Bug Fables' Spider Boss -- Designing For Combat

[@theodorethewyvern2640]

Very happy to report that Leif’s base attack does get more use in the later game. Raising enemies out of the ground is very useful.

[@fawfulthegreat64]

I have to keep reminding myself that there was only a demo when this video came out because almost everything you talked about is pretty much the tutorial level for the rest of the game- but that really speaks to just how great this game is.

[@BearofLightness]

Ooh, love the idea of an RPG that takes the mechanical simplicity of Paper Mario and makes each fight a cerebral challenge. It's easy to design something with a buncha fun flashy moves, hard to design it where each of those moves has a unique function that's useful in very specific places. Definitely has my attention!

[@CesarTorres61296]

3:00 So that's what Lief would look like in Real Life.

[@limeslime711]

That was a baphomet moth. Leif is actually a geometer moth. Also, Kabbu is a scarab, not a… I think that’s a hercules beetle, maybe?

[@BacentRekkes]

Hammers do not pierce defences as been mentioned in the video. Hammers have a higher flat attack value when the action command is done proper in Paper Mario to help get around some the defence. I.E. something with 1 defence could never be touched by a basic jump skill, even with perfect timing because both hits do 1 damage each, while a Hammer does 2 damage (Equal to the jump, but all at once), so jump would do 0+0 and Hammer would do 1 damage to a 1 defence enemy. Upgraded boots would do 2+2 base damage, and upgrade Hammer would do 4 base damage. These also carried over to Paper Mario 2 where you showed the hammer doing 2 damage to the spiked cleft. It has 2 defence. The hammer (Which was upgraded once in your video clip) could do 4 base damage. So it did 4-2 damage (Base hammer minus cleft defence).

[@DesigningFor]

I know that that's not how the game defines "piercing defenses," but it'd take too long to describe that minutia for an offhand comment. I personally would still describe it as piercing the defenses, just not piercing them entirely, as D-Down Pound does. But it's all semantics.

[@CesarTorres61296]

But at the same time, Jumps are literally better then Hammer in every dang way.

[@BabusGameRoom]

I can't remember if it was 2022 or 2021 that I played it, but Bug Fables was GOTY for me whichever year it was that I played it.

[@ChattyAlarm]

And now the games fully out, I’m so close to completing the game, I’m just about to enter the giants lair, and I must say the games combat has only improved and I ADORE these characters, me and my friends have been voice acting them and it’s SO MUCH FUN

[@osiahene]

i agree that the paper mario's battle system biggest failing is how easily you can mow down most enemies but to me that has more to do with the battles than the system. challenge runs and rom hacks show that if paper mario had a rise in difficulty players would have to think more about how they use action commands, badges, items, star power, and partners.

[@cryptidcloud]

great comment!!

[@Bofrab]

Vi can hit people in the air knock enemies down Kabul I can hurt armored enemies and flip them over, but only the person in front And Leif can hit enemies underground to bring them back up and freeze them. They all work so perfectly together.

[@Kyotosomo]

Really loving this game!

[@daniellejackson6543]

3:50 hurricane toss and ice rain go brrrr(the latter literally). Oh, this was the demo where you couldn't get those.

[@exyzt9877]

Later in the game, you have to deal with burrowing enemies, and leif's base attack can take care of those

[@johnnywaffles2482]

I'm loving the story, art style, and gameplay of bug fables. The one thing that sort of irks me is the puzzles from time to time. None of them are overly complicated it's just that aiming the characters to perform an action with the locked camera and 2d style makes some of them pretty hard to be precise and causes constant failures.

[@granthamlin8126]

Knocking ice blocks around is just annoying, but a minor complaint.

[@johnnywaffles2482]

@@granthamlin8126 exactly lol

[@Tippex_Official]

Fun fact: cooking aphid eggs and seeking them actually grants you a 1 berry profit per egg sold. So you can gain infinite berries with infinite patience.

[@ShadwSonic]

Okay, that Team Relay system boosts my interest from "thank goodness someone made a game like this!" to "I want this!".

[@Arkatox]

I love Bug Fables, but I definitely disagree with your take that there’s anything “wrong” or “flawed” about Paper Mario’s battle system. I guess we just have different ideas of what RPG combat “should” be. Honestly, Paper Mario’s simplicity is what makes it _soar_ above other RPGs for me. Bug Fables is an impressive variation on Paper Mario’s system. Not some major, miraculous improvement. Both are a ton of fun, and that’s what’s important.

[@morriganrenfield8240]

From what I saw he mainly disliked that the combat could be broken by the player easily. Which is a valid criticism m

[@Megaman-2407]

strat in paper mario mostly came from what badge you use not your enemy the enemy is just can you jump or hammer it need some improvement

[@Mqstodon]

@@Megaman-2407 but that's the same in bug fables other than the bosses

[@jonathanrussell6525]

I loved the hard mode comment about two thirds of the way through, partly because I equipped that medal immediately on getting it even though I've never played before. XD

[@marcoasturias8520]

Wow, dash through that early into the game! It's so weird to see all the changes this game had until in a year, like the cricket being the one playing songs for you and not the cute fly!

[@Squaredasher]

Honestly the stuff in what would become chapter 1 was pretty good, but it pales in comparison to what the full game ended up being like, and I'd LOVE to hear your thoughts on the full game since honestly, the stuff in the demo does a disservice to the absolute masterpiece that this game transforms into once you hit chapter 3.

[@finnvaneekelen4966]

I love how much harder the demo spider was then spuder in the main game Also Leif did get utility with underground attacks

[@ef_modz4395]

I am playing the full Nintendo switch version and oh my goddesses this game is amazing

[@kevinbarber2795]

Bug Fables sounds like it’d be a fun world for a TTRPG.

[@TarvouldsQuest]

Dude, I'm loving these videos. So much production value and research. Lots of love and work go into these. One could say you're designing for...retention! Cause I keep coming back.

[@jameslawrenson1208]

So do I!

[@SwerveStarEx]

This game was amazing. ^^ I hope revisiting it after it was released was enjoyable for you! In case you didn't, Leif's unique attacking niche was established; aside from dealing extra damage to plants, he can hit burrowing enemies and uncover them so Vi and Kabbu can go wild.

[@shinyrayquaza9]

This is such a fantastic game!! I recommend checking out the art book He is also showing a beta release, the game has gotten even better

[@Bammer767]

I'm definitely looking forward to the games full release. Just based on the demo it's managed to capture the charm of the first Paper Mario that I loved while also finding it's own direction.

[@feelmypuddle4963]

Mad respect for the effort you put into these videos

[@SkyelreMinecraft]

Very good points, now I can understand why the combat felt harder in the game compared to Paper Mario. Really looking forward to when the game comes out =D

[@crystalqueen9711]

Man, it's interesting to look back at a Kickstarter demo of a game that's been out for a while and see all the differences between it and the final product

[@CrossKnights]

Never heard of this game. I'll definitely check out the demo!

[@iamLI3]

great pre review for the game spot on it's no wonder im enjoying this game enough to immediately do a second double hard mode playthrough after my first 40 hour playthrough of the game...

[@Doobie-kx8fk]

normal mode is e a s y. Once i got hard mode, it was basically the new normal mode. And it made the spider an actual challenge then just a lengthier boss fight.

[@parnash]

I think this game just came out not too long ago on consoles, and I completely would have missed it, if not for this video. It's definitely a great gem, so - thank you for bringing attention to this game!

[@kylestubbs8867]

Finished it yet?

[@wurtknurte7283]

I've never played an RPG like this game before and I managed to beat the Spider boss on hard mode! It was pretty fun to figure out how I should use moves to defeat it.

[@purpleisdebeste]

"Only one healing move" Haha

[@BradGames64]

I never ended up dying to Spuder. But that's probably because I was in *normal mode*. But anyway, I agree with your points in this video. It truly is a fantastic game and much-needed upgrade from Paper Mario's battle system.

[@MatHEWStorm]

Under rated channel

[@Cat-Luck]

I want sequel... really..

[@nosk7139]

Little did he know that dash through would be destroyed by Ice Rain

[@kylestubbs8867]

And become available a bit later in the game.

[@floofo-rama9851]

Two years later, and the game is definitely awesome!

[@spudercard]

I have been proven to be the perfect being

[@ParmMannREBORN]

Having just finished Bug Fables and watching a bunch of videos on the game, they didn't do much for me. A lot of it is just describing the game I just experienced, by comparison I actually found myself thinking about the game's design and better understanding how Bug Fables purposely contrasts Paper Mario

[@ethanotoroculus1060]

I really need to look at this game now...

[@winwinwe]

Incredible channel, dude.

[@N12015]

0:50 "From lovable characters" While showing Mothiva, a very obnoxious Moth which only value as character is her interactions with Vi. I agree with your points, even though I think the game is worse than Paper Mario; It has a surprisingly underwhelming end and middle game due to questionable level design and obnoxious Unity physics. And let's be real, the reason it works is because the combat is Paper Mario with a proper difficulty curve and balance, because indeed a game being too accessible can damage the overall experience.

[@Fresh_Knight]

Man the demo looks so very jank compared to the final

[@reallycoolbird]

I don't doubt you've played it already, but in the full version leif can unearth enemies who burrow into the ground.

[@Megaman-2407]

Leif now can hit underground enemy

[@Tippex_Official]

Designing for: secret stash is the only healing move in the game Sharing stash: am I a joke to you? Although yes, sharing stash does require you to complete a rather long fetch quest, and it costs 300 berries to get to the main point of the quest (reaching metal island via the ferry), but it is still technically a healing move.

[@ConsarnitTokkori]

but more importantly, it didn't exist yet

[@Tippex_Official]

@@ConsarnitTokkori okay. I feel like an idiot now.

[@bit_sean8001]

If you beat the four card masters first it's only 90 berries to get to metal island.

[@tasoganedude]

4:04 Depth of healing in games? I'd like to explore that more in great detail.

[@Buglin_Burger7878]

It is a good game, but I do disagree about the balance... it is more of a "If you know you'll be fine" balance design. So you'll have difficulty on your first run... but aside from the first boss you shouldn't have issues. (It just can end up as a DPS race.) It is a good game, with some balance issues as they all have.

[@TevakOwlman]

What is the name of the rpg with the character sheet shown in the video?

[@DesigningFor]

It's a tabletop game called Eoris. It's notable for how overcomplicated the sheet is and not a lot else, it wasn't very successful.

[@StarlightTrail3]

For anyone who wants to defeat the spider boss in hard mode: Give Kabbu the Berserker medal and put him in front. Worked like a charm for me.

[@kylestubbs8867]

For added story integration, repeat this strategy with the Chapter 5 boss.

[@benji-menji]

Can you update this video?

[@markp6084]

Spoilers in this comment. The only thing I didn't like about the game was the Progression. My example is the Lief's Request sidequest... I was able to accept this quest before I learned dig... Then when I got Dig, I was very weak in the dungeon so I had to constantly go back and forth to the Plant to Heal. I tried multiple different strategies to beat the boss and then I just said Screw it. I came back to it later in the game... In Paper Mario TTYD, they have the Pit of 100 Trials and people were able to complete it right after chapter 1 using expert Badge strategies and techniques, but it gave u a return pipe so u can opt out every 10 or so Battles... Bug Fables had a few moments where I had to put the game down and get back to it later.

[@haruhisuzumiya6650]

this is why paper mario needs an agression system.

[@frogface861]

I've never heard of Bug fables but it looks like a lot of fun even if it look like a paper cut version of Paper Mario.

[@supermario863]

If there's anyone here, can someone tell me what the room at 0:18 is? I don't remember this room being in the game at all!

[@kylestubbs8867]

This video is about the 2018 demo. That room probably got removed in the official 2019 game.

[@heyj64]

This game is full of bugs

[@CharleyTGriffin]

I can't wait for this game to come out

[@pokepress]

Does it improve the overworld pacing over the Paper Mario games? I’ve had that problem with every installment of the series.

[@DesigningFor]

It's not a very large overworld, so I never had much issue with the pacing. But I never had much issue with the first game's pacing either, so your mileage may vary. I will say that it doesn't have nearly as much backtracking as Paper Mario 2, nor any Bulb-ulb seeds to collect, however.

[@theutubepower1243]

It got updated with a new dash move so that helps

[@iamLI3]

i accidentally paused on the bee image dear luna why XD....

[@Brandon-xc2pk]

"well balaced" i watched a video where the devouerer was beat in one turn by charging up kabbu and leif and relaying all the charges to vi so shi could hit for like 14 damage in one hit, this plus beemerang toss is op edit: didnt notice this video was made before the game came out till just now

[@OrlandoMarvin]

I’m 6 hours into the game. Loving it and playing it in hard mode. The music is outstanding! The mechanics are very strategically well balanced. Only complaint is the visuals could of been a bit better. I feel the outlines of the game are too thick. Sometimes I can’t tell what the bug or the bugs faces are. Wish it was more refined and add more character to these generic looking bugs. I still am enjoying the game though!

[@SuperRayman001]

You can make outlines thinner in the options, have you tried that?

[@OrlandoMarvin]

SuperRayman001 I tried but the outlines with the character art, doesn’t change. It’s still bold to the point I can’t even tell if that’s their eyes, nose , or mouth.. still playing the game though. I’m at the Bee Factory fighting a flying bee machine!

[@Megaman-2407]

maybe with enough fund they can improve even more

[@kevincruz7958]

Is it really necessary to put a long text for less than a second so the viewer has to return and pause? In my opinion it breaks the flow of the experience. Is it a joke? I don't get it.

[@DesigningFor]

It was to provide extra information for those that wanted it. Apologies that it broke flow, I've tried to get better about that in more recent videos.

[@sbkeel5639]

I laugh at hard mode I play on HARDEST and can beat all the bosses in EX Rush mode... For the record you'll get 994 berries if you manage to beat all the bosses in boss rush EX!

[@Dewclaw7787]

It amuses me you don't have that charge skill for that boss fight now xD only way I could get past that battle on hard mode was to save resources to try burst down it and the minions, oh and don't fail even one poison breath AOE attack or RIP. Then your reward for sticking through that fight and beating it is a badge to help you escape battles easier -_- least the game opens up after that. Also on the game tuning side, badges are the most worthwhile investment for the ability to customize your party and assign hp to party members anyway, just have to hold out long enough to get good stuff, but it makes me wonder why bother giving that level up choice, your essentially hamstringing players with more or less bad options. Though if your gonna grind out the game and go for extra content you prolly will find the NPC to re-roll your stats into max medal points anyway, so maybe there is something to be said in grabbing some hp for early game and fixing it later.

[@Bofrab]

...I played on normal mode...

[@cshoorr511]

Wait but the spider was easy

[@kylestubbs8867]

They probably toned him down for the final game. This was the demo, you see.

[@geargo999]

1,000th like