Don’t judge by the graphics
Inspired by the original Acorn release, Bug Hunter is a homebrew conversion created in STOS by 'Zork'. We control a rather odd-looking character tasked with clearing a house infested with bugs. Each room is separate, and the only way to deal with the pests is by cunningly dropping objects on them.
Movement appears simple at first - left, right, and jump, but the real surprise lies in how you navigate through each room. Think about the control mechanics in Spider-Man, as almost every surface can be walked on: tables, walls, staircases, and ceilings, often leaving you moving sideways or even upside down. The catch is that you can only jump while standing upright. These abilities are a clever mechanic that completely changes the feel of the game and adds far more depth than the (ahem) modest visuals might first suggest.
One touch from a bug costs a life, but with no time limit, you’re free to study the layout and plan your actions rather than rushing in and making stupid mistakes. As you progress through the house, the rooms become harder, but the difficulty curve feels just right. Ahh, no timer and great design. Lovely.
Don’t be fooled by these screenshots; this is a genuine hidden gem that I imagine many of us haven’t played. I certainly hadn't. While the original was a commercial release, this ST adaptation is a superb homebrew effort. I tip my virtual hat to whoever Zork is, as I’ve thoroughly enjoyed Bug Hunter. A fantastic puzzler.
- Grab the disk from Atarimania or AtariUpToDate.
- If you get stuck, there is a wedge of YouTube videos for both games.
- Continue scrolling to view the first ten rooms...
The first room is easy, climb the table and grab the fruit to drop on the bug's head.
The next room is a little harder with two bugs. Don't get too close!
This room had me completely stumped for ages, but (groan) it's so obvious!
The fourth offers a fresh perspective, encouraging thinking ahead. Take that hint...
Weirdly, this is the easiest of all the rooms I've seen. Not obvious, but dead easy.
Some objects are fragile, so think before you make a daft decision!
The moment you move, so does the cute bee. It's all a matter of perfect timing!
This is a similar room to the previous one. Again, it's all a matter of timing with that buzzy bee!
The mechanics change yet again with this room. Be quick and jump!
This one is very challenging. Don't bother asking me if I've completed it or not...
