10 Awful 3D Video Games That Should Have Stayed 2D

The 90s were an awkward, transitional period for gaming. In 1996, Super Mario 64 revolutionised 3D platforming – setting the standard for everything to follow – but it was one of the few success stories, the vast majority of classic games failing to comprehend the finer points of three dimensions. Bubsy 3D for instance – which was actually released three months after Super Mario 64 – managed to get everything wrong, including basic character movement.

In the game, players control the titular rabbit using the directional pad, only left and right control the camera and not the character himself, meaning small adjustment need to be made constantly in order to steer Bubsy in the right direction.

In this respect, the controls are like something out of a survival horror, only one where the environments barely resemble anything from reality, appearing as though obscure shapes with only a passing resemblance to actual objects. Worst of all, when Bubsy jumps, the camera flies up in the air, making landings particularly troublesome.

In contrast, Bubsy’s 2D outings – while certainly not masterworks – were at least functional. In fact, the character’s first two outings were recently rereleased on Steam as a testament to their enduring appeal. Bubsy 3D is nothing but a travesty, an experimental failure that willingly sacrifices freedom of movement, accurate visual representation and a more general playability for a unsuccessful attempt at technological innovation.