Bug!

From Sega Retro


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Bug Title.png

Bug!
System(s): Sega Saturn, PC
Publisher: Sega
Developer:
Sound driver:
Sega Saturn
SCSP/CD-DA (72 tracks)
Genre: Action

















Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Saturn
JP
¥5,8005,800 GS-9063
Sega Saturn
US
$39.9939.99[1] 81004
Sega Saturn
EU
MK81004-50
Sega Saturn
BR
191026
Windows PC
US
$34.9534.95[5] 85025
Windows PC
US
(Expert Software)
$19.9919.99[6] 6802
Windows PC
EU

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 video game developed by Realtime Associates and published by Sega for the Sega Saturn.

Story

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, which for the most part is played like a traditional side-scrolling title. 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, for example, 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 "scenes" each, with each final level culminating in a mandatory boss ("finale"). At certain points in the game bonus stages can be activated where certain tasks must be achieved (for example, one stage has Bug race against Sega's mascot, Sonic the Hedgehog). Enemies come in the form of insects and are defeated by jumping on them. Each level ends when the player jumps on a "Bug Stop", which will then make the player proceed to the next level. Every level contains collectable items: 1-UPs supply the player with an extra life, collecting a heart will restore one hit point to the player whereas Bug Juice will fully replenish it, and a coin will allow the player to take part in a bonus round whereby they are given the chance to win more lives. If the player runs out of Bug Juice, they lose a life. The game will end once the player runs out of continues.

Collectable items in the form of blue crystals are found scattered throughout the game's levels. If the player collects 100 of them, they will earn an extra life along with a dragonfly icon, in which three icons are needed for the player to take part in a special bonus round. In addition, the player can collect power ups which will enable them to defeat enemies instantly. These come in the form of "zap" and "spit" attacks; the former allows Bug to fire missiles made out of saliva for long-range attacks, and the latter unleashes a close-range bolt of electricity.

Stages

200px Insectica
Reptilia
Splot
200px Quaria
Burrbs
Arachnia

Cheats

  • Infinite Lives: At the main menu, press A, C, B, B, Down, Right, Up.
  • Level Select: At the main menu, press B, A, B, Y, Down, Right, A, L, Down. To use the trick, start playing then hold L+Up to advance a level or L+Down to backup a level.

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.

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."

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)[1][8]. In Europe, it was the best selling CD game across all platforms for two weeks[1]. 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

Opening and Win Movies: Asbury Entertainment
A Realtime Associates, Inc. Sega Away Team Production

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

Physical scans

Saturn version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
64 №11, p98-101[9]
95 №46, p118/119
90 №167, p52-54[3]
89
60 №26, p73
100 №0101, p78/79[10]
91 №35, p40/41
85 №46, p45
80
80 №1, p147
94 №36, p66-68[11]
85 №57, p110/111
92 №21, p56/57
95 №72, p54/55
91 №50, p52/53
63 №1995-13, p195[12]
58 №, p14[13]
70 №79, p80[14]
Sega Saturn
82
Based on
18 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Alaab Alcomputtar (SA)
93
[15]
CD Consoles (FR)
64
[9]
Consoles + (FR) NTSC
95
[16]
Consoles + (FR)
94
[17]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
90
[3]
Edge (UK)
60
[18]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
79
[19]
Fusion (US)
100
[10]
Gambler (PL)
72
[20]
GameFan (US) NTSC-U
94
[21]
Game Players (US) NTSC-U
74
[22]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
85
[23]
GamePro (DE)
80
[24]
Gamers (DE)
80
[25]
Hobby Consolas (ES) PAL
91
[26]
Joypad (FR)
85
[27]
Joypad (FR) NTSC-U
85
[28]
MAN!AC (DE) PAL
80
[29]
Maximum (UK)
75
[30]
Mega Fun (DE) NTSC-U
88
[31]
Magazina Igrushek (RU)
100
[32]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
94
[11]
Player One (FR)
85
[33]
Power Up! (UK)
85
[34]
Saturn Fan (JP) NTSC-J
55
[35]
Saturn+ (UK) PAL
89
[36]
Sega Magazine (UK) PAL
92
[37]
Sega News (CZ)
94
[38]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
95
[39]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
91
[40]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
63
[41]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
58
[13]
Strana Igr (RU)
53
[42]
Super Juegos (ES)
90
[43]
Todo Sega (ES)
95
[44]
Top Consoles (FR)
75
[45]
Total Saturn (UK) PAL
78
[46]
Ultimate Future Games (UK) NTSC-U
90
[47]
Última Generación (ES)
68
[48]
Videogame Advisor (US) NTSC-U
100
[49]
Video Games (DE) PAL
85
[50]
VideoGames (US) NTSC-U
70
[14]
Sega Saturn
83
Based on
42 reviews

Bug!

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, 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, BR
Bug Saturn BR Box Back.jpgNospine.pngBug Saturn BR Box Front.jpg
Cover

Windows version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
66
76 №1996-11, p160[7]
Windows PC
71
Based on
2 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Hacker (HR)
71
[51]
LeveL (CZ)
71
[52]
PC Action (DE)
79
[53]
PC Gamer (US)
44
[54]
PC Games (DE)
76
[55]
PC Game Parade (IT)
80
[56]
Power Play (DE)
61
[57]
Score (CZ)
80
[58]
Secret Service (PL)
75
[59]
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 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
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 Box Front.jpg
Jewel Case

Technical information

Save data

The Sega Saturn version makes use of the Saturn's internal battery back-up to save progress. The game will save when an entire world is cleared.

Bug! Save Data
Name Comment File Size
BUG_SAVE_## BUG LEVELS 2

External links

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Press release: 1995-10-16: "BUG!"-mania hits Sega
  2. 2.0 2.1 File:GamesWorld DE 0708.pdf, page 16
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 File:CVG UK 167.pdf, page 52 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:CVG UK 167.pdf_p52" defined multiple times with different content
  4. Press release: 1996-08-26: Sega Entertainment kicks off fall line-up with free PC games promotions
  5. Press release: 1996-09-09: SEGA ENTERTAINMENT GLAD TO HAVE A BUG! IN ITS SOFTWARE LINEUP
  6. 6.0 6.1 Press release: 1997-06-20: Sega chooses Expert Software for PC distribution agreement
  7. 7.0 7.1 File:PCGames DE 1996-11.pdf, page 108
  8. File:GamePro US 078.pdf, page 25
  9. 9.0 9.1 File:CDConsoles FR 11.pdf, page 98 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:CDConsoles FR 11.pdf_p98" defined multiple times with different content
  10. 10.0 10.1 File:Fusion US 0101.pdf, page 78 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:Fusion US 0101.pdf_p78" defined multiple times with different content
  11. 11.0 11.1 File:MeanMachinesSega36UK.pdf, page 66 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MeanMachinesSega36UK.pdf_p66" defined multiple times with different content
  12. File:SSM_JP_19951208_1995-13.pdf, page 197
  13. 13.0 13.1 Saturn no Game wa Sekai Ichi~i~i~i!: Satamaga Dokusha Race Zen Kiroku, SoftBank Publishing, page 16 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:SnGwSISDRZK Book JP.pdf_p16" defined multiple times with different content
  14. 14.0 14.1 File:VideoGames US 79.pdf, page 80 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:VideoGames US 79.pdf_p80" defined multiple times with different content
  15. Alaab Alcomputtar, "" (SA; 1996-xx-xx), page 27
  16. Consoles +, "Septembre 1995" (FR; 1995-0x-xx), page 118
  17. Consoles +, "Novembre 1995" (FR; 1995-1x-xx), page 170
  18. Edge, "November 1995" (UK; 1995-09-28), page 73
  19. Electronic Gaming Monthly, "August 1995" (US; 1995-0x-xx), page 38
  20. Gambler, "11/1996" (PL; 1996-xx-xx), page 1
  21. GameFan, "Volume 3, Issue 7: July 1995" (US; 1995-xx-xx), page 13
  22. Game Players, "Vol. 8 No. 9 September 1995" (US; 1995-0x-xx), page 58
  23. GamePro, "September 1995" (US; 1995-xx-xx), page 46
  24. GamePro, "November 1995" (DE; 1995-10-04), page 52
  25. Gamers, "November 1995" (DE; 1995-10-11), page 36
  26. Hobby Consolas, "Octubre 1995" (ES; 1995-xx-xx), page 74
  27. Joypad, "Octobre 1995" (FR; 1995-xx-xx), page 45
  28. Joypad, "Octobre (Joypad International supplement)" (FR; 1995-xx-xx), page 16
  29. MAN!AC, "10/95" (DE; 1995-09-13), page 66
  30. Maximum, "October 1995" (UK; 1995-09-01), page 147
  31. Mega Fun, "09/95" (DE; 1995-08-23), page 88
  32. Magazina Igrushek, "5/1996" (RU; 1996-xx-xx), page 93
  33. Player One, "Octobre 1995" (FR; 1995-xx-xx), page 110
  34. Power Up!, "Saturday, September 23, 1995" (UK; 1995-09-23), page 1
  35. Saturn Fan, "1996 No. 3" (JP; 1996-01-19), page 78
  36. Saturn+, "Christmas 1995" (UK; 1995-12-14), page 61
  37. Sega Magazine, "September 1995" (UK; 1995-08-13), page 56
  38. Sega News, "Leden 1997" (CZ; 1997-xx-xx), page 22
  39. Sega Power, "November 1995" (UK; 1995-09-21), page 54
  40. Sega Pro, "October 1995" (UK; 1995-09-07), page 52
  41. Sega Saturn Magazine, "1995-13 (1995-12-08)" (JP; 1995-11-24), page 197
  42. Strana Igr, "Mart 1996" (RU; 1996-xx-xx), page 101
  43. Super Juegos, "Octubre 1995" (ES; 1995-xx-xx), page 76
  44. Todo Sega, "Octubre 1995" (ES; 1995-xx-xx), page 36
  45. Top Consoles, "Octobre 1995" (FR; 1995-xx-xx), page 90
  46. Total Saturn, "Volume One Issue Four" (UK; 1996-12-29), page 14
  47. Ultimate Future Games, "October 1995" (UK; 1995-09-01), page 72
  48. Última Generación, "Noviembre 1995" (ES; 1995-1x-xx), page 98
  49. Videogame Advisor, "Volume 1, Number 3: July 1995" (US; 1995-0x-xx), page 31
  50. Video Games, "10/95" (DE; 1995-09-27), page 96
  51. Hacker, "12/1996" (HR; 1996-xx-xx), page 26
  52. LeveL, "Říjen 1996" (CZ; 1996-10-01), page 24
  53. PC Action, "11/96" (DE; 1996-10-16), page 106
  54. PC Gamer, "Vol. 4, No. 1: January 1997" (US; 1996-xx-xx), page 259
  55. PC Games, "11/96" (DE; 1996-10-02), page 160
  56. PC Game Parade, "Dicembre 1996" (IT; 1996-1x-xx), page 77
  57. Power Play, "11/96" (DE; 1996-10-09), page 154
  58. Score, "Listopad 1996" (CZ; 1996-11-01), page 48
  59. Secret Service, "Grudzień 1996" (PL; 1996-12-01), page 26



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)