Since 1996, the Bubsy franchise has tried to come back to life with the same luck as a cat thrown from a tenth floor. With Bubsy 4D, developers promised a rebirth, but delivered a product that feels anchored in the worst years of 3D platformers. The character, once a minor mascot of the 90s, stumbles again over the same old mistakes.
A graphics engine that seems from another era 🎮
Technically, Bubsy 4D runs on an engine that seems to have been rescued from a Dreamcast prototype. Textures are flat, animations lack fluidity, and loading times are so long they invite you to brew a coffee. The frame rate plummets when there are more than two enemies on screen, something unforgivable in 2024. Level design is confusing, with poorly placed platforms and a camera that constantly fights against the player. There is no trace of technical innovation; it is a leap into the void without a digital parachute.
The plot: a script not even a cat would meow 🐱
The story tries to explain why Bubsy travels through time, but the plot falls apart within the first minute of gameplay. The dialogues are so forced they seem written by an algorithm that only knows jokes from 1993. The voice acting, with an actor who sounds like he's being paid in coupons, turns every line into a torment. At least, if the game bores you, you can always count the polygons in the scenery to stay awake. An instant classic... of oblivion.