One of the very few times where a derivative work actually manages to surpass what initially inspired it.

The combat system strikes a great balance between simplicity and depth. On the simple side, you will always have the same three party members each with only a handful of moves and very low stat numbers to keep everything comprehensible. Using various enemy types and allowing for significant gameplay changes through equipped badges, Bug Fables is able to squeeze as much value as it possibly can from what first appears to be an extremely simple system, creating a satisfying array of challenges.

While other aspects such as the characters and story are weaker, they aren't the main focus. But they serve their role well enough by providing context and motivation for your actions throughout the game and never overstay their welcome.

Going into this game, I was expecting a more nostalgic experience that would scratch the same itch that the first two Paper Mario used to do in my childhood. But while the similarities between the games are apparent, the changes Bug Fables made were substantial enough that it felt far more like an advancement of the original Paper Mario games than a retreading of the same ground. And putting aside my nostalgia, I probably have to admit that Bug Fables is the better game overall.

It was an enjoyable experience. There isn't anything deep or interesting about Class of '09. The characters are mostly surface-level, the story so absurd that it can't deliver any meaningful commentary, and the presentation screams low budget indie title.

But for a few hours, I managed to enjoy my time. The comedy sure isn't sophisticated or anything but its crude and over-the-top nature gave it a pretty strong impact that never really let up. As the game constantly switches between cringe, teenage drama, and extremist politics it can be hard to look away. There's always something happening that keeps the experience fresh and the humor engaging. Sure, there might not be anything deeper than that but I doubt the game was trying to do that anyway.

So yeah.... Class of '09 was a fun time. It's pulpy, crude, and entertaining as long as that's the kind of humor you find enjoyable. And as long as you're not going in expecting anything greater than that (And god only knows why you would) you'll probably get enough out of the experience to justify the time spent on it.

The mysteries themselves are quite simple and the unique mechanics behind them (notably the time limit and the fact that the game continues even if you fail your cases) don't get much usage as a result. And while they can be fun in the moment-to-moment experience you probably won't be scratching your head at any point while thinking of a solution.

Normally I would care a lot about that lack of depth and mechanical complexity, but I can set it aside in this case because the game does a great job of compensating in other areas. The old-fashioned visuals, music, and dialogue all mesh with the setting and story in such a strong way that it feels oddly immersive despite being a bunch of animals in Restoration-era France. The core story was far more political than I was expecting given its silly initial premise and the game did a surprisingly good job of handling the topics it brought up with nuance and compassion.

So even though Aviary Attorney was quite weak in the aspects I initially played it for, I still enjoyed my time with it overall because of its strengths in the areas I normally wouldn't focus as much on in a mystery game. So you may want to adjust your expectations accordingly before you start playing, but it should still be a good time regardless.