Little Bug
- May 7, 2016
- Bela
- 3h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"Little Bug" is a polished proof of concept about a young girl, Nyah, who uses telekinetic powers to navigate a surreal world between life and death, after being lost in the woods. With its twin-stick control system, players guide both Nyah and her spirit companion, using their connection to solve puzzles and navigate through the game. The game features fast-paced creative gameplay and requires mastery of Nyah's powers to progress.
Mac OS
Nintendo Switch
PC
Windows
Xbox One
Xbox Series X|S
Linux
Xbox
Reviews
- Little Bug features a unique gameplay mechanic that combines platforming with a dual character control system, providing a fresh and engaging experience.
- The game's art style and sound design are beautifully crafted, creating an atmospheric and immersive environment that enhances the overall experience.
- Despite its short length, the game offers replayability through collectibles and bonus levels, making it a worthwhile investment for players seeking a charming indie title.
- The game is very short, with some players completing it in under an hour, which may leave some feeling unsatisfied with the overall content.
- There are significant issues with pacing and padding, including unskippable cutscenes and sections that require excessive time without challenge, detracting from the gameplay experience.
- The controls can be frustrating, particularly for keyboard users, as the lack of mouse support limits precision and can hinder the overall enjoyment of the game.
- gameplay29 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this platformer is praised for its unique mechanics, particularly the orb and swing mechanics that offer a fresh take on traversal and challenge. Players appreciate the engaging art style and soundtrack, which complement the gameplay experience, while the inclusion of bonus levels adds replayability and encourages mastery of the mechanics. Overall, the game is described as fun, rewarding, and a hidden gem worth exploring.
“Interesting mechanics - you can't make a jump but instead you're in control of two characters and traverse the world swinging on a beam of light as if it is a rope.”
“This game has its presentation down, and its unique mechanic of a buddy-system style grappling hook feels really well implemented and is the basis for some fun and occasionally pretty challenging platforming.”
“Completing levels using Little Bug's tether/jump mechanic was exhilarating and exploring all that the levels had to offer was really rewarding.”
“The game doesn't fully explore its main mechanic until the bonus levels.”
“Between these three mechanics, you can use the spirit light to jump arbitrarily high whenever there isn't a roof, which can allow you to skip multiple parts of the game and easily achieve well over a minute's airtime.”
“Completing levels using Little Bug's tether/jump mechanic was exhilarating, and exploring all that the levels had to offer was really rewarding.”
- story19 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The game's story, centered around a little girl named Nyah on her journey home from school, is described as charming yet simple, with emotional depth that resonates with players. While some find the narrative bland, others appreciate the subtlety and impact of the storytelling, particularly through item descriptions and the game's atmospheric art and music. Overall, the story enhances the gameplay experience, making it a memorable part of this short but engaging platformer.
“Challenging, fun with an emotive story that hits home.”
“A lovely little game with enjoyable gameplay, a unique aesthetic, and an important story.”
“The story is top notch, as it follows a young girl named Nyah, trying to find her way home.”
“The story opens with some standard 'this weird kid is stressing out her mom, and then she possibly goes to some fantasy land.' It's fine, but the meat of the narrative shines in the item descriptions as you scrounge around levels looking for these little trinkets.”
“Not a ton of story, but maintains a charm with the little bit there is.”
“Plus, it is short enough to not need more than a token amount of story.”
- music18 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its exceptional quality and its seamless integration with gameplay, enhancing the overall atmosphere and emotional experience. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack's ability to adapt to gameplay dynamics, creating tension during intense moments and providing a calming effect during quieter times. The unique and engaging music, combined with the game's art style, contributes significantly to its immersive experience, making it a standout feature for many players.
“Love the art, music, and gameplay.”
“The music soundtrack really fits with the gameplay, speeding up during tense times then calming back down.”
“Not only is its sound design integral to its atmosphere and story, but the music is some of the best video game music I've ever heard.”
“Also skipping these sections will skip triggers to end music tracks, so by the end you will have multiple songs playing.”
“I don't know if it's the slippery handling of the controls, or the disturbing mood that the game (particularly the music) sets, or a combination of both.”
“The story is simple and sweet and the atmosphere created by the environments and music is both eerie and comforting at turns.”
- graphics12 mentions
- 83 % positive mentions
- -8 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are widely praised for their unique and beautiful art style, which combines a dreamlike quality with unsettling elements, enhancing the overall atmosphere and narrative. Players appreciate the engaging visuals and how they complement the gameplay mechanics, making for an immersive experience. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's charm and emotional depth.
“The atmosphere and aesthetic in this game is beautifully done.”
“The game's art style manages to be completely beautiful and unsettling at the same time, which gives it this dream-like quality that I really dig, like if Super Metroid's creepiness were coupled with an emotionally resonant story.”
“If you're looking for a sweet/cute game, with amazing visuals (with meaning, if you dig deep into the story and you'll see that everything here visually aids the overall arc!) and challenging puzzles all packaged up into a lovely platformer.”
“The graphics are outdated and lack detail, making the game feel less immersive.”
“The character models look flat and lifeless, which detracts from the overall experience.”
“The environments are bland and repetitive, failing to capture the player's interest.”
- atmosphere6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its beautiful aesthetic, unique sound design, and impactful storytelling, blending eerie and comforting elements. Players appreciate the exceptional music, which enhances the overall mood and creates an immersive environment that is both captivating and memorable.
“The atmosphere and aesthetic in this game is beautifully done.”
“It uses a unique atmosphere and platforming mechanic to tell a story that is at once subtle and impactful.”
“The story is simple and sweet, and the atmosphere created by the environments and music is both eerie and comforting at turns.”
“The atmosphere and mood of the game creates an environment I never want to leave.”
“The story is simple and sweet, and the atmosphere created by the environments and music is both eerie and comforting at times.”
“Not only is its sound design integral to its atmosphere and story, but the music is some of the best video game music I've ever heard.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The game offers significant replayability through collectibles, secret levels, and challenging bonus levels that require skillful execution, encouraging players to revisit and improve their performance. The intriguing ending also leaves players eager for more exploration and discovery.
“The ending leaves you wanting more, and there are apparently secret levels in the game (which I haven't found yet), as well as a lot of hard-to-reach items, so there's definitely replay value.”
“In addition to the main story, the bonus levels allow for replayability, as some of these challenges will require a lot of retrying, since these levels are designed in a way that you will have to execute the swing mechanic perfectly to get through.”
- emotional3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its emotional depth, evoking strong feelings through a combination of a beautiful yet unsettling art style and a resonant story. Reviewers highlight its ability to create a dreamlike atmosphere that enhances the overall emotional experience, making it one of the most wholesome games of 2018.
“This game made me feel feelings.”
“The game's art style manages to be completely beautiful and unsettling at the same time, which gives it this dream-like quality that I really dig, like if Super Metroid's creepiness were coupled with an emotionally resonant story.”
