Bubsy: The Purrfect Collection Review - A Feline Trip Through Infamy
Last Updated: October 29, 2025
"What could possibly go wrong?"
For Bubsy the Bobcat, this iconic catchphrase has always felt more like a prophecy than a quippy one-liner. Bursting onto the 16-bit scene as a would-be mascot challenger to Mario and Sonic, Bubsy’s legacy is one of the most divisive in gaming history. Celebrated by some for its vibrant visuals and ambitious attitude, it's equally lambasted for its floaty controls, one-hit deaths, and punishing level design. Now, decades later, Atari and Limited Run Games have unleashed *Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection*, bundling the bobcat’s entire original saga into a single, modern package. As a historical artifact and a masterclass in game preservation, it succeeds admirably. But as a gameplay experience, it's a potent, often maddening, reminder of a very different era in platforming.
Four Games, One Infamous Legacy
For the uninitiated, Bubsy was a product of the 90s mascot boom. This collection gathers the four titles that defined—and arguably doomed—the character. Included are the original *Bubsy in: Claws Encounters of the Furred Kind* (SNES), its sequel *Bubsy II* (SNES/Genesis), the Atari Jaguar exclusive *Bubsy in: Fractured Furry Tales*, and, in a move of shocking archival bravery, the infamous *Bubsy 3D: Furbitten Planet* (PlayStation). Each game is presented through Limited Run’s Carbon Engine, ensuring a faithful emulation experience that feels authentic to the original hardware, for better and for worse.
The 2D Trilogy: A Study in Frustration
Playing through the first three games is an exercise in appreciating game design evolution by witnessing its absence. The original *Claws Encounters* is perhaps the most notorious. It’s a game of jarring contradictions; the levels are bright and sprawling, yet they are populated with enemies that blend into the background and hazards that offer no warning. The core issue, which persists through the 2D entries, is Bubsy’s momentum. He goes from zero to a hundred in an instant, making precise platforming a nightmare. Compounded by a brutal one-hit death system and catastrophic fall damage, every leap feels like a gamble where success is more often a product of luck than skill.
*Bubsy II* attempted to address some criticisms by giving Bubsy a Nerf-style gun and introducing a multiplayer mode, but it doubled down on the chaotic level design, creating confusing mazes that are a chore to navigate. *Fractured Furry Tales*, arguably the most polished of the 2D trio, benefits from the Jaguar's hardware with improved visuals but does little to fundamentally fix the slippery controls and frustrating design philosophy. The core DNA of high-speed, trial-and-error gameplay remains firmly intact.
The Elephant in the Room: Bubsy 3D
The most stunning inclusion here is *Bubsy 3D*. Widely regarded as one of the worst video games ever made, its presence transforms this collection from a simple retro bundle into a truly comprehensive historical document. Booting it up is like opening a time capsule from the awkward dawn of 3D gaming. The restrictive tank controls, barren environments, and disorienting camera make it a genuine struggle to play. Preserving it here, with all its flaws, is a bold choice that speaks to the collection's mission: to present the Bubsy legacy in its unvarnished, and often painful, entirety.
Modern Comforts for a Bygone Bobcat
Where *The Purrfect Collection* truly shines is in its presentation as a modern retro anthology. This is not a simple ROM dump; it’s a thoughtfully curated museum piece. The inclusion of modern quality-of-life features like save states, enhanced resolution, and a rewind function is absolutely essential. These tools transform the games from nearly unplayable relics into manageable, if still challenging, experiences. The rewind feature, in particular, mitigates the agony of cheap deaths, allowing players to learn level layouts without having to restart from a distant checkpoint. The collection also includes digital art galleries, interviews, and other historical assets that provide valuable context for the series' creation and reception. It's clear that as a work of preservation, this package ticks all the right boxes, treating its controversial source material with a respect its gameplay rarely earned.
The Verdict: A Collection for the Curious and the Courageous
*Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection* is a fascinating product. The underlying games range from deeply flawed to outright torturous, embodying some of the worst design trends of their respective eras. However, the collection itself is expertly assembled. The emulation is solid, the quality-of-life features are game-changers, and the bonus content adds significant value for gaming historians.
This isn't a collection for everyone. If you're looking for a tight, responsive platformer, you are far better served elsewhere. But for those with a nostalgic soft spot for the loudmouthed bobcat, or for younger players curious about one of gaming’s most notorious mascots, this is the definitive—and most palatable—way to experience his legacy. It’s a purrfectly preserved piece of history, warts, claws, and all.