Bubsy was one of several video game mascots that tried to nip at the heels of Mario and Sonic in the \u201890s, but this quick-witted feline\u2019s oddball, comical nature ended up being more memorable than the actual games he was in. Still, Bubsy has an endearing appeal \u2013 if maybe as a meme more than a mascot \u2013 which makes the go-for-broke energy of his next game, Bubsy 4D, all the more admirable. It tries to recapture the fast and fierce reputation of those early platformers, funneling that energy into a modestly sized, meta-level redemption story that gives Bubsy his proper due.<\/p>\n
Equal parts parody and legit legacy sequel, Bubsy 4D sees the washed-up video game mascot clumsily make a comeback. This time, he reluctantly has to save the galaxy from another invasion of the returning Woolies, along with a new enemy known as the BaaBots. Guided by his friends, along with his Gen-Z-coded niece and nephew, he’ll once again take to being the main character of a video game platformer \u2013 whether he likes it or not. While many retro-inspired 3D platformers these days tap into nostalgia, Bubsy 4D’s take is a bit more self-deprecating and aware of the series’ shaky legacy, but not to the point of feeling mean, and its portrayal of a down on his luck video game character is very charming.<\/p>\n
Bubsy 4D plays out exactly like you\u2019d expect a classic 3D action-platformer from the ’90s to, with that added edge and charm of a Saturday Morning Cartoon. Made by developer Fabraz \u2013 known for great platformers like Slime-San and the more recent Demon Tides \u2013 it really leans into freeform platforming as you skillfully chain different maneuvers together to barrel through a variety of stages. It’s the type of flow that rewards you for understanding the physics and rhythm of the action, which is a welcome new direction for the Bubsy series. Across three unique worlds with their own sets of stages, Bubsy uses his various skills and quirks to barrel through enemies and some wily obstacle courses in style<\/p>\n
I really liked the energy of Bubsy’s movement, which is brought to life by his anxious whining and mannerisms. It actively leans into that comical style he\u2019s known for, and Bubsy 4D has a particularly compelling, dynamic flow to the action. My favorite moments came from darting through worlds built around computer e-waste, where I was climbing tall towers and using Bubsy’s ball form to zip through the air in order to make it across the map. <\/p>\n
Unlike 1996’s Bubsy 3D, 4D is all about building up speed through these levels with his dash and rolling abilities. He’s not quite Sonic when it comes to going fast, but it is particularly satisfying to find a quick pace with the ball maneuver. At its best, Bubsy 4D nails that slick, satisfying sense of mastery over your character, especially one as fun and whimsical as Bubsy.<\/p>\n
However, I was a bit disappointed with the activities in these stages. While they do focus on the collectathon variety of 3D platformers, where you have to grab all of the knick-knacks and hidden items to score upgrades, the stages themselves feel rather sparse upon deeper exploration. With very few enemies to fight and side-activities to take in across the relatively few stages in the main campaign, it makes the more open-zone levels feel uninteresting and like a bit of a slog to clear compared to the tighter, more focused stages. <\/p>\n
Still, there\u2019s generally a flow to the action that I found satisfying. When it was firing on all cylinders, it made me feel like I was in deep as a ‘speedrunner’ with how well I could build up momentum and bypass massive gaps between explorable areas. However, it did take me some time to come to grips with the movement style, which can feel slippery and imprecise when trying to nail precision jumps. Most of my failures came from those awkward moments of falling off the ledges, using up all my jumps and leaps to attempt to save myself. During the higher-end stages that require a bit more precision, this was a frustrating hurdle to overcome.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nBubsy 4D Screenshots<\/h3>\n