The Isle of Bigsnax Preview: Kinda Bug, Kinda Relaunch
From the initial reveal through execution, Young Horses’ wild study into the Bugsnax phenomenon has turned into quite the journey. What started as a soft meme with an infectious bop from Kero Kero Bonito morphed into one of the most memorable gaming experiences in recent memory. Bugsnax landed high on my ‘games of the year’ list for 2020 with the engaging gameplay loop serving as the root for an unexpectedly heartfelt narrative with remarkably fleshed out Muppet-esque creatures. With this in mind, it’s safe to say I’ve been hungry for more snax.
I was recently invited to a remote preview event to take a first look at the upcoming Isle of Bigsnax content update. Going into the preview, I simply expected one singular bonus arc serving as a side dish to an already appetizing meal. But in a clear display of passion, what Young Horses has crafted is an expansive delicious course that only compliments the entire experience. The Isle of Bigsnax gave off the impression of a standard expansion when initially revealed. But with the implementation of significant features in three key areas, the content update is better described as a soft relaunch for the game as a whole.
Yes. We are, in fact, talkin’ bout Bugsnax once again.
The Isle of Bigsnax
The biggest draw for returning players will be the star of the hefty update, The Isle of Bignsax. Serving as a new narrative arc, the expansion focuses on Triffany, Floofty, Chandlo, and Shelda as they explore a mysterious island that has suddenly appeared from the ocean. The Isle is a beautiful, open jungle with plenty of room to explore, secrets to uncover, and of course, new bugsnax to catch/eat; eleven new creatures, to be exact. As opposed to the base game where different biomes branched out from a hub area, the Isle is one open area. Young Horses noted that it is, in fact, the largest in the game. As grand and lush as the Isle may be, it’s only as good as our beloved visitors and the gameplay. It seems like Young Horses is delivering on that aspect as well.
Each character plays a specific role, all with their own questline to follow throughout the three to four hour expansion. Focusing on these four characters in particular, Young Horses noted the Isle as an opportunity to expand on characters who did not get much screen time in the base game. This became abundantly clear as our demo focused on the overlooked Shelda. After dealing with a Bunger Royale, a supersized burger, our demo followed Shelda’s opening questline with the goal of cracking eggs in a ritual of sorts. Bugsnax did end up serving as quite the character-study, and the expansion aims to do the same for the Isle’s stars. Touching on interpersonal dramas, for example, Young Horses appears to be doubling down. The conflict between Floofty and Shelda, Chandlo and Snorpy’s long distance relationship, and the Grumpuses working as a team are a few of those themes players may explore. While dialog was skipped to shave off some time, I cannot wait to dig into these new arcs for these beloved characters.
Where Young Horses seeks opportunity for improvement is in the gameplay as well. The team noted the Buggy Ball was a tool and gameplay mechanic in particular that did not get much attention in the base game. The expansion opens with a brand new puzzle mechanic featuring our favorite little hamster ball. Players will have to lead the Strabby up a horizontal maze in order to open a sealed door. While simple at first, the team promised an increase in challenge as players progress through the narrative. There was also the tease of secrets only the Buggy Ball could uncover, with hidden holes in walls to send our little friend into. An additional focus appeared to be platforming, as well. One of the new bugsnax, the Clawbsteroni (I’ll let your imaginations run with that name), can be seen holding a trampoline. Hint hint. This seems to be one of many examples of players utilizing the tools at their disposal to platform their ways into solving puzzles and finding secrets.
Another massive and welcomed gameplay improvement worth singling out is fast travel. Fast travel will be available to all players from the start straight from the menus. Thank you, Young Horses.
Press was only shown the opening to the expansion leading into the first portion of Shelda’s quest, but this short introduction alone was an immaculate display of how expansion and in-depth the expansion may be. I want to avoid spoilers as much as I can, but the little character moments and bugsnax shown off within the lush Isle, along with the gameplay enhancements all have me eager to dive in. Taking the opportunity to flesh out both characters and gameplay mechanics that may have fallen by the wayside is a brilliant approach to expansions. Not only that, but an abundance of secrets to uncover were teased; some of which may alter the game’s main ending.
Happy Home Designer
The second major aspect of the content update is your brand new home. As a new resident and buddy, Filbo will gift players their very own hut. It is… modest, to say the least. The hut is essentially a floor with no walls. But as Filbo notes, there is so much potential and opportunity to make it your own!
Following your gracious gift, Filbo introduces the mailbox - a key component to the home customization. Through the mail, players will receive gifts from other residents upon completing base game objectives. Some of the items shown were skulls, a record player, plushies, billboards, and zen gardens. A personal favorite of mine was a giant Grumpus skeleton as tall as the two-story hut; possibly a bit of a nod to the infamous Home Depot skeletons. Gifts will even relate to the characters they're coming from. For example, the ever-shady Cromdo will gift an apparently stolen safe with a large hole on the side.
For newcomers, gifts serve as an additional reward for completing objectives throughout the game. As shown in the demo, for returning players such as myself who may have fully completed the game, we will receive a massive influx of gifts as soon as the feature is triggered. On that note: the mail system is introduced by Filbo reciting his letter to you. It’s quite adorable.
While an abundance of items is fantastic, returning players may feel a bit left out in the sense of gradual reward. Thankfully, the mail system also brings in brand new objectives and requests to complete. Some of these may include searching for hidden areas, platforming challenges, encouraging catching bugsnax not required in the base game, or even studying specific bugsnax behavior. The added objectives encourage returning players to approach particular aspects of the game a bit differently; another unexpected yet welcomed addition to this update.
Shiny Hunter
The final feature appeals to a specific niche of the hardcore Pokemon crowd: shiny hunting… sort of.
Young Horses are adding hats for the bugsnax. Yes - tiny hats on tiny creatures. Rolling with a piece of feedback received from players, the team was asked why the hats on certain characters would disappear when being fed snax. Their answer: a Grumpus may have lost their hats when exploring, and certain bugsnax may have found them. Bugsnax with hats serve as rare variants, similar to shinies in Pokemon. The key difference here is the potential variety of hats. As opposed to Pokemon where there is one shiny per creature, it seems like any of the bugsnax can be found in a variety of headgear. Once prominently shown off was the ever-so-fashionable New York-as-heck snapback with obnoxious Chandlo graffiti. As bugsnax with hats are caught, it appears players will be building a sort of “hat inventory.” With a closet full of hats, players can visit Gramble’s Barn and customize previously captured snax.
Shiny hunting serves as a wonderful long-game mechanic. Unlike known methods in Pokemon, it's unclear as to what the odds or methods are into possibly finding bugsnax with hats. It could be a random rare occurrence, or the method is a secret players will have to uncover for themselves.
Kinda Bug, Kinda Relaunch
The Isle of Bigsnax content update serves a fresh coat of paint for Bugsnax as a whole. Newcomers to Switch, Xbox, and PC will have the definitive version of the game from the start, while returning players will be given not only more content, but new ways to approach the base game. Young Horses continues to put their passion and creativity on display by stepping back, taking a look at their vision as a whole, and going above and beyond in execution.
Be sure to listen to the latest episode of the Six One Indiecast for our conversation on The Isle of Bigsnax. Additionally, you can read my review of Bugsnax published at launch.
The Isle of Bigsnax launches on April 28th as a free content update for PlayStation players. The complete Bugsnax package will launch on Xbox Series X | S, Xbox One, Xbox Game Pass, Nintendo Switch, and PC will also launch on April 28th.
Previewed by Mike Towndrow