Bubsy II
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''Bubsy 2'' (stylized as ''Bubsy II'') is a platform video game, the sequel to '' Bubsy in Claws Encounters of the Furred Kind'', and the second game in the '' Bubsy'' series. It was originally released by
Accolade The accolade (also known as dubbing, adoubement, or knighting) () was the central act in the rite of passage Ceremony, ceremonies conferring knighthood in the Middle Ages. Etymology The term ''accolade'' entered English by 1591, when Thomas ...
in 1994 for the
Sega Genesis The Sega Genesis, known as the outside North America, is a 16-bit Fourth generation of video game consoles, fourth generation home video game console developed and sold by Sega. It was Sega's third console and the successor to the Master Sys ...
,
Super NES The Super Nintendo Entertainment System, commonly shortened to Super Nintendo, Super NES or SNES, is a 16-bit home video game console developed by Nintendo that was released in 1990 in Japan, 1991 in North America, 1992 in Europe and Oceania a ...
, and
Game Boy The is a handheld game console developed by Nintendo, launched in the Japanese home market on April 21, 1989, followed by North America later that year and other territories from 1990 onwards. Following the success of the Game & Watch single-ga ...
, and re-released for
Windows Windows is a Product lining, product line of Proprietary software, proprietary graphical user interface, graphical operating systems developed and marketed by Microsoft. It is grouped into families and subfamilies that cater to particular sec ...
through
Steam Steam is water vapor, often mixed with air or an aerosol of liquid water droplets. This may occur due to evaporation or due to boiling, where heat is applied until water reaches the enthalpy of vaporization. Saturated or superheated steam is inv ...
on December 17, 2015.


Story

A new
theme park An amusement park is a park that features various attractions, such as rides and games, and events for entertainment purposes. A theme park is a type of amusement park that bases its structures and attractions around a central theme, often fea ...
is announced. Bubsy, Arnold, and Bubsy's younger twin relatives are excited. Fearing that the place might get too crowded, the twins decide to break into the theme park on the eve of its opening day. The theme park, operated by a corrupt
entrepreneur Entrepreneurship is the creation or extraction of economic value in ways that generally entail beyond the minimal amount of risk (assumed by a traditional business), and potentially involving values besides simply economic ones. An entreprene ...
, Oinker P. Hamm, features
virtual world A virtual world (also called a virtual space or spaces) is a Computer simulation, computer-simulated environment which may be populated by many simultaneous users who can create a personal Avatar (computing), avatar and independently explore th ...
s of certain themes.


Gameplay

The game plays very similar to the prior game in the series, as a 2D sidescrolling
platformer A platformer (also called a platform game, and sometimes a jump 'n' run game) is a subgenre of action game in which the core objective is to move the player character between points in an environment. Platform games are characterized by levels wi ...
. Unlike the first game where playing through the stages is linear, in ''Bubsy II'' the player gets to choose stages. The player must still maneuver Bubsy through the level through jumping and gliding, and Bubsy still collects objects, only now they're marbles instead of yarn balls. The game features more variety than its predecessor. One new feature in the game was the ability to shoot a
Nerf Nerf is a toy brand formed by Parker Brothers and currently owned by Hasbro. Most of the toys are a variety of Foam weapon, foam-based weaponry, with other Nerf products including balls for sports such as American football, basketball, an ...
Ballzooka gun. A
multiplayer A multiplayer video game is a video game in which more than one person can play in the same game environment at the same time, either locally on the same computing system (couch co-op), on different computing systems via a local area network, or ...
mode was added as well, where a second player could control one of Bubsy's younger relatives. Bubsy can now take three hits before losing a life.


Development

Planning for the game started as early as a few months prior to the release of the first ''Bubsy'' game, with team members coming up with three possible scenarios for the game, none of them involving the first game's antagonists "The Woolies". A pilot for an animated TV show adaptation titled ''What Could Possibly Go Wrong?'' aired on Thanksgiving Day. Some characters from the TV pilot appeared in the second game. The sequel moved into full production after the first game was released and was a commercial success. However, a different, new development team within Accolade was responsible for making the game, without original designer Michael Berlyn's assistance. Like the original, the
Sega Genesis The Sega Genesis, known as the outside North America, is a 16-bit Fourth generation of video game consoles, fourth generation home video game console developed and sold by Sega. It was Sega's third console and the successor to the Master Sys ...
and
Super NES The Super Nintendo Entertainment System, commonly shortened to Super Nintendo, Super NES or SNES, is a 16-bit home video game console developed by Nintendo that was released in 1990 in Japan, 1991 in North America, 1992 in Europe and Oceania a ...
versions are virtually identical, but the
Game Boy The is a handheld game console developed by Nintendo, launched in the Japanese home market on April 21, 1989, followed by North America later that year and other territories from 1990 onwards. Following the success of the Game & Watch single-ga ...
version is drastically different, with different level designs and only black-and-white graphics, unless played on a
Super Game Boy The is a peripheral that allows Game Boy cartridges to be played on a Super Nintendo Entertainment System console. Released in June 1994, it retailed for in the United States and in the United Kingdom. In South Korea, it is called the Supe ...
, which applied very basic coloring.


Promotion

A lottery was put up where the grand prize winner would have a 3-day trip to Hollywood as well as a tour of the studio where the Bubsy TV special was created. First prize winners were awarded shirts, while second prizer winners were awarded patches.


Reception

Much like the first game, ''Bubsy II'' received mostly positive reviews. ''Mean Machines Sega Magazine'' gave the Genesis version a rating of 84 and a very positive review stating "The sequel has cleared up all the problems in the playability stakes - Bubsy is given a chance to show us his tricks." Italian magazine ''Consolemania'' gave the Genesis version 83. Spanish magazine ''Super Juegos'' gave both the Genesis and SNES versions 88. ''TodoSega'', another Spanish magazine, gave 90 for the Genesis version. French magazine ''Supersonic'' gave the Genesis version 91%. ''
Electronic Games ''Electronic Games'' was the first dedicated video game magazine published in the United States and ran from October 15, 1981, to 1997 under different titles. It was co-founded by Bill Kunkel, Joyce Worley, and Arnie Katz. History The h ...
'' gave the SNES version an A−, praising the humor and non-linear game play. The magazine gave the Genesis version an A, approving the visuals, music, and game play. They also gave the Game Boy port an A, highlighting the game play, and the graphics which they regard as outstanding for a game of the system. ''
GamePro ''GamePro'' was an American multiplatform video game magazine media company that published online and print content covering the video game industry, video game hardware and video game software. The magazine featured content on various video ...
'' gave the SNES version a positive review. While they commented that the new features are initially confusing and that some of the level designs are not as charming or original as those of the first game, they concluded, "Bubsy's personality is still the top draw in ''Bubsy II'', a new kind of adventure that's a definite change of pace for the irascible feline." They were generally complimentary to the Genesis version as well, voicing approval for the multiple paths through each stage, the special items, the new minigames, and the improved controls over the first game. However, they commented that the game is boringly easy for experienced players. ''GamePro'' thoroughly panned the Game Boy version, saying that none of the character's charming personality is retained in this version, which also suffers from sloppy controls, dull enemies, slow-paced gameplay, and graphics which are poor even by Game Boy standards. ''
Electronic Gaming Monthly ''Electronic Gaming Monthly'' (''EGM'') is a monthly American video game magazine. It offers video game news, coverage of industry events, interviews with gaming figures, editorial content and product reviews. History The magazine was fou ...
'', in sharp contrast, commented of the Game Boy version that "Even if you never played ubsybefore, this is a good introduction", and scored it a 6 out of 10. In retrospect,
IGN ''IGN'' is an American video gaming and entertainment media website operated by IGN Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Ziff Davis, Inc. The company's headquarters is located in San Francisco's SoMa district and is headed by its former e ...
conceded that the gameplay had generally been cleaned up, but still felt the game lacked originality, stating "...the game just never quite gelled. Coming in only a year after the original Bubsy meant corner-cutting, which manifested itself in the art direction and enemy design. Too many assets are reused and some of the stages, such as the music levels, are just uninspired." ''Hardcore Gaming 101'' echoed these sentiments, saying the game "''Bubsy 2'' is definitely an improvement,...but the designers simply cranked the dial up from 'pile of junk' to 'terribly mediocre'." Original Bubsy creator Michael Berlyn, who was not involved in this game of the series, has strongly criticized the game, stating that it "just about killed the franchise" and that "Accolade’s choices about doing ''Bubsy II'' in-house with the development team selected was a mistake that pretty much buried him...''Bubsy II'' failed due to mismanagement of the character. It was done by people who, no matter how talented and interested they may have been, had not understood the original vision".


Notes


References


External links

* {{Bubsy series 1994 video games Accolade, Inc. games Bubsy Game Boy games Multiplayer and single-player video games Platformers Sega Genesis games Side-scrolling video games Super Nintendo Entertainment System games Video game sequels Video games developed in the United States Video games set in amusement parks