Bubsy 3D

As 3D games were becoming the norm in the mid-1990s, a number of well-known characters were making the transition, and Bubsy is one of those characters. While Bubsy creator Mike Berlyn had no experience in making 3d games, I could tell he certainly put up a great effort. However, the game was so not well received by game reviewers. Because of this, Berlyn and his team were probably demoralized from making more games in the Bubsy series. Since then, Bubsy 3D (and in some cases the character) have been severely put down and meanly ridiculed by net users.

If there's a problem I see in game reviewers sometimes, that is they tend to give their reviews after playing the game for only five minutes. A game can be difficult at first, but If you get a little familiar with it, then it will be easy or less troubling.

When I was about to play this game on my PS3 (which is compatible with PS1 games), I was having low expectations because of the excessive negativity surrounding the game. But when I played it, the game didn't turn out to be as bad as they say. Bubsy moves smoothly, and grabs on floating platforms really good.

When it comes to jumping on enemies, I used to get unwanted results like overshooting or undershooting the target, and therefore taking damage in the process. However, it didn't take me very long to become adept and accurate with my jumps.

Perhaps the main concern is the way Bubsy needs to be rotated before going in another direction because this might leave him vulnerable to being attacked. Well, with sufficiently quick reaction and proper planning, this should be almost not a problem. And contrary to what some gamers say, it is actually possible to steer Bubsy while he's running.

As for the graphics, the ones in the first round may look unappealing. However, they start to look a little better as you go into the later rounds. True, the graphics maybe a total departure to the naturalistic designs used in the previous Bubsy games. But if anyone wants to know with regards to the game's appearance, these are called polygons. Polygons are a technique used in vintage 3D games. Polygons may not display curves on shapes very well but at least the character moves smoother and faster. Bubsy may look a little weird because of this but it's not that bad. In fact, I think they give him what I like to call a surreal look. Also I don't think the graphics of other polygon games like Virtua Racing and the first Virtua Fighter game are any better than this one. And considering that the game is set on an alien planet, weird stuff like the trees and checkered terrain shouldn't surprise anyone.

Despite what some may say about the controls, I didn't find the game too difficult. In fact, I managed to finished it in only a month. So what I would say is this. Bubsy 3D is not a perfect 3D platformer but not worthy of being labeled one of the worst. Also, I enjoyed playing it. The feel of this game is sorta similar to that of Blinx, a highly regarded 3D game.

Bubsy 3D, an awkward, messy, distorted, warped, unplayable, and badly aged platform game from birth.

I wonder, though, why they made a 3D game if they didn't have the skills to do it? Why would they want to rival super Mario 64 with a game that was poor in content? Questions that will probably never be answered.

Which then the 2D games in my opinion were really good, why ruin a character like Bubsy?

In the game then Bubsy has a really annoying voice and never stops talking.

Not to mention the game's controls, which every time you jump you have to make the sign of the cross and hope it goes into the right platforms.

The game environment then, really lazy even for the first PlayStation, graphically nonexistent.

In short if you want to hurt yourself play it!

This is definitely one of the worst video games I have ever played, and Accolade should have been ashamed for making it. Even though I only rented it from Blockbuster way back in the day as a kid, I still can't emphasize how much I wanted to return it and get my money back after playing it for only twenty minutes.

Bubsy Bobcat is abducted by the Woolies in their attempt to invade Earth and steal all of its yarn. However, Bubsy manages to escape and must fight his way across 18 different, Woolie infested stages, and find a way back to Earth by collecting atoms and space rocket parts.

Bubsy is so obnoxious! His character model is ugly, and his big, toothy smile looked creepy. His voice is the most annoying I've ever heard in a video game and Lani Minella's talent was completely wasted on him. Seriously, every time he spoke, it felt like someone was puncturing my eardrums with needles! His constant spouting of lame jokes and cat puns only made me hate him even more.

The 3D graphics were atrocious, even for 1996. The character and enemy sprites were unpolished, the animation was low framed, and all the level designs and landscapes looked so plain, textureless, and undetailed you'd think the game wasn't even finished and had to be prematurely released to meet the deadline and compete with Super Mario 64 and Crash Bandicoot when all three came out the same year. It wouldn't surprise me if that were the case.

The game used notorious tank controls to move Bubsy around, so his movements were stiff and clumsy. But the platforming was the worst part of all. Since the camera had a bad habit of rapidly shifting to an overhead view of Bubsy whenever he jumped, you could hardly even see where you were going, so navigating through the poorly designed levels was a headache inducing nightmare.

The music is repetitive, distorted sounding, and almost as annoying as Bubsy himself. It gets worse whenever an enemy is nearby and takes on a grating and scratchy pitch that made my ears uncomfortable. Unfortunately, this probably made up half the time you wasted playing this heap of garbage.

Basically, this game failed miserably in every way Mario 64 and Crash Bandicoot succeeded. Whether it's on an ancient but functional PS1 or an emulator, do NOT play Bubsy 3D if you value your time and sanity.

Don't play this crap. This the worst game EVER!!!!

What can I say about Bubsy 3D that hasn't been said already? I can very well cite the cheap voice acting (sorry, Mrs. Minella), the flat- shaded and ill-textured graphics, the smooth but difficult tank-like controls (if I recall right, the game was made for the original PS1 Controllers, which had no analog sticks), the nauseating camera angles and the imprecise control of the atoms (which function as coin and bullet).

And yet, I like Bubsy 3D. Yes, I said that. It may be frustrating, difficult and exasperating, but something about it makes me like it. Maybe it's because it was the first game I remember playing. Maybe it's because I find the poor graphics charming. Maybe I like the funny death animations. Maybe it's because I find every one of Bubsy's quotes painfully hilarious. Maybe it's because I find the game hilarious anyway.

If you are up to a frustrating yet comedic game to spend your time with, I'd give Bubsy 3D a look. I mean, come on, what could possibly go wrong? (sigh)