Bubsy the Bobcat: Outer Space Water Slides

The Context: Bubsy the Bobcat was a 2D platformer for gamers who didn't think Sonic the Hedgehog was abrasive enough. Join this famous feline, as he takes fall damage, collects balls of yarn and annoys everybody he comes in contact with. And if that wasn't enough pain for you, from time to time players will uncover hidden bonus levels, which involve large water slides and collectables. If he can survive all of these obstacles, he'll live to play another day. But don't get too excited, because Bubsy's fifteen minutes of fame expired in 1996.

The Rules: Bubsy is stuck on a giant set of water slides, getting his fur wet and making it hard for him to pick up the balls of yarn. But look out, because if he's not careful he'll fall to his death and be forced to go back to the usual 2D platforming. Along the way he can jump from slide to slide, but it doesn't take long before the water wins out and the bonus stage concludes. Now go dry off.

The Verdict: This hastily assembled bonus stage represents everything that is wrong with Bubsy the Bobcat. The whole thing feels lazy. It's as if they had the parts for the water slides, so why not go that extra step and spend a few minutes on a bonus stage? I'm not a fan of that mindset, which may be why I had such a miserable time with these half-assed levels. Things only get where when you have Bubsy yelling at you between levels. This bonus sucks.

Completely Missing the Point: A cat seems like the perfect animal to base a 2D platformer on. After all, they have powerful claws that allow them to quickly climb up trees and hang from high areas. They are also independent, which would lead to a really cool loner character. They have enhanced vision at night, which I could see come into play in a dark stage. And yet, none of these abilities make it into any of the Bubsy games. It's as if they didn't even brainstorm ideas before deciding on the gameplay. Is it any wonder that nobody remembers these crummy games?