Mushihimesama BUG PANIC Review
PROS
- Bullet-hell meets twin-stick gaming.
- Fun, risk/reward weapon system.
- Detailed sprite-based environments, characters and effects.
CONS
- Easy to get turned about on large maps.
- Difficulty level only offset by adding more lives when you die.
VERDICT
Mushihimesama BUG PANIC goes out on a creative limb, but fans won't be dissapointed as they're given plenty of bullets to dodge while dispensing justice to bugs with a unique weapon system.
- Full Review
- App Store Info
PLEASE NOTE: Mushihimesama BUG PANIC is currently restricted to 3rd gen or higher iDevices; please ensure that your device is compatible before purchasing this title.
Mushihimesama BUG PANIC by CAVE is the third in a series of titles following the adventures of Reco, a princess that has a telepathic link to the bugs of the Shinju Forest. In typical fashion for the developer, the first two titles were vertical shoot'em-ups, however this latest title takes a risk as it departs from the regular formula to add a fresh new twist on to the twin-stick shooter gameplay.
While players can control the movement of Reco with one stick, the other controls her rather unique weapon that doesn't follow the usual aim-to-fire system of other twin-sticks. Instead, it provides a reticule that can lock on to three separate targets and can be freely moved around the princess while charging up the weapon for more powerful attacks. Once deployed, small bombs are flung at the targets, turning the enemy in to an equivalent of the explosion used to kill them and potentially setting off a large chain-reaction of kills.
The game is viewed in a top-down perspective and features all the skill and attention to detail common to CAVE games, with the environment acting as a restriction to the movements of Reco as she attempts to dodge the 'bullets' sent in her direction. This gives the game a risk-versus-reward system as you choose to either deploy weaker bombs to clear out threats immediately, or wait longer to rack up huge bonuses. As each of the five worlds are cleared out an 'endless' mode is unlocked and a secondary 'puzzle' can also be completed if you can find all of the secret hidden bonuses for each level.
BUG PANIC is a clever and well-considered blending of forms that stays true to heart of CAVE's shmup catalog while breaking out of this limited repertoire. Mushihimesama BUG PANIC is fun, challenging and addictive, making it a definite must try title.
Screenshots
$6.99
Comments
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Is this really, really worth it?Knowing CAVE the translations would be mediocre, and the game would feel incomplete. Their shooter games cannot compete with e.g. ZUN's Touhou. While I'm excited about a Japanese shooter game on the iOS platform, the dev is really off-putting due to past experiences with them.
The dev is making this game really off-putting due to my past experiences with them.*
There, that looks better.
I can kind of understand where you're coming from. ZUN is absolutely insane when it comes to developing solid SHMUPs, but BUG PANIC is a unique project for CAVE - I didn't notice any obvious or irritating translations and the gameplay is designed for the platform instead of converting an Arcade game to the device.
Still... it'd be amazing to get a Touhou game on the App Store D:
Upon reading your reply I decided to try it out. Albeit a bit cheesy (sort of like DeathSmiles) it's not that bad. Quite enjoyable infact.
I do wish they'd put down the same effort in their online, Shin Megami Tensei IMAGINE though.
What's up with my spelling today?
More effort in their online game*
Pfft! 3rd gen or higher >:[
Oops sorry for the double comment!