Boredworkers.com

Another week another game. Was scratching around the archives when I came across this game called Cosmic Bugs by Game House. I remember playing something similar on various consoles and (believe it or not) handphones, albeit with different effects, gameplay, and concept. Unfortunately, I can’t remember any of the names. So yeah, I’m featuring Cosmic Bugs as the game of the week.

Now Cosmic Bugs isn’t exactly one of the prettiest games in town. Its far from that. The graphics seem a little archaic and old school when compared to the wonderful 3D renders of games like Bejeweled 2. However, graphics alone does not a good game make.

Cosmic Bugs, in essense, is a very very simple game with a short learning curve. The game screen consists of a playing field which varies in size and construct from level to level. The playing field will be crawling with (cosmic) bugs of different sorts. You control a shooter that points either up/down or left/right. The right mouse click will change the direction in which you point. Left clicking will cause your pointer to draw a laser line from either side. When the lines hit two walls, they become solid and fill up the smaller section of the game field with rocks (or somesuch), effectively destroying any bugs that are caught inside. The aim is to fill up a certain percentage of the room (this varies depending on the level).

The catch being that the bugs that are crawling around the room make it difficult for you to complete a circuit. While you’re invisible when free moving, when you shoot, you remain stantionary and vulnerable. Bugs touching your lines will cause a backlash, which when it reaches your platform, will cost you a life. Similarly, if a bug runs into you while you’re shooting, its one life less. You start the game with a total of six lives and you can collect more along the way in the form of powerups. Powerups are plentiful in the game. Everytime you destroy a bug, there is a chance that a powerup will be dropped. These include items such as landmines, missiles, time bombs, sweepers, speed boosts, slow motion, and point multipliers. However, mixed in with the powerups are a handfull of powerdowns, which may cause your lines to move slower, speed up the bugs movements, or worse.

There is only one game mode. There are over 500 different levels for you to play through (the level select screen says 577!). With the same gameplay and so many levels, it may get a little repetitive after a while. The later levels become extremely wild and difficult as the screen becomes filled with crawling space bugs. The game needs little planning or strategy. In fact, what you need are good reflexes and quite a bit of luck. From that point of view, this game is ideal for mindlessly boring afternoons when you just need to while away some hours between meetings. The game keeps track of your progress and allows you to select to play from levels you have completed before. For the lazy ones, there is a crack out there somewhere that opens up all the levels.

Anyway, for some extended access, refer to Boredworkers.com’s Game of the Week for the recommended downloads and follow the instructions below:

• Download both the recommended files.
• Install Cosmic Bugs.
• Open the crack archive.
• Run ‘Cosmic Bugs (GameHouse) by Knetus.exe’ located inside the archive.
• Key in a name of choice and the serial will be automatically generated.
• Click ‘Enregistrer’ to apply the serial.
• Alternatively, run the game and copy the user name and serial number to the appropriate fields and submit.
• Startup the game and have some bug hunting fun.

So what are you waiting for? Get out there and kill them creepy crawlies.

Disclaimer:
The author does not condone piracy. If you find that you enjoy the game after playing it for a bit, do purchase the license. Good work should be given its due.