When a game comes across the Console Creatures desk and I’m told it’s “a Dave ass game,” I suspect it’s either retro-inspired or a wacky and sometimes odd indie game. I’m down for both of these, of course.
This time, the available titles fit perfectly into the retro category with Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection. This is the latest in a ’90s era revival of an older franchise, this time from publisher Atari and developed by Limited Run Games.
If you’re unfamiliar with Bubsy, just think of the cartoon bobcat as a mix between Sonic and the dozens of other 2D platformers from the early 1990s. There are some elements that set each game apart, but nowadays the franchise seems to be best known for its relatively lacklustre Bubsy 3D from 1996.
This collection encompasses all the titles and their various versions, including an updated version for 3D. This is a welcome addition, but the real meat here comes from the added content; I’m just not sure it was enough for me, personally, to enjoy the full package minute-to-minute.
The Snarky Feline is Back
If you were around or have looked back fondly, like I have, at the SNES and Genesis days, Bubsy may have missed you. The Saturday morning cartoon rascal could’ve easily been missed among the dozens of creations and mascots that were flooding our TVs through games, commercials, and shows. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection is in a strange place, much like the games themselves that fill this title.
There’s a solid amount of titles in this collection, but the quality and the style of platforming gameplay may not hit with everyone. The original and Bubsy II control very similarly, with some momentum in the titular character’s movement and some very floaty jumping. The whole franchise is filled with wacky locations and characters, and it’s nice to see these unique creations on a newer, brighter screen. Playing most of this on my Steam Deck, it also controlled and felt good in my hands and on the go.
Lots of Games, Lots of Frustration
As I mentioned above, The Purrfect Collection compiles the few games that Bubsy himself has starred in. Unfortunately, there’s not much there to choose from. While I spent a couple of hours in each, not many of them felt all that different. Numerous versions of the original are here, taking up nearly half the lineup. On the flip side, the rare (and my favourite of the bunch) title from the Atari Jaguar is available and one that even the biggest Bubsy fan may have missed back in the day.
Bubsy 3D is also an odd beast. The original version is here, as well as what Limited Run Games and Atari call an updated, more modern ROM. 3D has been touted as one of the worst 3D platformers of the generation, and sadly, after playing both versions, I may have to agree. The game looks better and has a much more intuitive camera to work with, but the gameplay itself is really chunky, sluggish, and unforgiving. It’s hard to recommend spending too much time on this one, especially when you can load up other retro titles from 1996 and the era that are far, far better.
There are some added features for each and every game as well, including a nice CRT TV filter, save states, and a rewind feature. All of these we’ve seen before, but for much of this franchise, something like a rewind feature now feels almost necessary to play.
Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection‘s Various Bonus Features
So let’s get to the bonus features as well, one of the main reasons any fan would want to grab Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection. We’ve seen Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Cowabunga Collection in the past compile dozens of bonus features, and this game seems to be doing the same. A lot of it is just a series of photos or ads from the time, but the best parts are the high-resolution manuals and the extensive interviews with Bubsy creators and developers.
Hearing about some of the concepts and ideas they had years before the first game even hit shelves is very cool. Picking the brains of industry and artistic veterans is something we’re getting more and more of, and it’s nice to see their knowledge and enthusiasm over a set of games that may not have had much of a chance to shine 30+ years ago.
The games themselves are also ported to modern hardware using Limited Runs’ Carbon Engine. According to the team and developers, they use it to “smooth out edges” and not completely recreate retro titles. I personally had a couple of audio issues, especially on Bubsy 3D, but nothing game-breaking and not enough to deter me from playing more (that’s the game’s problem, not the developers’).
In the past, the Carbon Engine has been known to have some problems, but the team at Limited Run does appear to be on top of things.
Hello everyone! We are aware that a handful of Carbon Engine Switch games currently have issues with the Switch 2’s backwards compatibility. Thankfully, in the two weeks we have had development hardware for the Switch 2, we successfully located the culprit in code and have… pic.twitter.com/uLsfBanmSb
— Limited Run Games (@LimitedRunGames) June 8, 2025
Verdict
Just like other retro collections and compilations, if you’re a fan of the franchise and the hardware these are coming from, you’ll likely get more out of it. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection might seem like an odd choice to some, but there is at least a good opportunity to go back to more old-school titles on modern hardware. There is some fun to be had in these titles, don’t get me wrong, but it’s not enough to offset the rest of the hurdles and platforming frustration.
The bonus features in the Meowseum (yes, you read that right) are mostly well done, but aside from the manuals and some interviews, the rest can be skimmed through quite quickly. I wish most of the games themselves were better, I’d have an easier time recommending this to everyone or coming back to them in the future. Unfortunately, I don’t think that will be the case.
[The publisher provided a copy of the game for review purposes.]
Reviewed on: PC
Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection Review – Impurrfection
Summary
Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection is full of lacklustre platformers and a set of bonus features that are hit and miss. It’s hard to wholeheartedly recommend this wacky collection if you’re not already a huge fan of this cartoon feline.
Liked
Interesting and insightful interviews
Camera improvements to Bubsy 3D help
Rare Atari Jaguar game is a great addition
Didn’t Like
The games don’t hold up like many others from the era
Most of the titles are the first game on different consoles
Controls may feel better, but platforming is still a chore
