamers, "November 1995" (DE; 1995-10-11), page 36
  33. Game Informer, "September 1995" (US; 1995-0x-xx), page 37
  34. Hobby Consolas, "Octubre 1995" (ES; 1995-xx-xx), page 74
  35. Joypad, "Octobre 1995" (FR; 1995-xx-xx), page 45
  36. Joypad, "Octobre (Joypad International supplement)" (FR; 1995-xx-xx), page 16
  37. MAN!AC, "10/95" (DE; 1995-09-13), page 66
  38. Maximum, "October 1995" (UK; 1995-09-01), page 147
  39. Mega Fun, "09/95" (DE; 1995-08-23), page 88
  40. Magazina Igrushek, "5/1996" (RU; 1996-xx-xx), page 93
  41. Mean Machines Sega, "October 1995" (UK; 1995-08-25), page 66
  42. Player One, "Octobre 1995" (FR; 1995-xx-xx), page 110
  43. Power Up!, "Saturday, September 23, 1995" (UK; 1995-09-23), page 1
  44. Saturn Fan, "1996 No. 3" (JP; 1996-01-19), page 78
  45. Saturn+, "Christmas 1995" (UK; 1995-12-14), page 61
  46. Sega News, "Leden 1997" (CZ; 1997-xx-xx), page 22
  47. Sega Power, "November 1995" (UK; 1995-09-21), page 54
  48. Sega Pro, "October 1995" (UK; 1995-09-07), page 52
  49. Sega Saturn Magazine, "1995-13 (1995-12-08)" (JP; 1995-11-24), page 197
  50. Sega Saturn Magazine, "Readers rating final data" (JP; 2000-03), page 16
  51. Strana Igr, "Mart 1996" (RU; 1996-xx-xx), page 101
  52. Super Juegos, "Octubre 1995" (ES; 1995-xx-xx), page 76
  53. Todo Sega, "Octubre 1995" (ES; 1995-xx-xx), page 36
  54. Top Consoles, "Octobre 1995" (FR; 1995-xx-xx), page 90
  55. Total Saturn, "Volume One Issue Four" (UK; 1996-12-29), page 14
  56. Ultimate Future Games, "October 1995" (UK; 1995-09-01), page 72
  57. Última Generación, "Noviembre 1995" (ES; 1995-1x-xx), page 98
  58. Videogame Advisor, "Volume 1, Number 3: July 1995" (US; 1995-0x-xx), page 31
  59. Video Games, "10/95" (DE; 1995-09-27), page 96
  60. VideoGames, "August 1995" (US; 1995-0x-xx), page 80
  61. Hacker, "12/1996" (HR; 1996-xx-xx), page 26
  62. LeveL, "Říjen 1996" (CZ; 1996-10-01), page 24
  63. PC Action, "11/96" (DE; 1996-10-16), page 106
  64. PC Gamer, "Vol. 4, No. 1: January 1997" (US; 1996-xx-xx), page 259
  65. PC Games, "11/96" (DE; 1996-10-02), page 160
  66. PC Game Parade, "Dicembre 1996" (IT; 1996-1x-xx), page 77
  67. Power Play, "11/96" (DE; 1996-10-09), page 154
  68. Score, "Listopad 1996" (CZ; 1996-11-01), page 48
  69. Secret Service, "Grudzień 1996" (PL; 1996-12-01), page 26


Bug!

Bug Title.png

Main page | Comparisons | Hidden content | Magazine articles | Video coverage | Reception | Technical information | Bootlegs


Sega Saturn
Demos: Bug! Playable Preview (1995)

Sega Saturn
Prototypes: 1995-06-14



Games in the Bug! Series
Sega Saturn
Windows PC
Bug! (1995) | Bug Too! (1996)
LCD handheld game
Bug! (1997)
Sampler Discs
Sega Saturn
Bootleg Sampler (1995) | Bug! Playable Preview (1995) | Sega Screams Volume 1 (199x)