Escape from Bug Island

Escape from Bug Island, titled Necro-Nesia (ネクロネシア, Nekuroneshia) in Japan, is a survival horror video game developed by Spike and released for the Wii in 2006.

Escape from Bug Island
European box art
Developer(s)Spike
Publisher(s)
Platform(s)Wii
Release
  • JP: December 2, 2006
  • NA: July 25, 2007
  • EU: October 26, 2007
  • AU: November 1, 2007
Genre(s)Adventure, survival horror
Mode(s)Single-player

Gameplay

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The game is a third-person shooter Survival horror game. The player uses melee weapons by swinging the Wiimote in the direction the player wants Ray to swing, the player can also use a flashlight by pressing the C button on the Nunchuck. Bugs are attracted to the light from the flashlight and kill the player.

Plot

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The player, playing as Ray, starts with a tree branch as their first melee weapon along with some rocks as projectiles. As the game progresses, better melee and projectile weapons can be found. Ray will encounter some other characters through the first half of the game; however, after a visit to the Cave of Time, Ray will repeat the game in an attempt to prevent some of the character's demises. There are several caves that can be accessed after revisiting areas that hide bonus items and even better weapons. The player will also gain access to a new flashlight that will allow them to use the two-hand melee weapons and the second time around Ray has to access to firearms. Some of the boss fights include the giant angry gorilla, one big worm, the giant spider, and the monster the island is named after, Beelzebub. The final battle is against a former human named Robert who is mutated into an insect-like in the movie The Fly. Ray then makes his Escape from Bug Island after defeating the mutated Robert. The game will determine which ending the player receives depending on how well Ray does during the game. Both endings find Ray making his escape from Bug Island; however, whether or not Ray has company on his escape depends on the ending.

Development

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The game was released in 2007 under the title Escape From Bug Island and was published by Eidos Interactive.[1] According to Nintendo Power, unfavorable reviews of Necro-Nesia prompted Eidos to refine several aspects of the game during localization, including control tweaks and end-of-level wrap-ups.[2]

Reception

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At E3, critical impressions of Escape from Bug Island (then Necro-Nesia) were mostly negative. According to IGN, the gameplay is “void of anything that may resemble fun”.[15] Other criticisms included poor graphics, awkward controls (especially during fights), and choppy animation.[15][16] Greg Ford of 1Up.com criticized the game's controls and concluded that "Bug Island fails and frustrates so thoroughly throughout its 10-plus-hour playtime that its greatest feat may be fooling someone into finishing it who isn't paid to do so. It's easily the Wii's worst showing yet."[4] Japanese gaming magazine, Famitsu, however, gave it an above-average score of one eight, two sevens, and one six for a total of 28 out of 40.[7] Elsewhere, the game received "unfavorable" reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[3]

The game sold only 1,934 units on December 2, 2006, the day of the Wii launch in Japan.[17]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ rawmeatcowboy (January 5, 2007). "Necro-Nesia coming to US, renamed". GoNintendo. Archived from the original on October 15, 2023. Retrieved September 21, 2024.
  2. ^ Myers, Andy (April 2007). "Creatures of the Night". Nintendo Power. Vol. 214. Nintendo of America. p. 30.
  3. ^ a b "Escape from Bug Island". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on October 15, 2023. Retrieved September 21, 2024.
  4. ^ a b Ford, Greg (July 25, 2007). "Escape From Bug Island". 1Up.com. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on June 3, 2016. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
  5. ^ 8BitBrian (February 12, 2008). "Destructoid review: Escape From Bug Island". Destructoid. Gamurs. Archived from the original on October 16, 2023. Retrieved September 21, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ EGM staff (July 2007). "Escape from Bug Island". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 217. Ziff Davis. p. 83.
  7. ^ a b IGN staff (November 21, 2006). "Famitsu Rates Wii". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on November 27, 2021. Retrieved September 21, 2024.
  8. ^ Davis, Ryan (August 17, 2007). "Escape from Bug Island Review". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on October 15, 2023. Retrieved September 21, 2024.
  9. ^ Platt, Dylan (August 21, 2007). "Escape from Bug Island - WII - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on September 28, 2008. Retrieved June 29, 2019.
  10. ^ Casamassina, Matt (August 13, 2007). "Escape from Bug Island Review". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on October 15, 2023. Retrieved September 21, 2024.
  11. ^ loX (December 5, 2007). "Test: Escape from Bug Island". Jeuxvideo.com (in French). Webedia. Archived from the original on May 1, 2021. Retrieved September 21, 2024.
  12. ^ "Necro-Nesia review". NGamer. Future plc. March 2007. p. 52.
  13. ^ "Escape from Bug Island". Nintendo Power. Vol. 217. Nintendo of America. July 2007. p. 94.
  14. ^ Thomsen, Mike (August 9, 2007). "Escape From Bug Island". Nintendo World Report. NINWR, LLC. Archived from the original on October 15, 2023. Retrieved September 21, 2024.
  15. ^ a b Iverson, Dan (May 10, 2006). "E3 2006: Necro-Nesia Hands-on". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on October 15, 2023. Retrieved September 21, 2024.
  16. ^ Shoemaker, Brad (May 10, 2006). "E3 06: Necro-Nesia Hands-On". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on March 11, 2007. Retrieved September 21, 2024.
  17. ^ Gantayat, Anoop (December 4, 2006). "Wii Sports Number One in Japan". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on October 15, 2023. Retrieved September 21, 2024.
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