Bubsy is back again!? That is right, dear reader: the infamous bobcat is making a proper grand return in a 3D platformer (or should I say 4D?) after 30 years with Bubsy 4D.
Some of you younger readers might be wondering, "Who the heck is Bubsy?" Well, to make a long story short, he is a mascot character from a 90s platforming series of the same name. Originally developed by Accolade during the "mascot platformer craze," the series attempted to compete with the likes of Sonic the Hedgehog in particular, and even had his own Saturday morning cartoon! Sadly his games were mediocre at best and, to be quite brutal, some of the worst gaming had to offer at other times.
The most infamous title was Bubsy 3D for the PlayStation, and its release seemingly killed off the character for good. From there, most presumed he was destined to remain a footnote in gaming history, but then something happened. Atari brought him back.
After a long time, Bubsy seemed to be getting new games again, as if he had clawed his way out of the grave. It baffled gamers that this bobcat had somehow returned; surely modern gaming standards would be kinder and allow for a proper title? Unfortunately, his newer games followed a similar pattern to his earlier ones, failing to impress players both new and old. At this point, many thought he was simply a cursed character with no chance for redemption.
So, you can imagine my surprise when Fabraz suddenly announced Bubsy 4D in partnership with Atari. Fabraz has a solid track record with 3D platformers like Demon Turf and Demon Tides, with the latter being a "sister game" to Bubsy 4D considering they were developed around the same time (I also reviewed Demon Tides and loved it). Surely, if anyone can break this bobcat's curse, it would be Fabraz.
Did they manage to do it? Let’s dive right in.
The Story:
While Bubsy is chilling with friends and family at his house, the dastardly Woolies return in a UFO and steal all the nearby sheep. Bubsy could help, but he doesn't feel bothered to, and neither do the rest of his friends. That is, until the sheep return as Baabots! They have taken over the Woolies and their technology to become robot-infused sheep, and then steal all of Bubsy's Golden Fleece and spread out across three planets.
Bubsy himself still isn't brave enough to go after them, but he is quite literally dragged into action by his friends. Together, they hijack a UFO from a Baabot and start their grand adventure.
It's a fast-paced and simple intro, aye?
The start of the game manages to introduce all the characters quite effectively including Bubsy himself. Also if you grew up with the bobcat's previous adventures, or even the Saturday morning cartoon, you will see quite a few familiar faces throughout the levels.
Bubsy has been infamously known as a bit of a wise-cracking, and if I dare say, annoying character in the past. So, that leads one to question how is he in this game. Well, to be honest, he is actually very likable. What Fabraz decided to do was take all of his previous flaws, and somehow made them work. Does he have one-liners and wise-cracking jokes? Sure, but every time he uses one, he gets admonished by his friends, which ironically makes it funnier.
It is thanks to this greatly improved writing that he now has a real "underdog" feel, which is actually very fitting for the most infamous bobcat in the world. In the story most characters don’t take him seriously, and, quite frankly, most simply expect him to fail. It’s easy to empathize with a character everyone counts out, but who somehow succeeds, and now Bubsy is doing just that in more ways than one.
Of course the story isn’t deep, but it does a good job of making you root for a character who finally understands he isn't as cool or funny as he thinks he is, but dang it, he still tries, and he genuinely can make you laugh. If you still find him annoying however, there is an option to tune down his chatter or turn it off entirely, though Bubsy will certainly have an opinion about that in-game.
Gameplay:
Bubsy 4D is a 3D platformer made in the same engine as Demon Tides. Consequently, much of what makes Demon Tides great also translates directly to what works well in Bubsy 4D. Compared to its sister game, however, Bubsy 4D focuses on a linear level progression structure instead of an open world.
Each level contains a set amount of secrets and collectibles to find, which you can use these at the shop to gain new moves or buy new outfits for Bubsy, some of which are more "joke-oriented" than others. And at the end of every level, a Golden Fleece awaits you, the primary objective of the game.
Bubsy can perform typical 3D platforming tricks, such as charging a high jump by crouching, somersaulting, triple jumping, or hovering in the air (similar to Yoshi from the Mario series), but what sets him apart are his "cat-like" abilities. For instance, while stuck to a wall, you can climb upward slightly without losing your jump. He can also pounce to gain speed in mid-air, or hang-glide for better landing control. (Yes, we’re calling that a cat ability.) Finally, he can turn into a literal furball to roll around at high speeds much like Beebz’s snake form in Demon Tides, but much bouncier.
However, that’s not all. As I stated earlier, you can unlock new moves from the shop throughout the playthrough. Some abilities are incredibly useful, like those that provide hints for finding secrets, or allow you to teleport between litter box checkpoints. Meanwhile, others are entirely new moves. For example, the spin control jump from Super Mario Sunshine makes a comeback here (a personal favorite), alongside a crouch long jump, an even bouncier "furball mode," and a literal cartoon move called "coyote time," which allows Bubsy to run midair for a few seconds after walking off an edge.
Unlike Demon Tides, where you must decide which moves to equip, Bubsy retains all his abilities as he unlocks them. This is the key difference between these "sibling games," and it dramatically changes your approach to the more challenging platforming sections later on, particularly during the speedrun level challenges.
Every level features a medal that is unlocked by beating the developer’s best time. This is where Bubsy’s fully unlocked moveset truly shines, giving every stage a fresh feel. Honestly, it is a blast to string different moves together on the fly or use split-second decision-making to recover from a fall. You can even compete against other players on the leaderboards to see who the fastest bobcat in each level is.
The platforming is just as good as it is in Demon Tides you could even argue it’s better, which is something I can’t believe I’m saying about a Bubsy game in 2026. Fabraz has proven they have a deep understanding of what makes a 3D platformer fun and how to pace it effectively for the player. However, there is one small issue, though it might be a larger deal for some, depending on what you value as a gamer.
Pros and Cons:
Let’s start with the cons: This game only has three major worlds with five levels each (including the bosses), totaling 15 levels, plus a few bonuses depending on your completion rate. I 100-percented the game, even finishing the speedrun challenges and bonus content, but even then, the game ended up being only around five hours long.
Regardless of who you ask, this is a short game, incredibly short, even. At the end, I was left mostly confused, wondering, "They’re going to pull the rug out from under me during the credits, right? Riiight?" But the punchline never came; it was just the ending. I could have sworn, based on how the world map looked, that there would be two or three more worlds, but there wasn't.
There has been a recent discussion in the gaming sphere regarding the relationship between time and value. It’s a fairly subjective question, and whether you think the length is a good or bad thing depends entirely on your personal opinion.
With that being said, I did want more at the end; maybe at least two more major worlds.
Let’s continue with the pros. While I mentioned wanting more content, I have to admit that every single minute of those five hours was pure gaming fun. It never feels like time is wasted; the pace is fast, and you’re constantly moving to the next well-designed stage. Each level introduces a new challenge or a fresh twist on a mechanic you’ve seen before. Personally, I never experienced any crashes, and the controls felt spot-on.
The visuals are a treat, much like Demon Tides (which makes sense, given they share the same engine), and beyond that, Bubsy himself is incredibly expressive and well-animated.
The original Bubsy games weren't exactly known for their soundtracks, with the possible exception of the first game’s main theme. However, Fabraz decided that Bubsy deserves a killer soundtrack. It’s bouncy, funky, catchy, and just an all-around good time.
I’ve already mentioned that Bubsy is fun to control, but I want to emphasize this: mastering his movement was some of the most fun I’ve had in a platformer since ironically enough its sister game, Demon Tides. The momentum you build when stringing moves together is incredible. As a veteran of the genre, it is a pure joy to glide through the air, find shortcuts, and take riskier jumps once you’ve learned exactly how much glide you have. The developer never stops you from taking risks; in fact, you’re rewarded and incentivized to get better.
Thanks to the item finder upgrade, 100% completing this game was a breeze for me, and honestly, I prefer that over the alternative.
Closing Thoughts:
I have praised the game so much that I’ll admit I might sound biased. That being said, I just can’t stop enjoying a platformer that respects my time, provides great controls and performance, and leaves me wanting more. There is a discussion to be had about the game's length, and I understand that for some, it is going to feel too short. However, the question I want to ask you, dear reader, is this: If every hour of a game is fully polished and never wastes your time, is that better than a 30 to 50 hour game where you're having fun, but also experience occasionally drags? There is honestly no right or wrong answer, but it's worth thinking about, aye?
Bubsy 4D manages to be a consistent, well-paced platformer that doesn't waste your time. It encourages you to master its mechanics while providing smooth controls and a great soundtrack. I honestly can't believe I'm saying this, but I legitimately like Bubsy now. That says everything about what Fabraz managed to accomplish; they didn't just break this bobcat's curse, they made him an underdog worth rooting for.
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