Bubsy Returns in 3D Platformer Bubsy 4D From Demon Tides Developer Fabraz
The revival of a largely forgotten 90s mascot by an indie developer known for a specific style of 3D platformer results in a game that is more a reskin of that developer's own work than a return to the character's roots.
Reporting from 1 sources: Game Spark.
The 1990s platforming mascot Bubsy has returned in a new 3D entry, Bubsy 4D, developed by Fabraz, the creator of the well-regarded 3D platformers Demon Tides and Demon Turf. The game is available now on PC via Steam, Epic Games Store, and GOG, as well as PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2. Unlike the original 2D Sonic-like games, Bubsy 4D is a stage-based 3D platformer closer in design to the Crash Bandicoot series. Players control Bubsy using a hairball ground dash, jump, flutter step, glide, and grab attack, which can be chained together with momentum to skip large sections of the loosely designed stages. The game is heavy on meta-humor and self-deprecating jokes, with Bubsy breaking the fourth wall and even misspelling his own name. A time attack mode on every stage demands precise use of movement combos to skip obstacles. The reporter notes the game feels very much like a variation of Fabraz's Demon Tides, with solid gameplay but limited originality and a low stage count. Some in-game banter is left untranslated.
The original Bubsy debuted in 1993 with Bubsy in: Claws Encounters of the Furred Kind, a 2D platformer that tried to emulate Sonic the Hedgehog's speed. The character saw several sequels, most of which were not released in Japan. Bubsy 4D is the first new game in the series in years, and it was created by solo developer Fabraz, whose previous games Demon Turf and Demon Tides are known for their tight 3D jumping mechanics and cel-shaded art style.
In Bubsy 4D, the villain Woolie has kidnapped sheep and turned them into Baabots, which then steal Bubsy's Golden Fleece. The game is stage-based, not an open hub world like Banjo-Kazooie, and the level design is described as loose, allowing skilled players to skip many platforms using momentum from the hairball dash and grab moves. The reporter found the time attack mode to be very demanding, requiring players to skip intended paths to meet the timer. The game's heavy use of meta-humor includes Bubsy complaining about being a relic of the past and other characters calling out his fourth-wall breaks. The review notes that while the core platforming is solid, the game lacks originality and feels like a direct variation of Demon Tides, and the stage count is limited.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 1 cited source below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.