Bubsy. A name that many reading this that lived through the 16-Bit era probably never thought they would hear again after the abysmal Bubsy 3D on the original PlayStation. I mean, there were more recent releases such as Woolies Strike Back in 2017 (PS4 and PC) and Paws on Fire in 2019 (PS4 and PC) but nothing really “retro”. Until now. Bubsy In the Purrfect Collection is retro fans dream (nightmare?) come true. If you are a fan of Bubsy I do have bad news though. Limited Run games is handling this one. That could be good or bad depending on your feelings about their reputation with previous releases (D on 3DO for instance).
Even the Cheapest Option Has Tons of Stuff
I cannot fault either Atari or Limited Run Games for the sheer amount of content in even the cheapest to purchase option. You are getting five games across many platforms:
Bubsy in Claws Encounters of the Furred Kind (Super Nintendo, Super Famicom, Sega Genesis)
Bubsy II (Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis, Nintendo Game Boy)
Bubsy in Fractured Furry Tales (Atari Jaguar)
Bubsy 3D (PlayStation)
That is eight platforms represented in this collection. Fans cannot say they forgot one release or version or whatever with this collection.
Then on top of that, the PlayStation version has full analog support (similar to what happened with Croc’s re-release).
Other games in this collection will feature things such as screen filters, borders, and even rewinding the gameplay (a feature most popular emulators offer).
Non-Gaming Knick Knacks
The extras just keep coming. Non-gaming extra content includes interviews with various people central to Bubsy, comics, media appearances (magazines for instance), and even the pilot episode of the Bubsy cartoon.
That is all included in every version of this collection. Atari are offering 3 tiers ranging from $35 to $150 depending on what extras you want.
Depending on your level of interest in Bubsy, this may be a no brainer. Considering the very economical price of the standard edition at $35 this should be worth it for you even if you only want one or two of the games.
Were you a Bubsy fan? Let me know in the comments below. Me personally, no, I was not. I am not a fan of games where the screen jerks into place when you turn (Gex was my first experience with this). I prefer the game letting you move a bit to about halfway before it begins scrolling. When trying to avoid an enemy behind you, screen jerk effectively hides them so you are at a disadvantage.
I think Babsy is definitely a big step in retro gaming history. And bringing releases together across all platforms is not only nostalgic but also a preservation effort for future generations. I think initiatives like this will further broaden gaming culture.
I am impressed with the lengths they went to include pretty much all of Bubsy's classic releases. Nothing but respect to them for that.