Mushihimesama: Bug Panic

It is easily among my favorite new app store releases.

Mushihimesama Bug Panic enters a crowded shooter genre on the App Store, then blows them all away with thousands of glowing bullets.

With a recently added multiplayer mode that pits you against a friend in one of five worlds, killing bugs for gems, which then can be used to unleash a swarm of bugs against your enemy and Game Center support to compare scores and achievements, Mushihimesama Bug Panic has everything you need to appease your shooter needs and is different enough from the other twin stick shooters out there to warrant getting stuck in to the bug squashing action.

The touch-based lock-on controls work amazingly well, and as a result the game is a joy to play.

I'm happy to report that Bug Panic meets the high expectations of a CAVE title, offering a fun and unique adventure that's perfectly suited to the platform.

Cave has succeeded in the attempt to create its first original game for iPhone and iPod Touch. The combat system is pretty different from any other twin-stick shooter on the App Store, while the frantic and caotic battles require you to move continuously, avoiding bullets and targeting enemies. Unfortunately, the high difficulty of the game could scare players that are not so tenacious, and the large amount of enemies, bullets and explosions on the screen will strain your iDevice to the limit.

It's fast, it's frantic, it's gorgeous to look at and it's unmissable for shooter fans.

Quite unlike any other twin-stick shooter you've ever played, Mushihimesama Bug Panic is a mini-masterpiece that combines gorgeous visuals with arresting gameplay.

But, after playing it, and thanks to some truly great controls, challenging boss battles and endearing graphics and music, CAVE have done it again… I'm hooked.

Bug Panic is a cool action game. I like the mash-up of twin stick shooter, Bomberman, and an adventure.

Although very different from the Japanese veteran's usual ferocious output, Mushihimesama soon grows into the kind of exacting, gleefully sadistic experience you expect from this lot.