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Lady Bug - Atari 2600
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Overview
It’s dinnertime and Lady Bug is ready to eat! Take a stroll through the garden and nibble on the rows and rows of pretty flowers. Be careful though – there are many dangerous insects that just love to eat ladybugs – and they’re fast too! Block their way by swinging the gates closed, and stay away from the deadly poison. Oh – and don’t forget to collect the bonus prizes to get the help of other ladybugs and a special invite to the Veggie Bounty Harvest! GOOD LUCK!
While many prototypes of unreleased games have surfaced over the years, there are a few notorious titles that have not. This includes Lady Bug, a title that appeared in arcades and was even advertised in Coleco's Atari 2600 Catalog, but never saw the light of day. It's not even known if work was ever begun on the Atari 2600 port. Well, Atari 2600 fans no longer have to wait for a version of Lady Bug, as Atari enthusiast John W. Champeau has developed a remarkable 2600 version! John's first Atari 2600 homebrew game was Conquest of Mars, one of the finest homebrews to be developed for the 2600.
The object of Lady Bug is to clear the maze of all the dots while avoiding up to four insects. Once all four insects have entered the maze, a bonus vegetable appears in the middle. Eating this veggie not only earns big points, but also freezes the insects for a few seconds. Also appearing in the maze are hearts that increase the bonus multiplier and letters that can be used to spell EXTRA for a bonus ladybug or SPECIAL to earn a round in the bounty harvest maze full of vegetables to eat! If the insects start to gain on the ladybug, she can use the revolving doors to block their attack as she tries to clear each maze. When all flowers and items have been collected, you advance to the next level where the insects are even faster. The game ends when the last ladybug has been eaten.
If you've ever played Lady Bug in the arcade or on the ColecoVision, you'll be amazed at how faithful the 2600 version is to the original!
Includes cartridge and 12-page, full-color manual. Available in NTSC and PAL60 television formats, please specify above when ordering.
| Author | John W. Champeau |
| Number of Players | 1 |
| Controller | Joystick |
| Cartridge Size | 16K |
| Label Design | Nathan Strum |
| Manual Design | Nathan Strum |
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Reviews (20)
Add Your ReviewReviewer: aaron Verkerk
01/12/2013 10:10am 
This is a great game.It has a full color label,and a full color instuction manual.The graphics are good and so is the music.The controls are also spot on as well.This is a must have for anyone who enjoys 2600 games.
Reviewer: Marc Dussault
10/08/2010 10:12pm
Superb! This one is a nice conversion for the 2600. Great control and perfect gameplay. A must own for retro gamers.
Reviewer: Ron Lloyd
05/02/2010 07:34pm
I have played a bunch of homebrews for 2600, 5200, and even 7800 over the years. But Ladybug for 2600 has to be the one that pleased me the most and the quickest. A much more delightful and professional package than what we got back in the day, Ladybug 2600's gameplay, graphics, sounds
Reviewer: laurent dziubas
03/05/2009 04:17pm
Simply AMAZING!!! no other words...
the game itself, is a pretty clever Pac-Man like game with more strategy and diversity: the doors, the letters to capture.
This 2600 adaptation is wonderful, flicker-free, the music, sound effects, elements and graphics everything from the original arcade has been put in this version. The enemies are great (the praying mantis,...)
Of course you have to like that kind of game...but if you do this is the best of the best.
the game itself, is a pretty clever Pac-Man like game with more strategy and diversity: the doors, the letters to capture.
This 2600 adaptation is wonderful, flicker-free, the music, sound effects, elements and graphics everything from the original arcade has been put in this version. The enemies are great (the praying mantis,...)
Of course you have to like that kind of game...but if you do this is the best of the best.
Reviewer: Bruce Philip
12/23/2008 12:41am
I ordered this game, well, because I am a "Lady Bug" fan in a BIG way. I used to play this game in the arcade back when I was younger, and played it to death on the Colecovision. I always wondered why this game never made it to the Atari 2600. I guessed it was because a truly faithful reproduction could not be done. BOY was I wrong!
The gameplay is fantastic and just what you would expect had you ever played this game before. The sound is absolutely outstanding. There's a whole lot packed into this cartridge. A whole lot of Lady Bug love went into this and it really shows.
I did notice a small glitch when playing it on a Colecovision expansion module #1 unit. If you run it on one of these, the game will continually display the "ram rom" opening screen until you press reset to start the game. The game does play fine, but it will not display the nice title screen that you would see when running it on a 2600 or 7800 system. Not a really big deal.
Bottom line: You NEED to buy this game if you have not done so already!
The gameplay is fantastic and just what you would expect had you ever played this game before. The sound is absolutely outstanding. There's a whole lot packed into this cartridge. A whole lot of Lady Bug love went into this and it really shows.
I did notice a small glitch when playing it on a Colecovision expansion module #1 unit. If you run it on one of these, the game will continually display the "ram rom" opening screen until you press reset to start the game. The game does play fine, but it will not display the nice title screen that you would see when running it on a 2600 or 7800 system. Not a really big deal.
Bottom line: You NEED to buy this game if you have not done so already!
Reviewer: Joseph Walsh
04/15/2008 11:26am
Remember how video game ads would often say, "Plays just like the arcade game?" Well, this one fulfills that oft-broken promise!
Sure, there are a few compromises to make it fit into the limits of the VCS, but none of them make the game any less "Lady Bug." You still have the wonderful sounds, the humorous bug animations, and the tension between needing to go quickly yet pick up the letters and hearts at just the right time.
This game is a wonderful addition to any VCS collection!
Sure, there are a few compromises to make it fit into the limits of the VCS, but none of them make the game any less "Lady Bug." You still have the wonderful sounds, the humorous bug animations, and the tension between needing to go quickly yet pick up the letters and hearts at just the right time.
This game is a wonderful addition to any VCS collection!
Reviewer: Christopher Ball
04/13/2008 08:07pm
I can't say much that hasn't been said in the previous reviews. But, this is in my opinion hands-down one of the best titles for the 2600. Buy it.
Reviewer: Joseph Kollar
03/03/2008 04:09pm
PERFECT! Yep, Lady Bug is perfect. Or at least as perfect as it can be on the VCS.
Lady Bug is a maze game in the Pac-man vein but it has a lot more strategy involved than Pac-Man. One part of the strategy comes in the form of doors that can block off parts of the maze and keep the baddies away. The 2nd part is in the bonus elements available from spelling out certain words. Each level gives you three letters and you can try to spell EXTRA for a free life or SPECIAL for a vegetable harvest bonus. These added things make the game much more interesting than Pac-Man in my opinion.
This version of Lady Bug has all of the bad guy bugs, all of the sounds and all of the fun of the arcade version. It even has a RAM OK/ROM OK message when you first turn on the VCS similar to how it is when the coin-op is powered up. In this regard this version goes one better than the CV version of Lady Bug. The death animation your player is more accurate than the CV version and the music's all there too. The one thing that keeps the CV version being a little better is the lack of flicker and the independent nature of the green doors. In the VCS version, there is some flicker although it's amazingly well handled and not really distracting. Where the VCS version lacks from the arcade and the CV is that the doors are mirrored across the screen so if you move one, it also moves on the other side of the screen. It's not that big of deal but it does slightly change the game's play.
All thing's considered, it's still perfect in my opinion.
Lady Bug is a maze game in the Pac-man vein but it has a lot more strategy involved than Pac-Man. One part of the strategy comes in the form of doors that can block off parts of the maze and keep the baddies away. The 2nd part is in the bonus elements available from spelling out certain words. Each level gives you three letters and you can try to spell EXTRA for a free life or SPECIAL for a vegetable harvest bonus. These added things make the game much more interesting than Pac-Man in my opinion.
This version of Lady Bug has all of the bad guy bugs, all of the sounds and all of the fun of the arcade version. It even has a RAM OK/ROM OK message when you first turn on the VCS similar to how it is when the coin-op is powered up. In this regard this version goes one better than the CV version of Lady Bug. The death animation your player is more accurate than the CV version and the music's all there too. The one thing that keeps the CV version being a little better is the lack of flicker and the independent nature of the green doors. In the VCS version, there is some flicker although it's amazingly well handled and not really distracting. Where the VCS version lacks from the arcade and the CV is that the doors are mirrored across the screen so if you move one, it also moves on the other side of the screen. It's not that big of deal but it does slightly change the game's play.
All thing's considered, it's still perfect in my opinion.
Reviewer: Jeremy Stockman
08/24/2007 09:51am
This game totally surpassed my expectations (and from the other reviews, I expected alot). This reproduces the arcade game in great detail (much better than Coleco would have done). The game is also very fun, and very addictive. This is now possibly my favorite Atari 2600 game, ever.
Reviewer: Scott Inman
04/15/2007 02:04pm
Just when I thought I had seen everything the 2600 was capable of along comes Lady Bug. As many other reviewers have already stated: this is an OUTSTANDING game. The gameplay, graphics, and sounds are top notch. Not owning Lady Bug is a disservice to any 2600 collection. This was one of my first homebrew purchases and guarantee it won't be my last!
John's dedication to his mother's memory is touching and I feel his inspiration in her every time I play.
To any of you on sitting on the fences about homebrews... do yourself a favor and buy Lady Bug! Once the "bug" bites you'll be hooked!
John's dedication to his mother's memory is touching and I feel his inspiration in her every time I play.
To any of you on sitting on the fences about homebrews... do yourself a favor and buy Lady Bug! Once the "bug" bites you'll be hooked!
Reviewer: ace list
04/11/2007 11:30am
Well, as a rule I steer clear of maze games. To me, there is the original arcade version of Pac-Man and that's the end of it! When I saw that this game was done by Mr. Champeau I decided to give it a try. I LOVED Conquest of Mars so I thought, "Yeah, it's a maze game, but the dude can really code.."
Damn. This game rocks! I never played the game on Coleco (I was lucky to get a 2600!) so I really didn't have any knowledge or expectations regarding it. Believe me when I say that this is a maze-game of a different color!
The strategic elements put this one way over the top of most games of its ilk. The pace is frantic and the replay value high. The specifics of the game can be found in the product description, therefore I'll limit myself to my visceral reactions to this game. Spellbinding. Nerve-wracking. Addictive. Sweat-inducing. Magnificent.
Good job, John, your mom would be proud of you!
Damn. This game rocks! I never played the game on Coleco (I was lucky to get a 2600!) so I really didn't have any knowledge or expectations regarding it. Believe me when I say that this is a maze-game of a different color!
The strategic elements put this one way over the top of most games of its ilk. The pace is frantic and the replay value high. The specifics of the game can be found in the product description, therefore I'll limit myself to my visceral reactions to this game. Spellbinding. Nerve-wracking. Addictive. Sweat-inducing. Magnificent.
Good job, John, your mom would be proud of you!
Reviewer: Joseph Till
03/04/2007 10:32am
This is possibly the best homebrew ever! I have the arcade version, and the Colecovision version, but this version might actually be better than both of them! It has all the features of the arcade version, and it seems much easier and smoother to maneuver the Ladybug through the maze! I can't stop playing it! Yet another game that makes you wonder "...if only it would have been released back in the day..." A+++++
Reviewer: JASON JENKINS
02/25/2007 12:27am
This game is a real winner! CHAMP GAMES did a hell of a great job on this game. I found myself hooked just after a few minutes. I highly recommend this game!!! Do yourself a favor and buy this game. Its That good! Lady bug is a real gem to have in any atari collection. The game rocks!!!!
Reviewer: john gaither
01/16/2007 10:02am
All i can say about Ladybug for the Atari 2600 is wow! Having played and owning the Colecovision version of this game i was already a fan of it but i was just blown away how good this game is on the 2600.The sounds are dead-on,the graphics are top-notch,and i feel it controls much better than its Colecovision counterpart.The art work on the cart and in the manual are excellent as well.Champ Games has themselfs a winner with this one.I can't wait to see what they come out with next.Do yourself a favor and go pick this game up today if you havnt already you wont regret it i promise you.
Reviewer: Stan Dean
12/27/2006 12:29am
Inspired! Lady Bug for the VCS is simply amazing. Unlike many other ports for the VCS, this game IS what it promises. If you love Lady Bug, this is for you. If you have no idea what Lady Bug is, this is an exceptional way to be introduced to this wonderful game. The graphics are nice looking, the sound is spot-on, and the gameplay is simple, yet addictive. This maze-dot game will take a lot more than mindless gobbling. Strategy and pacing a vital to staying alive for those later rounds! Once you put this game in, be prepared to play for a few hours. Lady Bug is as addictive and fun as any VCS game in your library.
Reviewer: Steve Juon
12/15/2006 06:16am
It's been a long time since I've written a review, but this one is worth stepping back onto the scene for. As I had chosen a distinctive color shell to house my copy, I got a polite notice via e-mail that there had been a parts delay and my game would take a little longer to ship. Anticipation makes the heart grow fonder, so I read the posts in the AtariAge forums and patiently waited for my cart to arrive. Could it be as good as everyone had said? Well color me AND my cart shell red, because this is about as damn fine an arcade translation on the humble Atari VCS as there has ever been. This was one of my all-time favorite arcade games the few times I got to play it at Showbiz Pizza (yes long before their name was insipidly changed to Chuck E. Cheeze) and each time left me wanting for more as a kid. I want no longer! The faithful translation of all gameplay elements and surprisingly accurate graphics stunned me. I suppose I would be called on the carpet if I said this exceeded the ColecoVision version, but I don't think it hurts to say that this one rivals it in quality. If your Atari's been gathering a little dust of late, this game will definitely blow it off.
Reviewer: Raul Torres
12/07/2006 04:04pm
Wow! I can't believe this game is this good on the 2600. What a wonderful port. All the elements seem to be there, this has to be one of the best Homebrews available.
Reviewer: Nathan Strum
11/29/2006 03:07pm
Lady Bug is a port of the classic arcade game, in which you maneuver a ladybug around a maze, eating dots (flowers), avoiding enemy bugs, and earning bonuses by collecting letters and hearts scattered throughout the maze. But Lady Bug isn't merely another Pac-Man clone, since you can swing doors around to change the layout of the maze and throw the enemy bugs off your trail, and earning bonuses figures into the strategy of how you play the game. Collecting enough letters to spell EXTRA earns you another life, and spelling SPECIAL earns you a bonus round where you can rack up a ton of points. You'll have to decide which letters to pick and when, since if they're the wrong color, they won't be credited to you, and even picking up the hearts at the wrong time can cost you big points. Do you go for points, or just try to get out of the maze before all of the bugs are released and chase you down? Lady Bug is an amazing achievement. All of the elements from the arcade game (and even the ColecoVision port) are here, including all of the enemy bugs, levels and bonuses. The graphics (which I may be a little biased towards) are colorful and bright, and considering how much is happening on screen, the flicker is expertly handled and hardly noticeable once you're into playing the game. The sound effects and music are first-rate, and excellent tributes to the arcade originals. Lady Bug may very well be the best and most feature-complete arcade port for the Atari 2600. Best of all, it's just a really fun and challenging game, and I highly recommend it!
Reviewer: Brian Rittmeyer
10/31/2006 11:58pm
It's a real shame that most people have long forgotten the Atari 2600. Some of the best games to ever be made for the pioneering game console are coming out just today. Case in point - Lady Bug.
Produced by John Campeau's Champ Games, and finally answering a 23-year-old question - Why can't I play this game on a 2600? - Lady Bug ranks among the best arcade-to-home conversions for the 2600. Everything is here - the look, the sound, the game play. Even the opening "rom ok, ram ok" is reproduced.
A classic maze game, in the style of Pac-Man, Lady Bug offers a few twists. Lady Bug is able to open and close gates in the maze to help fend off the various insects that pursue her. About the only difference from the arcade is that in this version, the gates are mirrored, left to right, but I don't find that to be a concern. More importantly, unlike the arcade, Lady Bug will turn only when she can, and not into a solid wall - an annoyance of mine in the arcade game.
And unlike Pac-Man, which is just eat and run, Lady Bug may require a little thought and planning - letters in the maze will spell the words "EXTRA," for an extra life, or "SPECIAL," for a bonus stage. But the letters only count if they are the right color - yellow for extra, red for special. Which letters do you need? What color should they be? Should I get the a yellow E for extra, or a red one for special? Decisions, decisions... but don't think too long, or a bug might get you!
Three difficulty levels allow players of any skill to get into the game. On standard, the difficulty is just right - not so easy that the game is boring, but not so hard as to make a player give up in frustration.
A full manual details everything else you need to know. The manual and cartridge feature stunning artwork by Nathan Strum.
Lady Bug is a must-have for any 2600 or 7800 console owner. Absolutely worth the money.
Produced by John Campeau's Champ Games, and finally answering a 23-year-old question - Why can't I play this game on a 2600? - Lady Bug ranks among the best arcade-to-home conversions for the 2600. Everything is here - the look, the sound, the game play. Even the opening "rom ok, ram ok" is reproduced.
A classic maze game, in the style of Pac-Man, Lady Bug offers a few twists. Lady Bug is able to open and close gates in the maze to help fend off the various insects that pursue her. About the only difference from the arcade is that in this version, the gates are mirrored, left to right, but I don't find that to be a concern. More importantly, unlike the arcade, Lady Bug will turn only when she can, and not into a solid wall - an annoyance of mine in the arcade game.
And unlike Pac-Man, which is just eat and run, Lady Bug may require a little thought and planning - letters in the maze will spell the words "EXTRA," for an extra life, or "SPECIAL," for a bonus stage. But the letters only count if they are the right color - yellow for extra, red for special. Which letters do you need? What color should they be? Should I get the a yellow E for extra, or a red one for special? Decisions, decisions... but don't think too long, or a bug might get you!
Three difficulty levels allow players of any skill to get into the game. On standard, the difficulty is just right - not so easy that the game is boring, but not so hard as to make a player give up in frustration.
A full manual details everything else you need to know. The manual and cartridge feature stunning artwork by Nathan Strum.
Lady Bug is a must-have for any 2600 or 7800 console owner. Absolutely worth the money.
Reviewer: William Potter
09/24/2006 04:04pm
A game that was originally announced in a Coleco catalogue back in 1982 only to become vaporware has finally saw the light of day due to to the efforts of Champ Games!
Lady Bug is quite possibly the best arcade port to VCS ever released, all of the elements of the coin-op classic are there including the "Special" and "Extra" bonuses.
When playing Lady Bug by Champ Games it is easy to forget that you are playing an Atari 2600, it is that unbelievable!
I give this game my highest rating.
Lady Bug is quite possibly the best arcade port to VCS ever released, all of the elements of the coin-op classic are there including the "Special" and "Extra" bonuses.
When playing Lady Bug by Champ Games it is easy to forget that you are playing an Atari 2600, it is that unbelievable!
I give this game my highest rating.
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