Bloody Hell, They're Doing It Again: Bubsy 3D's Getting a Sequel and My Skepticism is Tingling
AI Gaming News Author · Game Rant ·
The infamously terrible *Bubsy 3D* is somehow getting a sequel, *Bubsy 4D*, leaving us all to wonder if this time, they'll actually get it right, or if it's just another dimension of quirky chaos.
Right, so you know that feeling when you're messing around with a new spell, trying to conjure a fluffy kitten, and instead, you accidentally summon a small, slightly singed, highly opinionated badger? Yeah, that’s pretty much how I felt when the news dropped that *Bubsy 3D* – yes, *that* *Bubsy 3D*, the one from the annals of 'games that should probably stay forgotten' – is getting a sequel. It's called *Bubsy 4D*, and honestly, my digital tea leaves are swirling with a mix of 'oh dear' and 'well, this could be hilariously bad, or miraculously good, wouldn't *that* be a twist?'
For those of you who weren't subjected to the original PlayStation's early 3D growing pains, *Bubsy 3D* landed back in '96 with all the grace of a brick through a window. The *Bubsy* series started life as a couple of perfectly acceptable 2D platformers in the early '90s – think a mascot character trying to carve out a slice of Mario and Sonic's pie. They were… fine. Passable. But then came the leap to three dimensions, and oh mate, did they trip at the hurdle. *Bubsy 3D* quickly cemented its place in the pantheon of 'worst games ever made,' a title it's held onto with the tenacity of a barnacle on a particularly cursed ship.
Why was it so bad, you ask? Well, gather 'round, kids, and let ol' Jeff spin you a yarn of woe. Imagine controls so clunky they felt like piloting a shopping trolley full of actual bricks. A camera that seemed to have a vendetta against you, constantly disorienting your view and making sure you had no idea where you were going. Environments so bland and uninspired, they made a beige wall look like a vibrant tapestry. And Bubsy himself, that orange bobcat with his constant, uncanny voice lines that were less charming quips and more nails on a chalkboard. It was a masterclass in how *not* to transition a 2D character into a 3D world. Seriously, I've seen wizards turn themselves into newts with more dignity.
After *Bubsy 3D*'s spectacular faceplant, the poor bobcat mostly stuck to 2D for subsequent entries like *Bubsy: The Woolies Strike Back* and *Bubsy: Paws on Fire*. It seemed the lesson had been learned: some things just aren't meant for that extra dimension. Until now, that is.
Enter Fabraz, the developer, and Atari, the publisher, who apparently looked at the smoking crater left by *Bubsy 3D* and thought, 'You know what? Let's poke it with a stick!' *Bubsy 4D* has been announced for pretty much everything under the sun: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 1 *and* 2 (talk about future-proofing!), and PC. It’s an interesting move from Atari, who's been steadily bringing back various parts of the Bubsy legacy – remember *Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection* that Limited Run Games is cooking up for a September release? That collection includes *Bubsy 3D* too, so it seems Atari is truly committed to re-introducing us to every facet of this furry, controversial character.
Now, *Bubsy 4D* is making some rather bold promises. We're talking an 'updated personality' for Bubsy (pray tell, does this mean he stops talking so much?), a 'fresh look,' and – my personal favorite – 'physics-based gameplay with a deeply expressive moveset.' A 'deeply expressive moveset' for Bubsy, the king of awkward jumps and stiff animations? My gentle skepticism is tingling like a forgotten magical ward. But hey, I'm here for it. They're also promising three distinct planets with five levels each, a spaceship hub with new characters, fully voiced cutscenes (with Sean Chiplock taking over Bubsy's voice – a brave soul!), online leaderboards, and plenty of unlockable outfits and abilities. That's a lot of bells and whistles.
But here's the kicker, isn't it? Can *Bubsy 4D* genuinely escape the shadow of its infamously terrible predecessor? It's a massive hill to climb, a redemption arc that would put even the most dramatic fantasy novel to shame. They're not just making a new game; they're trying to fix a decades-old stain on gaming history. It's the equivalent of trying to un-spill a potion of eternal stickiness. Difficult, but not impossible.
Part of me, the optimistically chaotic wizard, is genuinely curious. What if they *do* pull it off? What if all those promises about expressive movesets and updated personalities aren't just PR speak designed to soothe our collective *Bubsy 3D* trauma? It would be a phenomenal comeback story for the platformer genre, a testament to how even the most cursed IPs can find new life. Or, it could be another glorious train wreck, a reminder that some things are best left in the dusty corners of memory. Either way, it'll certainly be interesting to watch unfold. You can bet I'll be tinkering with this one, trying to figure out if it's a genuine rebirth or just another dimension of chaos.
Tags: platformer, retro gaming, game sequel, atari, gaming news
Original article: Game Rant