June 15, 2022|

Filed under: Featured, History, Indie Games, Speculation, Super Smash Bros. Series, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Dream Smasher: Team Snakemouth

Thanks to Cart Boy and Voyager for help with edits and graphics, respectively.

By their nature, indie games aren’t likely to take off and become franchises. Their development teams and resources are much humbler than those of the massive publishers that preceded them, demanding passion if a project’s to get anywhere. However, with there being so much incoming talent and drive, the indie scene’s become an endless source of new ideas and universes. Only its most acclaimed products have reached the mainstream, but the others are more than happy to innovate in their own ways. Consequently, it’s a surprise when any independent title is celebrated by a major company. That’s especially true whenever Super Smash Bros., famous for its collaborations with Japan’s largest developers, makes time for these up-and-comers. Only the best of them have appeared in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, and even then, none have secured a spot amongst the playable cast. Regardless, Nintendo’s fondness for indies is clear, and many of their biggest stars have the potential to join the battle. Conversely, today’s “Dream Smasher” thinks much, much smaller. Our subjects are the successors of a storied formula that’s demanded a new chapter for decades: Team Snakemouth, the heroes of Moonsprout Games’ Bug Fables: The Everlasting Sapling!

Who Are Team Snakemouth?

(Courtesy of Voyager)

In the vast, backyard-spanning land of Bugaria, the allure of riches and adventure have attracted all sorts of bugs. Pursuing the most esteemed treasure of all, the titular Everlasting Sapling, the Ant Kingdom rallies whoever they can by founding the Explorers’ Association and promising fortune to any team that gets them closer to their goal. That’s how our protagonists meet, steadily becoming the best squad Bugaria has to offer. There’s Kabbu the beetle, exploring in honor of his fallen friends; Vi the bee, looking for fame and a career beyond her hive; and Leif the moth, in search of the truth behind his mysterious past and inexplicable cryomancy. On behalf of Queen Elizant II, they journey to the land’s most perilous corners and gather the artifacts said to lead the way to the sapling. Though, certain factions are looking to secure the mythical plant, as well as its rumored ability to grant eternal life, for their own purposes…

As more of Bugaria becomes accessible, players find that it hides significantly more depth than its two-dimensional sprites would imply, full of history, politics, and secrets. Naturally, the bugs can reach it all, complementing their teammates on the overworld and in combat. Speaking of which, Bug Fables wears its inspiration on its sleeve, building off what the first two Paper Mario entries established. As such, the beetle, bee, and moth fight in turn-based battles, utilizing the iconic action commands pioneered by the Mario RPGs. As for what makes them all unique, Kabbu’s a tank that shields his allies and pierces defenses, but flounders in range. Meanwhile, Vi strikes airborne opponents with her signature Beemerang, and Leif punishes foes that hide underground using stalagmites made of ice. Complete with special attacks, items, and Medals to further distinguish themselves, the companions tackle towering creatures, surpass fellow teams, and unearth clues that hint at the origins behind this sentient, endearing society of arthropods.

Importance to Nintendo & Series

Of course, despite Bug Fables’ charm and modest success, independent studios rarely offer the sort of material Smash likes to spotlight. With industry titans like Mario, Pikachu, Sonic, and Cloud Strife headlining its roster, a smaller title that released as recently as late 2019 doesn’t have much reason to be considered. Furthermore, it’s from a western developer, which seems to be an enormous hurdle for anything looking to earn an invitation. A stronger argument could be made if the crossover already hosted an indie representative, but it hasn’t. That being said, at the very least, Bug Fables is a video game. And it’s present on a Nintendo console. According to the Fighters Ballot, that means Team Snakemouth are eligible. Anyway, with all that out of the way, what Moonsprout’s managed to craft is still impressive. Very few contributors are behind the name, yet their debut product has seen fantastic review scores and gathered a considerable following. The quest for the sapling expands upon all the ideas that backed Paper Mario’s popularity, aside from the picturesque plumber himself, and matches them with innovations of its own.

Unsurprisingly, most of what sets Bug Fables apart from its predecessor is courtesy of its stellar leads. Instead of a silent protagonist and collection of secondary allies, the world is explored alongside characters that grow and develop. Kabbu’s chivalry is constantly tested by Vi’s greed, and neither of them could ever relate to Leif’s circumstances, but they share each other’s burdens nonetheless and inspire Bugaria to do the same. That’s not to say they lack a leader, though, since Kabbu tends to occupy the position as something of a founding member for Snakemouth. He is the first of the group to be playable, after all, narrowly beating Vi to the privilege. Admittedly, Leif joins the others a bit late, but once they’re three, they’re inseparable. This party’s personal quirks and backstories might make for outstanding heroes to follow, but the factor that pulls them through everything and adds up to such a memorable adventure is always their synergy.

Colors & Design

Now, with Team Snakemouth only having one title under their belt, it should be easy to guess how they’d look in Smash. On the contrary, Bug Fables’ use of a paper-thin style means its characters have seldom been depicted in three dimensions. So, when transitioning to the platform fighter, should they be two-dimensional or three-dimensional? Moreover, they’d need to be visible together at all times, but could Smash’s next installment even provide one combatant with three models simultaneously? If possible, I’d give them three dimensions. Sure, Snakemouth could follow Mr. Game & Watch’s example, but their world’s aesthetic doesn’t define them, their addition wouldn’t be as exciting if little was done to adapt them, and their designs might be simple enough to make the gimmick work. On the topic of those designs, despite the human-like traits and sentience brought on by the Day of Awakening, each member corresponds to a real-life species: rainbow scarab beetle for Kabbu, western honey bee for Vi, and geometer moth for Leif. Kabbu’s horn and exoskeleton give him a knight-like flair, fitting his personality and role as the team’s protector. On the other hand, Vi’s simplistic and expressive look makes her the closest thing Bug Fables has to a mascot. Finally, with his wings acting as a makeshift cloak, Leif embraces his sarcastic and cryptic, yet wise and reliable energy. Oh, and like how Olimar was significantly upscaled to work as a fighter, the trio’s sizes resemble those of Smash’s many cartoonish contenders.

Moving on to Team Snakemouth’s palette swaps, they could reference some of the duos and trios encountered throughout Bugaria. After their default color (green, yellow, blue), their second references Team Maki (brown/teal, pink/red, white/gray), their third references Team Mothiva (crimson/brown, cream/white, gray/crimson), their fourth references Team Slacker and Queen Elizant II (orange/blue, gray/purple, white/purple), their fifth references Team Celia and Monsieur Scarlet (gray/red, blue/gray, pink/magenta), their sixth references the Golden Hills’ residents (black/white, green/brown, yellow/green), their seventh references Tanjerin and Cerise (orange/green, pink/green, orange/brown), and their eighth references the zombified enemies (white/green, white/black, white/brown).

(Courtesy of @_TheyWhoRemain_)

How Would They Play?

Team Snakemouth’s stats and properties:

Weight: ∼ Yoshi (104)
Height: ∼ Mega Man
Overall Speed: ∼ Duck Hunt
- Walk Speed: 1.213
- Run Speed: 1.727
- Air Speed: 1.155
Jump Height: ∼ Link (27.8)
Multi-jumping? No
Crawling? No
Wall jumping? No

(A closer look at the stats)

Smash is no stranger to condensing two or three characters into one fighter, but having them all be active at the same time is unheard of. To minimize complication, we’ll make Kabbu the only one players control directly, with Vi and Leif following from close behind. Next, to make things less confusing, Kabbu’s the only one with a hurtbox. The others contribute via their own techniques, but true to the beetle’s origins, he’s keeping them out of harm’s way by forcing the opposition to only target him. Thus, the bee and moth are always intangible, and all of their moves count as either disjoints or projectiles. By the way, the trio’s lineup of normal attacks are near-equally split between them. Whenever a technique that doesn’t involve Kabbu is inputted, the teammate responsible for it drifts to where they’re needed and performs the maneuver. As for Snakemouth’s special attacks, they each have three. Using the down special, the member in charge of special moves is swapped for the next bug in line, with the current holder being displayed on the HUD. In a way, it references the Turn Relay command from their home game, where a character can give their turn to another. The order in which specials are handed off goes Kabbu, Vi, Leif, then back to Kabbu. Lastly, the team can make use of their signature action commands, strengthening their smash attacks and special moves with careful timing.

With the gimmicks finally explained, we can highlight Snakemouth’s basic characteristics. Though, none of their stats are too noteworthy, exhibiting middling speed and power. Kabbu’s decently heavy, at least, pairing well with the range Vi and Leif provide. He’s also not that tall, letting him avoid unnecessary hits and stay on the move. The trio play their best at the mid- or long-range, the former being ideal for Kabbu’s horn and the latter for Vi’s Beemerang and Leif’s ice magic. Aiding in their flexibility are each member’s specials, as Kabbu’s strike the hardest, Vi’s excel at pestering foes, and Leif’s prepare threatening traps. At a glance, this repertoire might seem mismatched. For what looks to be a brawny defender whose greatest weapon is a simple horn, his kit features a lot of swift projectiles and deceptive tools. Kabbu’d probably be a basic bruiser on his own, but that wouldn’t properly represent him. He’s got something to protect. Instead, by learning these creepy-crawlies’ individual strengths and weaknesses, players can uncover a playstyle that’s as satisfying and pleasant as Bug Fables itself.

Boxing Ring Title: “A Dysfunctional Trio”

Series Icon

(Courtesy of Voyager)

Stock Icons

(Courtesy of Voyager)

Kirby Hat

Move Type

Description

On-Screen Appearance

An Ant Kingdom tunnel appears from nowhere, then disappears as the three members of Team Snakemouth emerge from it.

Stance

As the team stands with Kabbu in front, Vi in the middle, and Leif in the back, the beetle gives an intimidating glare, the bee confidently holds her Beemerang, and the moth keeps a mass of ice in one hand.

Idle #1

Kabbu beckons his opponent using one hand, Vi arrogantly tosses her Beemerang in the air before catching it, and snowflakes emit from the ice atop Leif’s arm.

Idle #2

Team Snakemouth plan their next action, placing their hands on their chins and looking upward.

Walk

With his arms swaying, horn held high, and Vi and Leif nearby, Kabbu deliberately marches ahead.

Dash & Run

With Vi and Leif close behind, Kabbu braces himself and sprints forward. During his jog, cartoonish dust clouds appear from underneath.

Crouch

Kabbu takes a seat and rests his arms on his knees, with the others also sitting down after he’s crouched for long enough.

Jump

Kabbu and his team take clumsy leaps for their first jumps, then perform simple frontflips or backflips for their double jumps. However, neither of these rise especially high.

Damage

Upon taking a hit, Kabbu recoils and closes his eyes in pain. Again, Vi and Leif are incapable of suffering damage.

Shield

Kabbu guards himself by covering his face. Coincidentally, he already has experience with bubble shields.

Dodge

Kabbu awkwardly spot dodges by flailing his arms and legs, rotates with his “wings” extended to air dodge, and quickly digs in either direction for his roll.

Floor & Edge Attacks

After falling and landing on his back, Kabbu spins to his feet as his horn repels nearby aggressors. And when climbing from a ledge, he keeps his head near the floor and stabs his horn ahead.

Neutral Attack:

Horn Flurry

Kabbu swings his horn upward, unleashes a flurry of rapid slashes, then finishes with a horizontal thrust. The barrage’s long duration, impressive range, and slight movement provide defensive merit, but its speed is lacking.

Forward Tilt:

Beemerang Halt

Vi tosses her Beemerang directly forward, which immediately returns upon giving anything a light whack. Should the automated weapon go its maximum distance uninterrupted, holding the input causes it to stay in place for a moment. There, it poses a threat to opponents, but Snakemouth can’t use any other moves until it’s released.

Up Tilt:

Icicle Drop

Leif creates a frozen stalactite over the ground to his front, then releases it after a slight delay. Foes at the ice’s spawn point take a bit of damage, but anyone struck by it during its fall suffers a stronger hit.

Down Tilt:

Sweeping Headbutt

Kabbu stabs his horn at the ground in front of himself, launching fighters directly upward and leaving them vulnerable to follow-ups like Leif’s up tilt.

Dash Attack:

Horn Dash

As Vi and Leif grasp Kabbu’s back, he lunges ahead with his horn outstretched. Enemies caught near the beginning of the technique are dragged along with it, then knocked away.

Forward Smash:

Heavy Strike

Kabbu prepares his horn near the ground, then forcefully swings it in a wide, vertical arc. Unlike other smash attacks, which strengthen as they’re held, Kabbu’s is at its strongest around halfway to a “full” charge. If released at that point, a satisfying beep accompanies the powerful maneuver.

Up Smash:

Hurricane Toss

Vi focuses her aim, then tosses her Beemerang skyward. From a short distance above the team, the prototype spins continuously and traps foes for its entire duration. A beep is heard at the end, though, and inputting any attack in sync with it launches opponents.

Down Smash:

Frozen Drill

Leif shoots two beams of ice at the ground in front of and behind himself. Soon after, icicles erupt from the tagged points and strike fighters in their way. Conversely, by lightly mashing the input throughout the animation, the icebergs twirl as they emerge and might freeze their victims.

Neutral Aerial:

Homing A.D.B.P.

Vi flings her Beemerang at a clockwise angle, which makes one revolution around Kabbu before going back to its wielder. Colliding with a foe causes the weapon to immediately return, however.

Forward Aerial:

Heavy Throw

Vi violently lobs her Beemerang in a straight path. The projectile can stay still and rotate if the input is held, like with the forward tilt, but Snakemouth can’t attack until this maneuver concludes.

Back Aerial:

Sudden Chill

Leif turns around and cools the air behind himself. Opponents caught in the burst take little damage, but are more than likely to freeze on the spot.

Up Aerial:

Numbing Wings

Leif extends his wings and coats them in frigid energy. As the extremities chill their vicinity, nearby foes take multiple hits before being launched skyward.

Down Aerial:

Scarab Spiral

This stall-then-fall attack sees Kabbu aiming his horn downward, then rocketing toward the ground. Along the way, his horn’s tip can spike enemies.

Grab:

Greenhorn Grapple

Kabbu tries to snatch an adversary with one of his stubby arms. The attempted nab’s range is short, but it comes out relatively fast.

Pummel:

Frost Relay

As Kabbu keeps the opponent from fleeing, Vi and Leif take turns whacking and freezing them from afar.

Forward Throw:

Needle Toss

Kabbu flings the victim with his horn, then Vi splits her Beemerang in half and tosses the spiked pieces at them. Afterwards, the needles return to the bee and reunite.

Back Throw:

Kabbu Catapult

After lifting the enemy up with his horn, Kabbu uses it to assertively heave them backward. Although it’s the trio’s simplest throw, it sports the most knockback.

Up Throw:

Frigid Pierce

Leif chills the ground underneath the prisoner, then unleashes a pillar of ice that knocks them into the air.

Down Throw:

Refrigerate

Kabbu topples the victim, then Leif leaps above them and fires a few shots of frost their way. Occasionally, this’ll briefly freeze fighters.

Neutral Special:

Boulder Toss / Tornado Toss / Icefall

Kabbu pulls a boulder as large as himself out of the ground, then swings it ahead with his horn. As the guardian lifts the rock, tapping the special input in sync with three beeps makes him launch it progressively farther. This move is notably slow, but its considerable power, wide coverage, and super armor pose a threat.

Vi spins rapidly as three beeps go off, then throws her Beemerang forward. The weapon encircles whoever it hits and slams back into them a few times, but only the initial collision flinches fighters, and how long it harasses foes depends on how many beeps the player matched with the special input.

Leif forms a chunk of ice overhead and primes it as a reticle appears from its tip. If the input is held, the sights move around the area in front of the sorcerer. With its release, the icicle flies in the reticle’s direction, detonates upon hitting anything, and freezes foes in its wake.

Side Special:

Dash Through / Needle Pincer / Frigid Coffin

Kabbu dashes in place and builds momentum, gaining power as the special input is rhythmically mashed. Afterwards, he charges forward with his horn extended and his friends fearfully holding on, trampling through anyone in the way. He goes into freefall if the technique concludes in midair, and its strength and distance are determined by the player’s mashing.

Vi splits her Beemerang in two and darts forward with one of these needles outstretched, dragging Kabbu and Leif along with her. If the special input is tapped upon striking a foe via the lunge, the explorer repeats the action with her second needle and poisons the trapped combatant. Then, for a few seconds, the enemy suffers a similar affliction to that of Joker’s Eiha/Eiagon.

Leif ices the ground in front of himself, laying a trap that travels along the floor and goes off a platform’s length away. Usually, the erupting stalagmite only flinches foes, but tapping the special input right before it emerges can freeze them and deal more damage.

Up Special:

Under Strike / Fly Drop / Ice Rain

If used on solid ground, Kabbu immediately digs downward before emerging as the input is released. Upon coming out, he propels himself upward and brings nearby adversaries along with him. Staying hidden for as long as possible significantly weakens the attack, while coming out in time with its beep empowers it. However, if used in the air, Kabbu swiftly spirals upward and exhibits slight horizontal control during his rise. Regardless of where he started this attack, he enters freefall afterwards.

Vi grabs Kabbu’s arms and starts flying, allowing the pair to go a moderate distance together and control their horizontal direction pretty well. With an additional input at the flight’s apex, the bee lets the beetle go as he rockets downward and spikes combatants on his way down. Without the input, Vi simply releases Kabbu, who proceeds to not go into freefall.

Leif creates a frozen platform beneath Kabbu’s feet, who immediately jumps off of it and gains a bit of height. The block of ice quickly descends after Kabbu’s leap and spikes contenders in its narrow path. It’s the weakest recovery option of the three up specials, but fighters directly below Snakemouth need to be wary of it, and it doesn’t end in freefall.

Down Special:

Turn Relay

(Courtesy of Voyager)

The explorer in charge of the other three specials hands the task off to the next bug in line, as illustrated by a short animation. The order follows Kabbu, Vi, Leif, then back to Kabbu. At all times, Snakemouth’s HUD only shows the render of the teammate whose specials are active, as do their stock icons.

Final Smash:

Frost Bowling

Kabbu, Vi, and Leif execute a more dramatic take on their ultimate team attack. First, Leif freezes Vi in a ball of ice, quickly expanding it as the bee shivers and prepares her needles from within. Then, as the glacier comes back down, Kabbu knocks it forward with a powerful bash. Finally, upon hitting anyone, Vi escapes the ball as it explodes, angrily assaults the nearest target with her daggers, then returns to her partners.

Up Taunt:

Charming Chompy

Chompy, Team Snakemouth’s honorary fourth member, appears in front of its buddies, gives a big smile, then vanishes. Every time this domestic Chomper shows up, its ribbon’s color can randomly be pink, yellow, purple, green, or blue.

Side Taunt:

Pep Talk

Kabbu turns around as Vi and Leif show their fatigue. Concerned for his friends’ wellness, the Green Ranger motivates them to fight on.

Down Taunt:

Sharing Stash

Vi rummages through her rations, pulls out three items, and shares them with Kabbu and Leif. The resources Snakemouth can eat include a Crunchy Leaf, Aphid Egg, and Mushroom, but none of them have any bearing on gameplay.

Victory Pose #1

Vi, Kabbu, and Leif face the screen and strike poses as “Rank Up!” appears above their heads. Vi lifts her Beemerang and winks, Kabbu triumphantly bumps his fists together, and Leif casually takes a seat on a block of ice.

Victory Pose #2

Vi frantically searches for something along the ground as Kabbu and Leif follow, then finds the Ancient Mask and joyfully lifts it over her head. Afterwards, the three have an unheard conversation about Vi’s worrying lust for treasure.

Victory Pose #3

The weary victors sit side-by-side, referencing a piece of official art, as Leif toys with a ball of ice, Vi holds a berry, and Kabbu crosses his arms. Nearby, Chompy is seen resting in its bed.

Victory Fanfare

(Courtesy of @_TheyWhoRemain_)

Team Snakemouth aren’t lacking in solid choices for their fanfare, but the most obvious tracks are “Battle Won!” and “The Everlasting Sapling.” The former always accompanies the bugs’ successful fights, but the latter’s motif is constantly heard throughout their journey. Cloud and Shulk show that role-playing protagonists can land on either side, so let’s go with an arrangement of Snakemouth’s usual victory theme, which suits their whimsical playstyle.

Closing Thoughts

As companies move away from beloved series, or those properties persist as something completely different, it’s easy to see why fans would be eager to take the wheel and revive these dormant ideas themselves. It’s a risky prospect, though, since succeeding such storied formulas invites comparison. Although Bug Fables sees its fair share of scrutiny next to Paper Mario’s debut entries, a deeper look reveals Moonsprout’s higher ambitions. Bugaria is overflowing with characters and details that could lead their own stories, and allowing the heroes to meaningfully interact with them adds substance in ways Mario and friends couldn’t. Kabbu, Vi, and Leif have their own motivations, treat those they meet differently, foster relationships that are independent of their teammates, but never overshadow each other. Given the genre in question, nailing all that by keeping the primary cast at three, while bringing fun and inventive gameplay to the table, is an achievement. This might yield an outstanding experience, but it’s still far from Smash speculation for a reason. Circling back to how we started, being an indie game limits Bug Fables’ potential as a franchise. It’d take years’ worth of releases and history to become what Sakurai and his team are looking for, which is unrealistic for most independent studios, but that’s okay. What’s already been achieved by Bugaria’s champions deserves attention in an article like this, as do many others, but this was a personal pick. No matter where Team Snakemouth explore next, be it a sequel, an appearance in a more feasible crossover, or whatever else, let’s hope the wealth and acclaim Vi’s seeking isn’t too far away.