Bubsy 4D review – It’s certainly better than Bubsy 3D…

He’s nearly as old as some of the most well-known platforming protagonists such as Mario, Sonic and Rayman, but he’s not anywhere near as famous. Perhaps it’s because his first foray into 3D was utterly disastrous, with Bubsy 3D considered by some to be one of the worst games of all time. But now he’s back in another 3D adventure. Thankfully, Bubsy 4D is a vast improvement on the last attempt, though it still pales in comparison to the best in the genre.

Bubsy 4D finds the wise-cracking bobcat taking off into space, landing on multiple alien planets to deal with a new threat called BaaBots. These robotic sheep, created by Bubsy’s longstanding enemy The Woolies, don’t actually pose that much of a threat in Bubsy 4D though: enemy encounters are light compared to the platforming on offer. Though you will encounter the odd troublesome boss as you progress, forcing you to put your moveset to good use.

This is very much a collectathon type of 3D platformer, with some 150 balls of wool to be found in each level as well as a blueprint which you’ll have to work hard to track down. With that, the levels are fairly open, at least at times. There is a direct route through each, complete with challenging obstacles and checkpoints to be found along the way. But if you want to find everything, you’ll have to go off the beaten path when given the opportunity, as well as have a keen eye.

To move around the world, Bubsy has been granted an extended moveset. Right from the off he can double jump, glide and pounce, the latter being used to dispatch enemies as well as quickly move forward through the air. Taking a leaf out of Sonic’s book, Bubsy now has a new ball form, too, allowing him to roll around at speed and bounce. He gets a little unwieldy when in this form, though, which can lead to some unfortunate incidents. And like in most 3D platformers, the camera can be a pain at times.

More moves can be acquired by finding Blueprints in levels, as well as some useful upgrades, but they’re pretty inconsequential to the overall experience. Various outfits can be unlocked, too, to give Bubsy a new look. Overall, though, this feels like quite a light and breezy game, with just three worlds to visit and conquer. That said, it is budget priced, and with levels designed with speedrunning in mind, fans will certainly get their money’s worth.

Bubsy 4D isn’t bad, then, but the likes of Mario and Crash Bandicoot can rest easy knowing that it’s no threat. Taking control of Bubsy is generally fun, outside of the occasional camera and control issues, and while the visuals are a mixed bag, they are at least bold and colourful. It doesn’t revolutionise or push forward the 3D platforming genre in any way, but if you just want to spend more time with Bubsy or enjoy hunting down collectibles and negotiating platforms, it gets the job done.

This review of Bubsy 4D is based on the PS5 version, with a code provided by the game’s publisher. It’s available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, Switch 2 and PC. Physical copies are available on Switch and Switch 2, which include a user manual, art book and double-sided poster.