The Purrfect Collection (Nintendo Switch)
It’d be easy to take as gospel the statement that “The Bubsy games are bad.” People say they’re bad, sometimes frequently and loudly, so it must be true. Perhaps it is. But this collection, thoughtfully compiled by Atari and Limited Run, will allow many gamers to finally have an informed opinion, rather than simply parroting gaming chatter.
What’s interesting is that critics back in the ‘90s differed from those of today. Perhaps it was not being burdened by what they perceived to be mass reception (the Internet, as we know it, was barely in its embryonic stage). The first 16-bit Bubsy game, Claws Encounters of the Furred Kind, originally received broadly positive review coverage. I remember reading about the bobcat in Electronic Gaming Monthly, GamePro, Game Informer, and any magazine I could get my young hands on (my love of gaming print media started early). While I didn’t pick up the game as a kid, mostly because platformers were plentiful, and the big ad campaign paradoxically lessened my hype, the fact that the series endured demonstrates that many others did.
A similar reception was met with its sequel, which improves in several ways while worsening in others, something I’ll elaborate on shortly. It was only with the third home console entry that Bubsy’s reception started becoming very mixed, and understandably so (again, stay tuned for elaboration). By the time of the infamous Bubsy 3D, reviews were firmly mixed to negative.
Of course, our gaming sensibilities have grown over the last 30 years. The first two Bubsy games are no longer critically acclaimed with reflective coverage. The latter ones are now widely considered poor across the board. Time can be cruel, and I genuinely believe it has been to Bubsy. But the team behind this collection is just as aware of this as I am, and has updated the games in this collection with features to help. Infinite time. I’ve rarely enjoyed timers in platform games, and feel that they add little if anything. Especially in Bubsy, with considerable levels (a bit too convoluted for their own good). Also, infinite lives are another respectful thing I appreciate in line with modern sensibilities. Add in the ability to rewind and save anywhere—no more passwords needed—and these games are arguably as good as they could ever hope to be, save getting full-blown remakes.
If you play these games in order, you’ll quickly realize that, in his debut, Bubsy has an odd inertia. I imagine ‘90s kids likening it to what we call controller drift now. Combine that with one-hit fails, and you have your answer to “what could possibly go wrong.” Was potential profit prioritized over playability? It takes getting used to, and I can see many not wanting to be bothered nowadays. It’s frustrating, but not for reasons that ultimately lead to satisfaction. Being a character in the Sonic mold, born of the desire to add another edgy mascot to the ’90s gaming scene, the speed openly does no favors here. Maybe if those balls of yarn acted similarly to Sonic’s rings instead of just points (a universal wish), but the design philosophy feels disjointed and far less tolerable 30 years later. At least the animations when you lose a life are humorous.
Despite being criticized by the original creator, the sequel refreshingly improves a sizable amount, in some ways. It’s less linear, delivers more diversity, offers more two-player options, and—most importantly, and I’d argue necessarily—Bubsy can absorb a couple of hits. His movement has been improved as well, with floatiness and slippiness lessened. Although floating/gliding is still needed, as Bubsy is one fragile bobcat that does not always land on his feet. Still, it feels like it was approached with less modest aims. It remains a simpler platform game, though not simple in gameplay, as it’s still plenty challenging. Adjust to the even bigger maze-like levels, though, and you might find a more favorable experience, at least in terms of fundamentals.
Bubsy in Fractured Furry Tales came out just a couple of months after the sequel, and it’s no surprise it sold so poorly. Not only was it exclusive to the awful-selling Jaguar, but it also jettisons many of the improvements of its predecessor, as slippery control and one-hit fails return. Often, it’s impossible to see what actually hurts Bubsy (and his odd hitbox), as the losing animations are either too quick or aren’t played at all. Bizarrely, this is also the only game in this collection that doesn’t offer the option to enable invincibility against enemies. While admittedly, this would not be my first choice, if any game needs it, it’s this one. I haven’t used a rewind functionality this much since playing Trevor McFur in the Crescent Galaxy in the Atari 50th collection. You’ll burn through your nine lives quickly, unless you ignore Bubsy’s speed en masse and sluggishly make your way to a checkpoint in these huge levels. Owning a Jaguar as a kid, I can appreciate this entry’s modest improvements in color and music. But this game is clearly poor, a real step back, holding the distinction as the worst Bubsy game of all time.
But wait, surely Bubsy 3D on the PlayStation is worse? Nope. Forget that this pioneer had the ambition to move beyond the 16-bit sidescrollers. But for the purposes of this collection, that original might as well no longer exist. It’s still here to be played once and never again, thanks to Bubsy 3D Refurbished Edition. Now there’s camera movement that doesn’t reflect its origins as one of the first 3D platformers (development started in early 1995 with D-pad controls). This doesn’t elevate the game to greatness, but this exploratory collectathon is less rough and more playable than ever. Flat-shaded polygons and general weirdness appeal to my retro sensibilities, and I suspect they will also appeal to any other curious players. Even Bubsy’s voicework is tolerable, albeit no Gex.
Additional extras include a “Meowseum” for viewing advertisements, box art, manuals, and more. Curiously, most system identifiers are edited out (Super Nintendo is now just called “Super”, Game Boy is referred to as “Portable”), looking like bootlegs meant to trick grandma at the checkout. Only one game retains its hardware designation, the Jaguar. Even though Atari today barely resembles the one of the ‘90s, they still show some love to the system. Well, except for giving its game invincibility.
Video highlights include, but aren’t limited to, interviews with Bubsy artist Ken Macklin (Loom, Maniac Mansion, The Dig) and the cartoon pilot that I covered way back in PNM Issue #32. I haven’t found a way to pause or rewind these, so these thoughtful inclusions would’ve benefited from more attention to detail, perhaps forthcoming in a patch. I appreciate that everything is available from the start, as I imagine any unlock criteria would leave much of this inaccessible. There’s also a “Mewsic” player.
The Bubsy games have become unpopular as time has passed, but his collection does its best to make them more playable than they’ve ever been. You can relive the nostalgia of the first two 16-bit games, roll your eyes at that Jaguar entry, and experience the refurbished version of Bubsy 3D that makes the original no longer relevant, all with modern updates and extras. I’m happy to see Atari and Limited Run compile these games and make them available on modern hardware, even if they fall short of their titular “Purrfect” designation. Subjectively, their individual appeal might be narrow (one’s trash is another treasure), and some might not be convinced to join Bubsy’s small fandom. But collectively, this release does plenty right, and those with appreciative mindsets will find value here. It’s better than the sum of its parts.
