Info about Bug Fables: The Everlasting Sapling:

Official game description:
_**Bug Fables: The Everlasting Sapling**_ is an adventure-RPG following three heroes, Vi, Kabbu, and Leif, as they embark on an epic quest in Bugaria in search of The Everlasting Sapling, a treasure that can grant immortality! Bug Fables combines colorful platforming with the heroes' unique abilities as they explore a wide variety of areas in the kingdom. Turn-based battles make use of Action Commands that can power up your attacks!
Bug Fables, the critically acclaimed and Metacritic award-winning RPG, now includes the free Update 1.2! Experience new quests, new bosses, improved cooking and sprinting, and other mysterious additions!
STORY
-----
Hidden within the foliage of nature lies a small but prosperous continent - Bugaria. Insects from all over the world travel to it in search of the treasure scattered across it. The most sought after of these relics is The Everlasting Sapling! Eating just one of its leaves can grant even immortality! In search of this ancient artifact, a brave team of explorers - Vi, Kabbu, and Leif - will travel across many different environments. In order to do so, they must work together to clear puzzles, defeat strong enemies and help the general bug populace!
FEATURES
--------
*   Seven lush chapters of story following the heroes across Bugaria!
*   Traverse vast overworlds that transition into turn-based combat! Use action commands with Vi's Beemerang, Leif's Ice Magic, or Kabbu's Horn to make attacks more effective or block enemy attacks! Turn the tide of battle with the Turn Relay feature to exploit enemy weaknesses with the power of teamwork!
*   Explore unique areas including: The Ant Kingdom, the treacherous Snakemouth Den, the picturesque Golden Hills, The Lost Sands, and Vi's home, the Bee Kingdom!
*   Utilize a cooking system to turn ingredients into items that can help you in battle!
*   Engage in a Tattle System that lets you hear your party interact with each other as they discover all the secrets Bugaria has in store!
*   Over 30 sidequests and 15 optional bosses!

Release date: Nov 21, 2019

Categories: Turn-based Combat, Character Progression, Exploration, Puzzle Solving, Platforming, Story-driven Gameplay, Side Quest System, Cooking Simulation

Feature scans:
- Wiki: score 50; verdict: Needs Improvement; summary: The game has significant issues with unclear mechanics and a reliance on external resources for understanding and progression. Additionally, there are notable technical issues such as game freezing, which detract from the overall experience.
- Steam Deck: score 50; verdict: Tinkering Required; summary: The analysis of user feedback reveals that while many users have a positive experience with the game on the Steam Deck, there are significant issues with controller functionality and some difficulties with keyboard controls. These technical barriers impact the overall user experience.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $15.00 - $25.00
  - Reasoning: The evidence indicates that users consistently feel the game is worth its full price, with several reviews explicitly stating that the game is worth paying full price for. Additionally, one review mentions that the game, priced at $20, offers content and quality comparable to a $60 AAA title. This suggests that the community perceives the game's value as significantly higher than its current price point.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 35.0h
  - Story completion: 30.0h
  - Session length: 5.0h
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The evidence provides multiple direct references to the playtime for Bug Fables: The Everlasting Sapling. The first quote mentions a '35-hour adventure,' which aligns with the game completion time. The second quote specifies '25-30 hours' for character development, which can be interpreted as the story completion time. The third quote provides a range of '30-40 hours' for the main story, which supports both the game completion and story completion times. The fourth quote, in Chinese, mentions a playtime of 5 hours, which seems to refer to a single session length.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game starts slowly due to its introductory phase but becomes engaging and addictive once players get past the initial learning curve.
  - Stance: Fun then drops
  - Anchor: Completion of the introductory phase and familiarity with game mechanics.
  - Time to anchor: 1h 0m
  - Friction: Slow start due to introductory phase.; Initial learning curve.
  - Unlock drivers: Optional and skippable tutorial.; Simple and configurable controls.; Balanced progression.
  - Conditions: Familiarity with game mechanics.; Completion of the introductory phase.
- Player Archetypes:
  - Paper Mario Enthusiast (buy)
    - Motivation: Nostalgia and love for the Paper Mario series.
    - Playstyle: Enjoys character-driven RPGs with strategic mechanics and a strong narrative.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: Paper Mario fan; JRPG lover
    - Reference games: Paper Mario; Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
  - Challenge Seeker (buy)
    - Motivation: Enjoys the thrill and satisfaction of overcoming difficult challenges.
    - Playstyle: Prefers hard modes and complex builds, enjoys strategic and tactical gameplay.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: Hardcore gamer; Challenge lover
    - Reference games: Dark Souls; Hollow Knight
  - Story-Driven Casual (sale)
    - Motivation: Enjoys immersive stories and charming game worlds.
    - Playstyle: Prefers games with engaging narratives and easy-to-learn mechanics, enjoys casual gameplay with some strategic elements.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: Casual gamer; Story lover
    - Reference games: Stardew Valley; Night in the Woods


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Characters are charming and well-developed (weight 0.54): The characters in the game are frequently described as charming, lovable, and well-developed. They are noted for their depth, charisma, and unique personalities, making them a strong point of the game.
- Superior to Paper Mario (weight 0.42): The game is often compared favorably to Paper Mario, with many players considering it a better alternative. It is praised for its unique spins on gameplay and storytelling, offering more challenge and feeling more alive.
- Engaging and charming story (weight 0.34): The story is described as engaging, charming, and well-written. It is noted for its simplicity yet compelling nature, making it enjoyable for both children and adults.
- Excellent soundtrack (weight 0.31): The game's soundtrack is consistently praised for being fantastic, memorable, and excellent. It is noted for its variety and standout tracks, contributing significantly to the game's overall appeal.
- Fun and engaging gameplay (weight 0.29): The gameplay is frequently described as fun, engaging, and rewarding. It is noted for its diversity, richness, and intuitive mechanics.
- Turn-based but interactive combat (weight 0.25): The combat system is described as turn-based but interactive, with engaging mechanics. It is noted for its complexity and enjoyment.
- Amazing world to explore (weight 0.23): The game's world is praised for being amazing, colorful, and interesting to explore. It is noted for its diverse design and the joy it brings to players.
- Charming and unique art style (weight 0.23): The art style is described as lovely, charming, and unique. It is noted for its beauty and cuteness, contributing to the game's overall charm.
- Abundant side quests (weight 0.18): The game offers many side quests that are challenging and worthwhile. These quests add to the game's replayability and depth.
- Highly rated game (weight 0.17): The game is frequently rated as 10/10 by players. It is described as perfect, top-notch, and well-made, deserving high praise.
- One of the best RPGs (weight 0.15): The game is praised as one of the best RPGs in recent memory. It is noted for its fantastic and tight design, heartfelt storytelling, and originality.

Common complaints:
- Side quests are tedious (weight 0.26): Many players find the side quests tedious and overly vague, often involving excessive backtracking and offering poor rewards.
- Combat lacks variety (weight 0.18): Combat is often criticized for being repetitive, with limited character attacks and monotonous battles.
- Gameplay is clunky (weight 0.17): The gameplay is described as clunky, with delays and a slow pace that can make the game feel dragged out.
- Cooking system is cumbersome (weight 0.16): The cooking system is seen as frustrating and laborious, with no batch cooking and repetitive animations.
- Puzzles are frustrating (weight 0.16): The puzzles in the game are often seen as questionable and can waste a lot of time, with some being repetitive and requiring walkthroughs.
- Difficulty issues (weight 0.14): The game has difficulty spikes, especially near the end, and the hard mode can be frustrating.
- Game has many bugs (weight 0.12): The presence of numerous bugs is a common complaint among players, affecting the overall experience.
- Not a true Paper Mario game (weight 0.11): The game does not satisfy the need for a proper Paper Mario style game and is seen as less creative compared to classic Paper Mario games.
- Inventory management issues (weight 0.1): Players are frustrated with the limited item space and the lack of item stacking and sorting functions.
- Leveling and skills are weak (weight 0.08): Level-ups feel weak at the beginning, and some skills seem worthless.
- Stealth sections are poorly received (weight 0.04): Mandatory stealth sections are seen as adding little value to the game and are often criticized.
- Platforming is weak (weight 0.04): The platforming aspects of the game are considered a weak point.
- 100% completion is tedious (weight 0.04): Achieving 100% completion is described as a slog and annoying.

Gameplay feedback:
- Inspired by Paper Mario (weight 0.31): The game draws heavy inspiration from the Paper Mario series, particularly in its art style, battle system, and overall gameplay mechanics. It is often compared to the classic Paper Mario games but is noted to be more than just a clone.
- Puzzle-solving and platforming (weight 0.14): The game incorporates logical puzzles and platforming elements that players must navigate. These elements are integrated into the map and require both cognitive and motor skills.
- Difficulty options (weight 0.13): Players can choose from various difficulty options, including a hard mode that increases the difficulty and often provides additional rewards. This allows for a customized gaming experience based on player preference.
- Character development and versatility (weight 0.13): Players can develop and customize their characters, switching between them to utilize different abilities. This adds a layer of strategy and personalization to the gameplay.
- Challenging boss fights (weight 0.11): The game features challenging boss battles that test the player's skills and strategic thinking. These battles are a highlight of the gameplay experience.
- Story-driven adventure (weight 0.08): The game is rich in story, providing a narrative-driven experience that engages players. The storyline is a central aspect of the gameplay, offering a compelling adventure.
- Variety of content (weight 0.08): The game offers a diverse range of content, including various enemies, gameplay mechanics, and exploration opportunities. This variety keeps the gameplay experience fresh and engaging.
- Fun and strategic mechanics (weight 0.08): The gameplay mechanics are designed to be fun and strategic, offering players a satisfying experience. The mechanics are well-implemented and contribute positively to the overall gameplay.
- Exploration-focused (weight 0.08): Exploration is a fundamental aspect of the game, with open-world elements and hidden areas to discover. This encourages players to thoroughly explore the game environment.
- Medal system (weight 0.06): The game features a medal system with various effects, adding another layer of customization and strategy. Players can equip different medals to enhance their abilities and tailor their gameplay experience.
- Strategic use of abilities (weight 0.06): Players must strategically use their abilities and skills in combat. This adds depth to the combat system and requires thoughtful planning and execution.
- No grinding required (weight 0.06): The game is designed such that grinding is not necessary to progress. This allows players to focus on the gameplay experience without the need for repetitive tasks.

Performance notes:
- Low system requirements (weight 0.11): The game runs on a wide range of hardware, including older laptops and Steam Deck, with no major performance problems.
- Game has performance issues (weight 0.11): Several players reported bugs and erratic behavior, including input omission and freezing after tabbing out.
- Controller issues (weight 0.07): Players experienced awkward controls and disconnection issues with controllers.
- FPS locked at 60 (weight 0.03): The game is locked to 60 frames per second, which may not be ideal for all players.
- Visual improvements needed (weight 0.03): Some players noted that certain visual aspects of the game could be enhanced.
- Keyboard controls less precise (weight 0.03): Keyboard controls are reported to be less fine-tuned compared to using a controller.

Recommendations:
- Highly recommended for RPG fans (weight 0.3): The game is frequently recommended for fans of RPGs, particularly those who enjoy turn-based mechanics and classic series like Paper Mario and Final Fantasy.
- Ideal for Paper Mario fans (weight 0.23): This game is highly recommended for fans of the Paper Mario series, especially those who enjoy the classic titles and are looking for a similar experience.
- Worth the price (weight 0.07): Many reviews indicate that the game is worth playing and worth the price, suggesting it offers good value for money.
- Unique appeal for bug enthusiasts (weight 0.04): The game is recommended for those who find bugs cool or enjoy insect-themed games, catering to a niche interest.
- Must-play for anyone (weight 0.03): The game is described as a must-play for anyone, suggesting it has broad appeal and high quality.
- Engaging systems and story (weight 0.03): The game is worth playing for its engaging systems and story, indicating a well-rounded and captivating experience.
- Recommended for its story (weight 0.03): The game is recommended for its story alone, suggesting a compelling narrative that stands out.
- Recommended for a good time (weight 0.03): The game is recommended for those who want to have a good time, suggesting it is enjoyable and entertaining.
- Highly recommend trying it (weight 0.03): There is a high recommendation to give the game a shot, suggesting it is worth trying out.
- Heartfelt recommendation (weight 0.03): Some reviews offer a heartfelt recommendation to play the game, indicating a strong emotional connection.
- Try post-game challenges (weight 0.03): Players are encouraged to try post-game challenges, indicating that the game offers additional content that enhances replayability.
- Play on Normal mode (weight 0.03): It is recommended to play on Normal mode to avoid quality of life issues, suggesting that this mode offers the best experience.
- Lighthearted RPG recommendation (weight 0.03): The game is recommended for those seeking a lighthearted RPG experience, indicating a fun and enjoyable tone.
- Just buy it (weight 0.03): A straightforward recommendation to buy the game, indicating strong approval and satisfaction.
- Recommended for various ages (weight 0.03): The game is recommended for various age groups, suggesting it has broad appeal and accessibility.
- Indie RPG with turn-based combat (weight 0.03): The game is described as an indie RPG with turn-based combat mechanics and storytelling, highlighting its unique features.
- Play Bug Fables (weight 0.03): A straightforward recommendation to play Bug Fables, highlighting its appeal without additional context.
- Use a controller (weight 0.03): Players are recommended to use a controller, indicating that it enhances the gaming experience.
- Keep the hard mode medal (weight 0.03): It is suggested to keep the hard mode medal equipped, possibly indicating a challenging and rewarding gameplay experience.
- Get the pip finder medal (weight 0.03): Players are advised to get the pip finder medal as soon as possible, suggesting it is beneficial for gameplay.
- Try Escape from Ever After (weight 0.02): Suggestion to try 'Escape from Ever After,' possibly indicating a specific mode or feature within the game.

Other player notes:
- Localization and language support (weight 0.06): Users are requesting additional language support, including Korean and French translations.
- Add in-game shop for cosmetics (weight 0.03): Players want a shop to purchase emojis and backgrounds using in-game currency.
- Inconsistent food item effects (weight 0.03): Some food items in the game have effects that do not match their descriptions or intended purposes.
- Diverse character representation (weight 0.03): Requests for more explicitly plural or diverse character options in the game.
- Mini-game currency issue (weight 0.03): A mini-game available in the late game does not provide any currency return despite its description suggesting otherwise.

Emotions:
- Joy (weight 0.26): Players experience joy due to the game's fun and challenging gameplay, engaging combat system, and charming characters. The overall high quality, enjoyable story, and positive comparisons to classic games like Paper Mario also contribute significantly to this emotion.
- Excitement (weight 0.15): The excitement stems from the game's engaging plot, challenging gameplay, and fun mechanics. Players are also thrilled by the game's unique charm, deep lore, and the prospect of future content and sequels.
- Frustration (weight 0.13): Frustration is primarily caused by combat difficulty, various bugs, and awkward controls. Players also find repetitive gameplay, tedious puzzles, and specific mechanics like limited inventory space and camera rotation issues frustrating.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.1): Enjoyment comes from the game's high-quality content, engaging gameplay, and well-developed characters. Players appreciate the story, art style, soundtrack, and the overall experience that reminds them of classic games.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.07): Nostalgia is evoked by the game's similarities to the Paper Mario franchise, reminding players of their childhood games. The faithfulness to the original Paper Mario gameplay and the nostalgic elements bring back fond memories.
- Disappointment (weight 0.05): Disappointment arises from the game's repetitive nature, lack of meaningful progression, and certain mechanics not meeting expectations. Some players also feel let down by the writing, visuals, and abrupt ending.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.05): Satisfaction is derived from the rewarding gameplay experience, challenging combat system, and the overall quality of the game. Players find the strategic elements and side content particularly satisfying.
- Appreciation (weight 0.04): Appreciation comes from the game's depth, variety of content, and thoughtful gameplay design. Players also value the developers' passion, the engaging battle system, and the unique identity within the Paper Mario genre.
- Love (weight 0.03): Love for the game is driven by its characters, story, originality in side-content, and overall gameplay. The unique spins on classic gameplay and the deep emotional connection players feel contribute to this strong emotion.
- Admiration (weight 0.03): Admiration is due to the game's thoughtful design, strong character writing, and overall high quality. Players admire the complexity, content, and the game's ability to fulfill fantasy elements.
- Happiness (weight 0.02): Happiness is generated by the game's childlike whimsy, adult themes, and positive evaluation of various aspects. The game's qualities bring smiles to players' faces and create a joyful experience.
- Sadness (weight 0.01): Sadness occurs due to emotional points in the story and the game ending. Players feel a sense of loss when the game concludes and express sadness when the game is not for them despite its positive aspects.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.01): Enthusiasm is driven by the game's unique systems, engaging storyline, and strong personal attachment. Players highly recommend the game and find the Hard Mode excellent, adding to their excitement.
- Surprise (weight 0.01): Surprise comes from the unexpected enjoyment of the game and it exceeding expectations. Players are pleasantly surprised by the amount of personality and lore present in the game.
- Happy (weight 0.01): Happiness is derived from the overall positive experience, discovering the game, and having a blast playing it. Players are very happy with the game and highly recommend it to others.
- Excited (weight 0.01): Excitement is generated by the game's storyline, characters, and exploration. Players are also excited about the battle system and the engaging story.
- Engagement (weight 0): Engagement is primarily driven by the game's story. Players find themselves deeply involved in the narrative and the world of the game.}