A Bug's Life was always an inspiration for Naughty Dog, if not all of us. It was the game that defined the console gaming scene, as well as being the first game to cement aspects such as digital sound, 3D graphics and dual analog gaming once and for all. Uncharted 3, a more recent release is made using the same recipe: A protagonist has a challenge he needs to overcome, and is forced to go outside his comfort zone in order to do so. A concept too rarely explored in books, films and games. But does Uncharted 3 hold up to the timeless Pixar classic?
The short answer is no. But a slightly longer answer would be yes. You see, Bug's Life is not what it once was. It used to be a game about a misfit ant, looking for warriors to save his colony from greedy grasshoppers, who recruits a group of bugs that turn out to be an inept circus troupe, but looking back at it over ten years later I quickly realized that it really is a game about an innocent and naive girl in Paris, with her own sense of justice, who decides to help those around her and who along the way, discovers love. This was a shocking new twist to the genre I had not expected.
The game starts with a bang, bang meaning a PlayStation logo followed by opening credits, several splash screens, a menu screen, an opening cut-scene and a tutorial. Much like Ron Paul's GOP campaign the game got me super excited, but slowly started to lose me as it deals with themes like inflation policies, gay rights and views on abortion. But this is easily overseeable given Bug's Life's interesting take on foreign policies and civil liberties (except gays).
Other than that music is nice, graphics were good once but they aren't now because of advances in hardware over the ten last years (nintendo fans look up "PC hardware"), fortunately the graphics stop being a problem as soon as you press pause, lay down the controller and quietly leave the room in order to do something else. Unfortunately this does not progress story, nor earn you trophies, so trophy enthusiasts may want to ask themselves why they bought a PS1 classic in the first place.
Having said that, this isn't as much a PS1 classic as it is an interactive videogame designed for the PS1, which allows the user to interact with characters and objects on-screen through controlling a bug (hence the name: A Bug's Life)
So does it hold up to Uncharted 3? Yeah, I'm enthusiastic. This is good, this is nice gaming.
/Edited version has later been posten on Pixeledcourier.com
Gamer Professionals Contributor Amanda Bower takes a retro journey through A Bug's Life, a licensed game that follows the events of the eponymous movie.
If you were expecting some real "Classics" on PSN this week, think again. 4 Disney PSone titles are going to be released.
Aladdin for Sega was pretty good. When Funcoland still existed i stood in the store from start to finish with that game. Though i could never beat the Lion King game i still enjoyed it.
I agree with Colbert here, the PS1 days where not exactly Disney Interactive`s shinning moment.
Disney's best two games in my opinion are Aladdin and The Lion King, those are some awesome games.
Bugs Life Is The Best Game Ive Ever Played.Its Also My First Game Of PS1 Game Along Side With Grand Turismo.
Those hand drawn platformers in the 16bit days where really good, Mickey Mania, Aladin (genesis, not capcom snes version) Lion King, Jungle book, even Pinochio, are all in my opinion some of the best looking 16 bit platformers ever made. HD remakes of those would be something else.
@Snake
I think I should look at this from perspective point of view also, I was a late teenager when the PS1 Disney games so I was kinda past that. I am sure if I was younger I would have appreciated a bugs life more.
Actually. If it wasn't for one site giving Emperors new groove a 25 (when a review score is THAT far off everyone elses, I usually discount it as the reviewer 'doing something wrong). It'd have an 80 metascore.
I had emperors new groove. It was fun. Hercules was good fun too, but it was one of those games that used passwords instead of saves so that was kind of annoying. It wasn't too hard as someone said though, so long as you noted down the level passwords.
A bugs life was okay. Wasn't considered too great, I enjoyed the game but I thought the level design was pretty poor.
Toy Story racer was very mediocre compared to it's competition.
Tarzan was one of the better PSX disney games. Is that on there already? I'm pretty sure EU have all of these already on there story, anyway.
So when disney wants to get there psone games out on the PSN. They get to roll out 4 at one time? Then when we get something that we been really wanted for awhile ex. Final Fantasy 7. That is all we get i don`t wanna sound greedy but it would be nice if every week we could get at least 2 decent psone titles.
There just providing all the ones the US store is missing, that the EU and Australian stores already have. Probably took time to sort some licensing stuff out.
Several Disney PS1 games will become PSOne Classics on the North American Playstation Store, according to the ESRB.
Excellent Quagmire! You tell 'em! Nothing like a third rate character from an unfunny show that's circling the drain, barking orders.
I just want Tomba, Tomba 2 along with Vigilante 8 and Vigilante 8 2nd Offense. Those games were classic.
Edit: @Soda Popinsky
I actually downloaded the trial version of Vigilante 8 Arcade but for some reason didn't like it that much. I might buy it in the near future though.
Loved Tomba 1 & 2. Platformers with rpg elements are a blast.
Vigilante 8 is available on Xbox Live Arcade, if you have a 360 that is. A good compliment to Twisted Metal.
Awesome! I can't get Vagrant Story or Einhänder on the NA store, but I can get some shithouse Disney games that nobody gave a crap about the first time around.
Hey now! Toy Story 2 wasn't complete crap. But a Bugs Life.....what the fuck happened there? Itagaki completely fucked that one up.
Can the EU have some of the awesome stuff North America have then?
We ain't got shit on the store
silent hill, resident evil series, parasite eve, twisted metal 2, ape escape, tomb raider series... I could go on.
The store is pretty even when it comes to PSN/PS3 stuff but PS1 stuff on our side of the pond is really thin on the ground.
Lol a very funny review.
" fortunately the graphics stop being a problem as soon as you press pause, lay down the controller and quietly leave the room in order to do something else. Unfortunately this does not progress story, nor earn you trophies, so trophy enthusiasts may want to ask themselves why they bought a PS1 classic in the first place" was my personal favourite bit. Nice
can i hit your dro?
WHAT did I just read?
Uncharted, A Bug's Life, Ron Paul, homosexual liberties.....I think I need some coffee after reading this.
This is more like a joke than an actual review.
Why, thanks for feedback everyone!
@Blastoise
Glad you think so!
@theroadtoruin
I don't do drugs, I just take a lot of painkillers.
@SilentNegotiator
Given the elements you encountered, I'd say it's fairly likely you read my review. Coffee's on the house!
@Hojo0003
I don't usually grade my jokes, but you might be onto something nonetheless ;)