Bubsy: The Woolies Strike Back: Difference between revisions

{{short description|2017 platform video game}}

| publisher = {{Unbulleted list|[[Tommo]] {{small|(PC)}}|[[UFO Interactive Games]] {{smallefn|Under the [[Accolade (PS4company)}}|Accolade]] label.}}

| platforms = {{Unbulleted list|[[MicrosoftPlayStation Windows4]], |[[PlayStation 4Windows]]}}

| released = {{Video31 game release|WW|October 31, 2017}}

| producer = {{Unbulleted list|Christian Kruger<br />|Dennis Schiefer}}

| designer = {{Unbulleted list|Rolf Beismann<br />|Stefan Schmitz}}

| composer = {{Unbulleted list|[[Chris Huelsbeck]]<br />[[|Fabian Del Priore]]}}

'''''Bubsy: The Woolies Strike Back''''' is a [[platform game|platform video game]] developed by [[Black Forest Games]] and published by [[UFO Interactive Games]] under the [[Accolade (company)|Accolade]] label.<ref name="publishercitation">{{cite web|title=Accolade returns with new Bubsy game|url=http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/accolade-returns-with-new-bubsy-game/0183543|website=MCV|publisher=NewBay Media|accessdate=10 June 2017|date=9 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170613135234/http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/accolade-returns-with-new-bubsy-game/0183543#|archive-date=2017-06-13|url-status=dead|df=}}</ref> The gameIt was released for [[MicrosoftPlayStation Windows4]] and [[PlayStation 4Windows]] on October 31, October 2017. The game is the fifth entryinstallment in the ''[[Bubsy]]'' series, and the first new entry in 21 years since ''[[Bubsy 3D]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=httphttps://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2017-06-08-accolade-brand-returns-with-a-new-bubsy-game |title=Accolade brand returns with a new Bubsy game |last=Sinclair |first=Brendan |date=8 June 2017 |website=GamesIndustry.biz |publisher=[[Gamer Network]] |access-date=30 April 2023 |archive-date=30 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230430073452/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/accolade-brand-returns-with-a-new-bubsy-game |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="rockpapershotgun.com">{{cite webnews|url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/06/09/bubsy-the-woolies-strike-back-announced/|title=What could possibly go wrong? New Bubsy announced|first=Alice|last=O'Connor|website=[[Rock Paper Shotgun]]|date=9 June 2017|publisher=|access-date=9 June 2017|archive-date=9 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170609142556/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/06/09/bubsy-the-woolies-strike-back-announced/|url-status=live}}</ref>

''Bubsy: The gameWoolies Strike Back'' returns to the [[2D computer graphics|2D]] [[side-scrolling]] [[platformPlatform game#Scrolling movement|platformer]] gameplay found in the first ''[[Bubsy]]'' games,: ''[[Bubsy in: Claws Encounters of the Furred Kind]]'', ''[[Bubsy II]]'' and ''[[Bubsy in: Fractured Furry Tales]]'',;<ref>{{cite web|url=https://venturebeat.com/2017/06/08/bubsy-is-returning-from-mascot-platformer-hell-to-torment-us-all/|title=Bubsy is returning from mascot platformer hell to torment us all|date=8 June 2017|publisher=|access-date=9 June 2017|archive-date=9 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170609130330/https://venturebeat.com/2017/06/08/bubsy-is-returning-from-mascot-platformer-hell-to-torment-us-all/|url-status=live}}</ref> albeit now with [[3D computer graphics|3D]] character [[3D modeling|models]], a first for the side-scrolling entries in the series.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.avclub.com/article/nostalgia-mining-reaches-perilous-low-return-bubsy-256536|title=Nostalgia mining reaches perilous low with the return of Bubsy The Cat|website=[[The A.V. Club]]|date=8 June 2017|publisher=|access-date=9 June 2017|archive-date=11 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170611070156/http://www.avclub.com/article/nostalgia-mining-reaches-perilous-low-return-bubsy-256536|url-status=live}}</ref>

The game sees Bubsy going against the Woolies, the antagonistic race of creatures from the first ''Bubsy'' game and ''Bubsy 3D'', who have stolen Bubsy's prized Golden [[Wool|Fleece]]. Bubsy must get through 10 challenging levels and 3 boss fights to get his yarn back.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://gematsu.com/2017/06/accolade-returns-announces-bubsy-woolies-strike-back-ps4-pc|title=Accolade returns, announces Bubsy: The Woolies Strike Back for PS4, PC - Gematsu|date=8 June 2017|publisher=Gematsu.com|access-date=9 June 2017|archive-date=11 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170611125739/http://gematsu.com/2017/06/accolade-returns-announces-bubsy-woolies-strike-back-ps4-pc|url-status=live}}</ref>

The game was first announced onin June 8, 2017, as a brand-new game in the ''[[Bubsy]]'' series of video games.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2017-06-08-bubsy-returns-in-his-first-game-in-21-years|title=Bubsy returns in his first game in 21 years|first=Jeffrey|last=Matulef|website=[[Eurogamer]]|date=8 June 2017|publisher=|access-date=9 June 2017|archive-date=9 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170609013353/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2017-06-08-bubsy-returns-in-his-first-game-in-21-years|url-status=live}}</ref> The entry is the first one in the series in 21 years, following 1996's ''[[Bubsy 3D]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.siliconera.com/2017/06/09/bubsy-makes-return-videogames-first-time-21-years/|title=Bubsy Makes His Return To Videogames For The First Time In 21 Years|date=9 June 2017|publisher=|access-date=9 June 2017|archive-date=10 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170610194528/http://www.siliconera.com/2017/06/09/bubsy-makes-return-videogames-first-time-21-years/|url-status=live}}</ref> The game was announced as the first of many game franchise revivals of [[Accolade (company)|Accolade]] games (which, along with ''Bubsy'', is a brand name now operated by [[Hong Kong]] company Billionsoft<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billionsoftware.com/|title=Billionsoft|website=Billionsoft|access-date=31 October 2017|archive-date=6 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210606083440/https://www.billionsoftware.com/|url-status=live}}</ref>), including potential revivals of ''[[HardBall!]]'', ''[[Slave Zero]]'', ''[[Deadlock: Planetary Conquest]]'', ''[[Eradicator (video game)|Eradicator]]'', and ''[[Redline (1999 video game)|Redline]]''.<ref name="rockpapershotgun.com"/> The game was published by [[Tommo]]'s subsidiary [[UFO Interactive Games]], and developed by [[Black Forest Games]], who previously worked on reviving the dormant ''[[The Great Giana Sisters|Giana Sisters]]'' series with ''[[Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams]]''.<ref name="IGN">{{cite web |url=httphttps://www.ign.com/articles/2017/06/08/bubsy-the-woolies-strike-back-announced |title=Bubsy: The Woolies Strike Back Announced|first=Evan |last=Campbell |first=Evan |date=8 June 2017 |website=[[IGN]] |publisher=[[Ziff Davis]] |access-date=30 April 2023 |archive-date=9 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809035051/https://www.ign.com/articles/2017/06/08/bubsy-the-woolies-strike-back-announced |url-status=live }}</ref> Like ''Twisted Dreams'', the game was developed using the [[Havok (software)|Havok]] physics engine.<ref>{{cite web|urlname=http://za.ign.com/bubsy-the-woolies-strike-back/107377/news/bubsy-the-woolies-strike-back-announced|title=Bubsy:"IGN" The Woolies Strike Back Announced|date=9 June 2017|publisher=}}</ref> To make ''Bubsy: The Woolies Strike Back'' an improvement over previous games in the series, Black Forest Games reduced Bubsy's acceleration time, and applied better traction, thus giving the player better control of the character.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://techraptor.net/contentgaming/interview/talk-with-developers-behind-new-bubsy |title=A Talk With The Developers Behind The New Bubsy |last=Parsons |first=Don |date=30 October 2017 |website=TechRaptor}}</ref>

In August 2017, aA limited edition, called the ''Purrfect Edition'', was announced for the PlayStation 4 release, which contains a physical copy of the game, a soundtrack CD, a copy of Bubsy's official "business card", and a "Mystery Bubsy Movie Poster postcard".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.accoladegame.com/single-post/2017/08/23/Bubsy-annouces-October-31th-release-date-for-regular-and-limited-edition-version|title=Bubsy announces October 31st release date for regular and limited edition version|date=22 August 2017|publisher=Official Accolade Game website|access-date=28 August 2017|archive-date=15 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215122408/https://www.accoladegame.com/single-post/2017/08/23/Bubsy-annouces-October-31th-release-date-for-regular-and-limited-edition-version|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The game announcement was generally not well-received by video game journalists, whose reactions ranged from indifference to irritation.<ref name="VG247">{{cite web|url=https://www.vg247.com/2017/06/09/bubsys-back-and-even-sonic-is-being-mean-about-it/|title=Bubsy’sBubsy's back, and even Sonic is being mean about it|publisherdate=9 June 2017|access-date=9 June 2017|archive-date=9 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170609085840/https://www.vg247.com/2017/06/09/bubsys-back-and-even-sonic-is-being-mean-about-it/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.polygon.com/2017/6/8/15762950/a-new-bubsy-video-game|title=Bubsy ... they’rethey're making another one of those|first=Michael|last=McWhertor|date=8 June 2017|website=Polygon|access-date=9 June 2017|archive-date=9 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170709045058/https://www.polygon.com/2017/6/8/15762950/a-new-bubsy-video-game|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://metro.co.uk/2017/06/09/bubsy-the-bobcat-is-back-but-not-even-sonic-the-hedgehog-knows-why-6698329/|title=Bubsy The Bobcat is back, but not even Sonic The Hedgehog knows why|first=GameCentral for|last=Metro.co.uk|date=9 June 2017|publisher=|access-date=9 June 2017|archive-date=13 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170613180339/http://metro.co.uk/2017/06/09/bubsy-the-bobcat-is-back-but-not-even-sonic-the-hedgehog-knows-why-6698329/|url-status=live}}</ref> Accolade seemed to expect this, taking an approach similar to [[Sega]] with promoting ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' on [[social media]]; a dedicated [[Twitter]] account for the character that makes [[self-deprecating]] and aware comments about the franchise's negative reception of some past titles was created.<ref name="VG247"/>

| MC = 45/100<ref name=mc>{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-4/bubsy-the-woolies-strike-back/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-4|title=Bubsy: The Woolies Strike Back|website=[[Metacritic]] |accessdate=December 14, 2018}}</ref>

| Destruct = 3/10<ref>{{cite web|last=Hancock|first=Patrick|date=November 2, 2017 |url=https://www.destructoid.com/review-bubsy-the-woolies-strike-back-470439.phtml |title=Review: Bubsy: The Woolies Strike Back|publisher=[[Destructoid]]|accessdate=December 14, 2018|archive-date=10 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171110114719/https://www.destructoid.com/review-bubsy-the-woolies-strike-back-470439.phtml|url-status=live}}</ref>

| GI = 5.5/10<ref name="gi_review">{{cite webmagazine|last=Shea|first=Brian |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/games/bubsy_the_woolies_strike_back/b/playstation4/archive/2017/11/01/bubsy-the-woolies-strike-back-game-informer-review.aspx|title=Bubsy: The Woolies Strike Back|workmagazine=[[Game Informer]]|date=December 7, 2018|accessdateaccess-date=December 10, 2018|archive-date=16 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190416214231/https://www.gameinformer.com/games/bubsy_the_woolies_strike_back/b/playstation4/archive/2017/11/01/bubsy-the-woolies-strike-back-game-informer-review.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref>

| IGN = 4.5/10<ref name=ignrev>{{cite web|last=Kemps|first=Heidi|date=November 3, 2017 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2017/11/03/bubsy-the-woolies-strike-back-review |title=Bubsy: The Woolies Strike Back Review|website=[[IGN]]|accessdate=December 14, 2018|archive-date=12 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180912134140/http://www.ign.com/articles/2017/11/03/bubsy-the-woolies-strike-back-review|url-status=live}}</ref>

The game was met with a negative reception, with [[review aggregator]] [[Metacritic]] giving the PC version a [[weighted average]] score of 44 out of a possible 100<ref>{{cite web |url=httphttps://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/bubsy-the-woolies-strike-back/critic-reviews/?platform=pc|title=Bubsy: The Woolies Strike Back - PC|website=[[Metacritic]]}}</ref> and the PS4 version a score of 45 out of 100,<ref>{{cite web |url=httphttps://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-4/bubsy-the-woolies-strike-back/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-4|title=Bubsy: The Woolies Strike Back - PS4|website=[[Metacritic]]}}</ref> indicating "generally unfavorable reviews". Brian Shea of ''[[Game Informer]]'' panned the game, calling it "an unnecessary resuscitation".<ref>{{cite web|last=Shea|first=Brian|date=1 November 2017|title=Bubsy: The Woolies Strike Back|url=http://www.gameinformer.com/games/bubsy_the_woolies_strike_back/b/playstation4/archive/2017/11/01/bubsy-the-woolies-strike-back-game-informer-review.aspx|website=gameinformer.com[[Game Informer]]|accessdateaccess-date=3 November 2017|archive-date=4 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171104024707/http://www.gameinformer.com/games/bubsy_the_woolies_strike_back/b/playstation4/archive/2017/11/01/bubsy-the-woolies-strike-back-game-informer-review.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref> Patrick Hancock of ''[[Destructoid]]'' questioned why the character of Bubsy was brought back and made note of its retail price of 30$30 and its release in the same year as other more well-received platformers.<ref>{{cite web|last=Hancock|first=Patrick|date=2 November 2017|title=Review: Bubsy: The Woolies Strike Back|url=https://www.destructoid.com/review-bubsy-the-woolies-strike-back-470439.phtml|website=destructoid.com|accessdate=3 November 2017|archive-date=10 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171110114719/https://www.destructoid.com/review-bubsy-the-woolies-strike-back-470439.phtml|url-status=live}}</ref> Heidi Kemps of ''[[IGN]]'' dismissed the game as "an extremely short and completely forgettable platformer based on nothing but irony and nostalgic notoriety".<ref>{{cite web|last=Kemps|first=Heidi|date=3 November 2017|title=BUBSY: THE WOOLIES STRIKE BACK REVIEW|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2017/11/03/bubsy-the-woolies-strike-back-review|website=IGN|accessdate=3 November 2017|archive-date=4 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171104032757/http://www.ign.com/articles/2017/11/03/bubsy-the-woolies-strike-back-review|url-status=live}}</ref> Christian Donlan of ''[[Eurogamer]]'' wrote "Bubsy's return is more than a little underwhelming".<ref>{{cite web|last=Donlan|first=Christian|date=3 November 2017|title=Bubsy: The Woolies Strike Back review|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2017-11-03-bubsy-the-woolies-strike-back-review|website=Eurogamer|accessdate=3 November 2017|archive-date=3 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171103150558/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2017-11-03-bubsy-the-woolies-strike-back-review|url-status=live}}</ref> Conversely, Jeremy Peeples of ''Hardcore Gamer'' said it "may not be perfect, but it’s easily the best Bubsy game ever made." He found the controls and voice clips in particular a dramatic improvement over previous side-scrollers in the series, though he was disappointed that Bubsy's personality was not brought out in animation and facial expressions as well as it was in the earlier games. He also praised the new pounce move and the retention of the glide move.<ref name=HCGr>{{cite web |first=Jeremy |last=Peeples |url=http://www.hardcoregamer.com/2017/11/03/review-bubsy-the-woolies-strike-back/277861/ |title=Review: Bubsy: The Woolies Strike Back |website=Hardcore Gamer |date=November 3, 2017 |accessdate=May 13, 2020 |archive-date=7 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107073012/http://www.hardcoregamer.com/2017/11/03/review-bubsy-the-woolies-strike-back/277861/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The game was a runner-up for the "Worst Game (That We Played)" award at ''[[Giant Bomb]]''{{'}}s Game of the Year 2017 Awards.<ref>{{cite web |author=Giant Bomb staff |date=29 December 2017 |title=Game of the Year 2017 Day Five: Best, Worst, Cast, and Capture |url=https://www.giantbomb.com/articles/game-of-the-year-2017-day-five-best-worst-cast-and/1100-5708/ |publisher=Giant Bomb |accessdate=29 December 2017 |archive-date=27 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327161843/https://www.giantbomb.com/articles/game-of-the-year-2017-day-five-best-worst-cast-and/1100-5708/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In October 2018, aA sixth ''Bubsy'' title, ''[[Bubsy: Paws on Fire!]]'', was announced for releasereleased in 2019 for [[PlayStation 4]], [[Personal computer|PC]] and [[Nintendo Switch]]. The game was developed by [[Choice Provisions]], which previously worked on the ''[[Bit.Trip]]'' series.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://comicbook.com/gaming/2018/10/31/bubsy-returning-2019-paws-on-fire-nintendo-switch-playstation-4/|title='Bubsy' Returning In 2019 With 'Paws on Fire!' For Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4|work=WWG|access-date=2018-10-31|language=en|archive-date=31 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181031133104/https://comicbook.com/gaming/2018/10/31/bubsy-returning-2019-paws-on-fire-nintendo-switch-playstation-4/|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Category:Black ForestVideo games about alien invasions]]

[[Category:VideoTommo games scored by Chris Huelsbeck]]

[[Category:Video games withscored 2.5Dby graphicsChris Huelsbeck]]