One of the most impactful games of my childhood was Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. Its presence in my life has a bit of a strange structure, which only adds to its legend for me. Within the game itself lies an intensely fun and engaging journey of color and memorable events. The game, and its entire franchise in general, certainly influenced an entire generation of players. Some of those players ended up so inspired that they made their own Paper Mario-esque game: Bug Fables.

Always a semi-risky venture to make a game so similar to that of its inspirator. Comparisons become inevitable, and the perception of “copy-pasting” ideas and mechanics can alienate some. Yes, Bug Fables is heavily inspired by Paper Mario and it shows through most facets of its structure and identity. What becomes important is experiencing how this new product relinquishes the adherence to being within the shadow of its source inspiration.

Continue reading “Thoughts on Bug Fables: The Everlasting Sapling” →