Introduction

Bubsy 4D is the unexpected comeback kid of the platforming world: a neon-orange bobcat who somehow survived the great mascot dumpster fire of the late '90s and returned wearing an open button-up and a red tie. Developed by Fabraz and published by Atari, this 3D platformer marks Bubsy's first proper 3D outing in almost 30 years. On Xbox One, Bubsy 4D feels like a mixtape assembled by someone nostalgic for N64-era tomfoolery, but trying very hard not to trip over the same banana peels. It's cheeky, occasionally brilliant, and sometimes baffling - much like the cat himself.

Gameplay

Bubsy 4D leans into the series' classic platforming roots while bolting on a few spicy new toys. Movement is built around jumping and gliding - the latter being Bubsy's signature move since forever - but Fabraz adds a couple of new tricks to keep things lively. Enter "Hairball Mode": mash the right inputs and Bubsy condenses himself into a fast-spinning orange ball, hurtling through sections with physics that nod to Super Monkey Ball. It's an oddly satisfying break from regular platforming that turns certain corridors into chaotic pinball tables. The game is structured across three themed planets - Wooltopia, Craftus, and Metalurgia - each with five levels. That's fifteen levels in total, which makes for a compact campaign that rarely overstays its welcome. Levels are fairly varied: you'll be platforming, dodging hazards, grinding through speed sections, and facing puzzle-ish bits that reward exploration. Yarn is scattered across stages and functions as currency in an in-game shop where you buy outfits and cosmetics. Hidden blueprints are tucked away too; collect enough and you'll open new upgrades and optional abilities, including the delightfully masochistic tank-controls mode that pays tribute to Bubsy 3D. If you've ever wanted to suffer like it's 1996, there's an option for that. Combat is straightforward and mostly consists of stomps, glides, and using the environment to your advantage. Boss fights are colorful affairs: the BaaBots and their leaders - Baarbee, Baartholomeo, and Baaptiste - bring a mix of pattern-based attacks and spectacle. Baaptiste's attempt to convert Bubsy into a cyborg is peak videogame melodrama and ends with the sort of space ejection you only see in budget sci-fi. If you're here for the narrative, the plot is charmingly silly: sheep abducted to create a robot army, the Golden Fleece in peril, and Bubsy reluctantly doing hero work because nobody else seems qualified to be more sarcastic. The game encourages replay through a time trial mode with online leaderboards, letting you race against ghosts of other players. Speedrunners and completionists will find value here - shaving seconds off levels and chasing leaderboards is surprisingly addictive. Level design tends to favor short, focused challenges, which makes time trials feel fair and fun rather than a chore. Progression is tidy: unlocks feel meaningful without ever becoming a grind, and the shop is a lighthearted place to dump odd bits of yarn currency on outfits that make Bubsy look like a cat who shops at both thrift stores and comic-con. There are rough edges. Certain camera angles and platforming sections can become annoyingly precise; this is an old 3D-platforming problem wearing a new coat of paint. A couple of moves feel underexplained early on, leaving players to learn by trial - and often error. Still, Fabraz mostly avoids the vicious level design of early 3D platformers and, in moments where it leans into chaos, it manages to keep things playful rather than punishing.

Graphics

Visuals in Bubsy 4D are a pleasant surprise. Built in Unity, the game favors a bright, cel-shaded aesthetic that flatters its cartoony characters and makes every planet look like a theme park designed by an overenthusiastic art director. The redesigns are snappy: Bubsy sports an open shirt and a red tie meant to remind you of his old exclamation-mark T-shirt, which somehow manages to say "retro" and "cocky newscaster" at the same time. Cutscenes are fully voiced (Bubsy gets a new voice courtesy of Sean Chiplock), and the performance work adds personality to the quips and fourth-wall jokes. Animation is snappy where it counts - the glides feel weighty, the spin of Hairball Mode sells momentum, and boss animations give a satisfying sense of scale. Environments are frequently charming, even when they're a bit on-the-nose (Craftus looks like a craft store exploded and Metalurgia is all metal and attitude). Texture detail won't win any awards on the Xbox One, but the stylized art direction hides those limits well. The soundtrack, composed by Fat Bard, complements the action with jaunty, memorable tracks that fit the goofy vibe. Overall, Bubsy 4D looks like a modern indie taking loving aim at retro 3D platformers - sometimes it nails the nostalgia, sometimes it trips on it, but it's rarely boring.

Conclusion

Bubsy 4D is not a masterclass in platforming, but it's a competent and often charming reminder that a game can be both silly and well-made. Fabraz has taken a historically divisive mascot, given him some modern mechanics, and wrapped everything in a personality-heavy package that knows when to wink and when to actually challenge you. Reception has been mixed - Metacritic averages sit in the 60s on several platforms and OpenCritic shows a split opinion - and that's fair: the game's quirks delight some players and frustrate others. If you're an Xbox One owner with a soft spot for weird mascots, speedrunning, or just want a short, colorful platformer that doesn't take itself too seriously, Bubsy 4D is worth a look. It's best enjoyed in bite-sized sessions, preferably with a comfy controller and a willingness to laugh at its more absurd moments. Fans of retro 3D platformers will appreciate the nods and the optional tank controls; newcomers will find enough polish and personality to make Bubsy a decent pick for a weekend. It isn't perfect, and it won't convert every cynic, but for a gobsmackingly orange cat trying to reinvent himself in 3D, Bubsy 4D mostly lands on its feet - even if those feet are sometimes inexplicably glued to a moving platform.

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