Digital Foundry Retro: Bubsy

[chandoog]

I've never actually played any of the Bubsy games, only know them through osmosis.

 

[Firebrand]

 

[Alwayscrazybacon]

Who got all the mascots right?

Mean Yob out of nowhere!

 

[Phhhh]

That first game is so good. I feel like I played it every day for months on end until I finally beat it. I was so disappointed with 2 when it came out. Are the new new ones any good?

 

[Noema]

As an old man, I can corroborate that the hype for Bubsy was real. Not only did it review well, there were pages long features plastered all over Gamepro and EGM (a lot of them sponsored). I distinctly remember a piece that showed a behind the scenes look at how the game was made, and how the sprites were drawn and animated and they boasted it had better animation than any other Platformer at the time. It actually made me want to play the game.

 

[andymcc]

As an old man, I can corroborate that the hype for Bubsy was real. Not only did it review well, there were pages long features plastered all over Gamepro and EGM (a lot of them sponsored). I distinctly remember a piece that showed a behind the scenes look at how the game was made, and how the sprites were drawn and animated. It actually made me want to play the game.

The first game in particular was advertised like Sonic.

 

[Temtastic Muns]

As a game itself, I don't remember much about Bubsy, but that title theme is FOREVER seared into my mind. So catchy!

 

[Betelgeuse]

Bubsy really hates pants, huh?

 

[WaistWelJa]

I actually played that apparently very rare PC version back in the day.

 

[low-G]

Yeah I was aware of the Bubsy 1 SNES hype wave in the day. I kept pestering the rental places about the game (also recall doing that for Star Fox). I thought the game was good. I wanted to own it, but it wasn’t as high priority as other games.

I really liked the visual theme for the first few levels.

 

[Audi]

I'm glad this episode is out. We had so much fun making it. John is an absolute mad man and went to town on this production.

 

[low-G]

Sneaky stealth edit there. ;)

You're right, though, great track. I avoided using Bubsy music because, well, it's not that good.

I was wondering how many viewers would think that was a Bubsy song and say “hey this song is good!”

What’s the JPOP MIDI song during Bubsy 2 GB?

Also I don’t recognize the gothic sounding tune at BUbsy Jaguar

 

[metsallica]

My brothers and I were legit excited for Bubsy SNES and we certainly lied to ourselves that it was a good game! I do think the new Choice Provisions one has an actual shot at being fun but mostly because I love what those guys do.

 

[SMD]

Bubsy 3D and Earthworm Jim 3D nearly put me off gaming forever. Love the episode, won't ever go back to the games though!

 

[muteKi]

Check out the frame-rate on Awesome Possum.

https://youtu.be/I8dgHI3lP_g?t=53

It really is like that.

Considering how much of the game is ill-considered and kinda garbage (something something consumerist activism) it's shocking to me that the lip-syncing animations actually work half as well as they do. Like, it clearly must have been the only thing they actually put any attention to detail toward.

 

[MrCunningham]

Ulillillia better make an appearance in this episode....

Also, I had one of the unlicensed Bubsy Genesis carts back in the day. But I remember pawning it off. Bubsy actually was a hyped game back in the day. Many different gaming magazines were genuinely excited and it did review fairly well. Bubsy was never really a great game IMO. It has good elements in it and isn't one of the worst platformers from that era. The game fell short in it's final release. The sequel was terrible though.

 

[Lord Error]

Awesome video - loved the Bubsy historian. Also, John, thank you for introducing me to Bubsy 3D: Bubsy Visits the James Turrell Retrospective. This is something I absolutely can't want to go home and play now.

 

[Schlomo]

I remember the hype for this, mainly based on how attractive it looked for the time and the all-out marketing campaign. But then it only received a 70% rating in the biggest German video game mag at the time, so that hype was pretty much deflated. I actually rented it for a weekend and probably didn't see more than the first stage due to the difficulty.

 

[Dark1x]

I'm glad this episode is out. We had so much fun making it. John is an absolute mad man and went to town on this production.

There he is! The man, the myth, the legend. This was a great video to make together.

...just wait until next year. ;)

 

[Skyebaron]

This was fantastic. Who in their right mind would do this with Bubsy? An absolute madman. I salute you DF.

 

[Audi]

There he is! The man, the myth, the legend. This was a great video to make together.

...just wait until next year. ;)

The world is not prepared for what you have in store...

The hardest part of making this video was playing Bubsy 2 all the way through... Multiple times...

 

[Pop-O-Matic]

Maybe so if I pick one up. I would like to. Just need to look into it first.

A MiSTer or a fursona?

 

[Audi]

A MiSTer or a fursona?

John's fursona is an awesome possum