I think I may have had more fun playing this game than any other video game in my life

so far i have been enjoying it
to be honest i was expecting more partners like in thousand year door but i guess less just gives more development for the other characters
i do have to say the bee factory area so far has been the MOST ANNOYING
(though that is kinda on me for not saving after every keycard)
i hope ill just have more fun with this game and not get jumpscared by a hyper realistic bug

A fantastical love letter to the original Paper Mario, it nails the vibe and feeling of the game nearly flawlessly. Within the first few minutes of playing I felt the same as I did originally playing Paper Mario on the N64 as a little kid. The art direction and gameplay nearly feels 1:1, and the charm and feeling of the setting and characters hits the same notes without feeling like it's just riding on the coat tails of its ancestor.

Vi, Kabbu, and Leif are such a great party of characters, where each feels like their own distinct personality without butting with the others too hard, and their skillsets even from the outset makes it clear why they warrant being different characters. The portion of the story I've played so far (And the little bits I can remember from watching videos back when the game initially launched) is fun. The system of choosing health, team points, or badge points on level up makes the game feel like there's a certain level of replayability to see how a playthrough can be changed by what you pick on level up. The badges is a great mechanic that I love being repurposed from Paper Mario, as it was easily one of the most stand out systems in that game, and it's no less wonderful here.

As much as I'm comparing Bug Fables and Paper Mario, it's not to disparage the game in any fashion, as it's still inequivocally it's own game, but it wears its inspiration on its sleeves, and I couldn't be any less happy about it. For the few hours I've played it already, I've had nothing but a smile on my face seeing these goofballs interact with each other, and being filled with that nostalgic feeling of playing on a Nintendo 64 as a kid. If you're a fan of turn-based RPGs, the combat system and each character's unique qualities is something that I feel you would appreciate. If you love adventure stories, Vi's love for exploring and treasure is something you might resonate with. If you're like me and just have that nostalgic love for a wacky spin off with an Italian plumber, you'll feel right at home just like those old summer days staring at a bulky tube television with a wonky controller in your hands.

I could not recommend this game enough if any of the above sounds like it fits your critera even remotely. It's a cute, whimsical adventure with fantastic music and art direction, a surprisingly compelling story, and love-crafted game mechanics. Whether you pick it up on sale or for full price, it's a purchase you would have to try to regret.