Bug Riders

Bug Riders is a game which involves a bug-riding race to determine who will replace the dying emperor of the planet Entymion. To accelerate, the player strikes their bug with a crop. Careful rhythm is demanded, as using the crop too frequently will cause the bug to cry out in pain and slow down.

The game was showcased at E3 1997.{{cite web|first=Helen|last=Lee|url=http://headline.gamespot.com/news/97_06/12_gtint/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990502194716/http://headline.gamespot.com/news/97_06/12_gtint/index.html|title=GT Interactive's E3 Lineup|website=GameSpot|archive-date=May 2, 1999|date=June 12, 1997|access-date=July 27, 2022}}

{{Video game reviews

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| Allgame = {{Rating|1|5}} (PS1){{cite web |last=House |first=Michael L. |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=7831&tab=review |title=Bug Riders: The Race of Kings - Review |website=AllGame |publisher=All Media Network |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141115202153/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=7831&tab=review |archive-date=November 15, 2014 |access-date=November 23, 2020}}

| CP = 82% (PS1){{cite magazine|author=Panda|url=http://download.abandonware.org/magazines/Consoles%20Plus/consoleplus_numero071/Console%2B_N71-Page%200156.jpg|title=Test PlayStation: Bugriders [sic]|language=fr|magazine=Consoles +|issue=71|date=December 1997|page=160|access-date=November 24, 2020}}

| EGM = 4.125/10 (PS1){{cite magazine|title=Review Crew: Bug Riders|magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly|issue=102|publisher=Ziff Davis|date=January 1998|page=157}}{{efn|The four critics in the Review Crew gave individual scores of 5.0, 4.0, 3.0, and 4.5.}}

| GI = 6.75/10 (PS1){{cite magazine|url=http://www.gameinformer.com/cgi-bin/review.cgi?sys=psx&path=dec97&doc=briders|title=Bug Riders - PlayStation |magazine=Game Informer|publisher=FuncoLand|issue=56|date=December 1997|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990910163447/http://www.gameinformer.com/cgi-bin/review.cgi?sys=psx&path=dec97&doc=briders|archive-date=September 10, 1999 |url-status=dead|access-date=November 23, 2020}}

| GameFan = 50% (PS1){{cite magazine|last1=Hodgson|first1=David "Chief Hambleton"|last2=Jevons|first2=Dan "Knightmare"|last3=Stockert|first3=Bruce "Reubus"|url=https://archive.org/details/Gamefan_Vol_5_Issue_12/page/n25/mode/2up|title=Bug Riders|magazine=GameFan|publisher=Metropolis Media|volume=5|issue=12|date=December 1997|page=20|access-date=November 24, 2020}}{{efn|Three critics of GameFan gave individual scores of 42, 55, and 52.}}

| IGN = 3/10 (PS1){{cite web |last=Rignall |first=Jaz |title=Bug Riders |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1997/12/05/bug-riders |website=IGN |access-date=17 August 2020 |date=December 4, 1997}}

| NGen = {{Rating|2|5}} (PS1){{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/NEXT_Generation_37/page/n147/mode/2up|title=Bug Riders|magazine=Next Generation|publisher=Imagine Media|issue=37|date=January 1998|page=147|access-date=November 23, 2020}}

| PCG = 45% (PC){{cite magazine|title=Bug Riders|language=de|magazine=PC Games|publisher=Computec|date=March 1998}}

}}

Bug Riders received generally negative reviews, primarily because of the system for controlling the bugs. In particular, critics overwhelmingly detested the cropping system used to accelerate, finding it overly difficult to master. Shawn Smith argued in Electronic Gaming Monthly, "Let's just stick with a standard 'press the button and hold it' acceleration that practically EVERY other racing game has. It's what we're used to as gamers. When something like this comes along, we don't know what to do." Most critics also found that the bugs having minds of their own, allowing them to fly without input from the player and sometimes resist the player's inputs, proved to be frustrating.

The level designs had a more mixed response, with some praising them for their visual design and variety, while others found they did not make it obvious where the player needed to go. While there was also scattered praise for elements such as the music, critics felt the control issues overrode all the game's positive elements. GamePro, for example, opined that "While there are some cool weapons to pick up as well as a good variety of bug steeds, because of bad control, praising these aspects is like toweling off the Titanic."{{cite magazine|author=Boba Fatt|title=PlayStation ProReview: BugRiders: The Race of Kings|magazine=GamePro|issue=112|publisher=IDG|date=January 1998|page=98}}{{efn|GamePro gave scores of 4.0/5 for graphics, 3.0/5 for sound, 1.5/5 for control, and 2.0/5 for fun factor.}} Next Generation commented, "The premise has some promise, offering all sorts of new gameplay ideas like riding living creatures and flying through the air. However, these same ideas, at least the execution of them, are what bring the game down."

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• {{moby game|id=/bugriders-the-race-of-kings}}

Category:1997 video games

Category:Air racing video games

Category:Animal racing video games

Category:GT Interactive games

Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games

Category:N-Space games

Category:PlayStation (console) games

Category:PlayStation Network games

Category:Video games about insects

Category:Video games developed in the United States

Category:Windows games