Why Bubsy 3D Is a Masterclass in Game Design
There are few other video games that have been as globally praised or had as much of an impact on the industry as Bubsy 3D. The 1996 platformer broke new ground by elevating gaming to the third dimension while also being a thoroughly engaging experience in its own right. Released exclusively for the original PlayStation console, making it one of the platform's best exclusives, the game was an instant classic and hit the top of the charts for sales and awards.
The top tier quality of Bubsy 3D is already pretty well known, but it is truly amazing to consider that it managed to stand out in a crowded pack in 1996, with other titles like Super Mario 64 and Crash Bandicoot also releasing. For this reason, it is worth revisiting what elements made Bubsy 3D work and helped to make it one of the greatest achievements in the history of video games.
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Prior to Bubsy 3D, hearing an actual human voiceover in a video game was a rare occurrence. If it did happen, these voiceover bits were usually quite brief or extremely pixilated in audio clarity. The early 90s Mortal Kombat arcade games as well as the opening line of Super Metroid are good examples of this. However, Bubsy 3D took what was a novelty and made it a core element of the game.
The developers were so proud of this achievement that the creative decision was made to have Bubsy repeat his lines of dialogue constantly throughout the game. Whenever the player fell, grabbed a key item, took damage or did anything else, Bubsy would shout out one of his comedic one-liners. The studio even took one extra step, realizing that comedy is subjective, and allowed players to turn off Bubsy's commentary in the settings
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