Remember Super Pang, the arcade game that had you busting bubbles by shooting at them? The Bug Butcher is basically the same – except that there are no cute bubbles and lots of slimy, nasty critters!
The Bug Butcher casts you as the exterminator in a scientific facility that has been overrun by bouncing bugs. Something has clearly gone awry, and now all sorts of creepy critters are looking for a yummy scientist snack.
Armed with a machine gun that’s certainly not standard issue for exterminators, you battle against enemy waves in each level by zapping them from below. There are round bouncing bugs that split into two when you shoot them, creepy crawlers that move on the ceiling and catch the scientists with their long tongues, and other slimy foes with a variety of attacks.
Even though most enemy movement patterns are predictable, their sheer number is bound to overwhelm you. Thankfully, special weapon drops and a persistent upgrading system between levels helps you against these hordes. Still, The Bug Butcher is noticeably harder than the game that inspired it!
You can enlist the help of another player to help you in your noble quest, making that total mayhem a little more manageable. But just a little. There are also online leaderboards that encourage you to replay levels.
The game was actually released on Steam a while ago and ported to the Nintendo Switch late last year. Like many other titles, The Bug Butcher feels naturally at home on Nintendo’s little console. It is a neat arcade experience – short and sweet, perfect for short play sessions, and hilariously fun in co-op.
The Bug Butcher is available now on the Nintendo Switch and Steam.
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