Bubsy 4D Demo Shocks by Being Surprisingly Good
▼ Summary
– Bubsy’s original games were notoriously bad, yet he continues to receive new releases like those in 2025, unlike more competent but forgotten mascots.
– Recent Bubsy revivals, such as The Woolies Strike Back and Paws on Fire, have received mixed reviews, maintaining his reputation for poor quality.
– The Bubsy 4D demo features responsive and fun platforming with an extensive move set, including gliding, double-jumping, and a hairball mode for speed.
– Bubsy 4D’s fast-paced movement can feel unpolished at times, with the camera struggling to keep up, making it ideal for speedrunners but occasionally chaotic.
– The game is shaping up to be a collectathon with Bubsy’s self-aware humor, portraying him as an older, reluctant star, though the jokes may feel repetitive and dated.
The gaming world witnessed the quiet departure of numerous platformer mascots as the 1990s drew to a close, yet Bubsy managed to carve out a unique legacy, not for quality, but for being spectacularly terrible. While other characters like Gex and Croc faded into obscurity, Bubsy’s infamy kept his name alive, proving that even negative attention can sustain a franchise. This explains why, against all odds, a new Bubsy title is slated for 2025, an achievement more celebrated platforming icons haven’t matched.
Unfortunately, most modern Bubsy revivals have failed to elevate the series beyond its notorious reputation. Recent entries such as The Woolies Strike Back and Paws on Fire received lukewarm “Mixed” ratings on Steam, reinforcing the belief that this bobcat mascot is perpetually down on his luck.
Something unexpected occurred, however, when I booted up the newly released Bubsy 4D demo. To my astonishment, I found myself genuinely enjoying the experience. Yes, Bubsy’s one-liners remain painfully unfunny, enough to trigger genuine irritation, but the core platforming feels responsive, polished, and, most surprisingly, fun.
The demo offers a short tour through the first three stages, immediately showcasing an expanded moveset. Bubsy can glide through the air, execute a double-jump for extra hang time reminiscent of Yoshi in Super Mario World, pounce forward with enemy lock-on, scale walls, and even curl into “hairball mode” to roll downhill at blistering speeds.
Anyone who endured 1996’s Bubsy 3D will recall its sluggish, unresponsive controls. Bubsy 4D stands in stark contrast, offering movement so fluid it borders on excessive. Zipping through levels feels effortless, though the camera sometimes lags behind the action. This makes the game a potential paradise for speedrunners, even if it occasionally comes across as slightly unrefined.
At its heart, the game appears to be a classic collectathon. Stages are filled with yarn balls and assorted trinkets required to advance and unlock new abilities. The main appeal, aside from the improved mechanics, lies in Bubsy’s self-referential humor. This iteration presents an older, wearier bobcat reluctantly stepping back into the spotlight, all while winking at the audience about his less-than-stellar legacy.
That said, the joke is wearing thin. After decades of subpar releases, simply acknowledging the series’ flaws no longer feels fresh. Hearing Bubsy exclaim “T-pose, baby!” every time he glides does little to win over skeptics. A new character, his Gen Alpha niece, regularly labels him “cringe,” though her remarks fail to curb his chatter. Among famous orange cats, Bubsy still trails far behind Heathcliff and Garfield in my personal ranking.
Despite these quirks, I left the demo with a sense of cautious optimism. It’s unlikely that Bubsy 4D will redefine 3D platforming, but for longtime followers, a game that rises slightly above mediocrity might just feel like a victory.
If you’re intrigued by this unexpected turnaround, the Bubsy 4D demo is available to try on Steam.
(Source: PCGAMER)
