So far in this EGM Ranks series, we've talked about Mario, Sonic and even Bonk. But what about the other mascot characters trying to make a name for themselves in the early 1990s? What about the games starring Aero the Acro-Bat, the Bubsy the Bobcat and the Chester Cheetahs, or, as I like to call them, the ABCs of platforming heroes. What did Electronic Gaming Monthly think of these short-lived franchises and, more importantly, what mascot came out on top?
Now, in case you're curious, Electronic Gaming Monthly reviewed a total of eleven games across the Aero, Bubsy and Chester Cheetah franchises. That includes pretty much everything from all three of these series, though not all of the ports were reviewed. They also missed out on reviewing both 2017's
Bubsy: The Woolies Strike Back and 2019's
Bubsy: Paws on Fire, but as somebody who reviewed both of those games, I can assure you that EGM didn't miss a thing. What we're going to do today is count down the best and worst Aero, Bubsy and Chester Cheetah games using Electronic Gaming Monthly's own words and scores. There's no editorializing here, we're going to focus on what the critics said back when these games first came out. So, grab a bag a Cheetos and get ready to join the circus, because this is another smart-mouthed episode of EGM Ranks Aero the Acro-Bat, Bubsy the Bobcat and Chester Cheetah, the ABCs of platforming heroes.
Bubsy 3D (PlayStation)
#11
“No! This is not how you treat a perfectly good mascot! What I would like to see come of this review is a return to the drawing board for poor Bubsy 3D. Absolutely no texture-mapping is used, so the lack of numerous polygons is painfully obvious. Pretend your controller is filled with mud – this is how Bubsy plays. I fought with the controller the whole time, and my experience was frustrating. The enemies are weak, the worlds are damaging to your eyes, and even the voices, while clear, make you cringe. The rendered cinemas are only half-screen animations, too. What a waste of power!” (3.25 out of 10)
Chester Cheetah: Wild Wild Quest (Super NES)
#10
“The first Chester Cheetah didn't exactly set the world on fire, and this second one is just more of the same. If you are a die-hard Chester fan, then this game is for you, otherwise, just don't expect too much.” (5.6 out of 10)
Chester Cheetah: Wild Wild Quest (Genesis)
#9
“Quite frankly, I was surprised that I liked this game as much as I did. Chester has a whole slew of new and amusing animations. Also included are some new moves like Chester's super jump. This game gets knocked down a note for poor control, but it's still passable. The levels are challenging enough, but some are just too short for me. All in all, a good game with some genuinely funny moments.” (6 out of 10)
Bubsy in Fractured Furry Tales (Jaguar)
#8
“The talking bobcat is back. Bubsy fans will love this version of the popular character, and this one will prove challenging to even the most hardened veterans of the series. The levels are huge, the graphics are very detailed and the sound is equally impressive. Non-Bubsy fans probably won't be converted, but those raised on the feline will obviously take to the character. Just one quibble, though – the control could be tweaked a bit; otherwise, it's a fine game.” (6.4 out of 10)
Aero the Acro-Bat (Genesis)
#7
“Aero is still one spunky bat, even on the Genesis! And is he cute kiddies? Yes! The absence of the excellent music found on the Super NES version is a drawback, but Aero is still a hit. The levels are huge and challenging!” (7 out of 10)
Bubsy II (Game Boy)
#6
“The talking bobcat takes his show to the Game Boy platform and does pretty well. It's the usual jump-on-the-enemies-and-get-through-the-level routine. Even if you never played him before, this is a good introduction.” (7 out of 10)
Aero the Acro-Bat 2 (Genesis)
#5
“Like the first game, I also like the second installment in the series. Aero the Acro-Bat 2 is one of the coolest video game characters to come along in a while, and his new techniques add to an already great game. The graphics are excellent and the sound is decent. Probably the best part is just going around the huge levels and just looking for hidden areas. This is a solid game to continue the saga.” (7.75 out of 10)
Chester Cheetah: Too Cool to Fool (Super NES)
#4
“Chester Cheetah is the funniest game we've reviewed this month! The animations are completely outrageous, especially when Chester grabs his ax guitar! The gameplay is a little sluggish, but all in all, it's a great game, with tons of humor, decent bosses and the coolest cat ever to hit the game screen.” (7.75 out of 10)
Bubsy in Claws Encounters of the Furred Kind (Super NES)
#3
“The year of the bobcat? After playing this cart, I can truly say that this game is terrific! Bubsy's tons of animations really add a humorous side to the game and his voice before each level is also funny. The levels effects are great with colorful graphics and many hidden areas to find. What more could you ask for?” (8 out of 10)
Aero the Acro-Bat (Super NES)
#2
“Aero is one of the most creative games I've seen. The circus-type levels are colorful and the game is fun to play, which is how things should be. There's something new on every level and the controls are good. There are a lot of icons to find and places to explore. The game gets very tough early on and it takes practice and memorization to advance. If you're looking for a good action cart, you'll like Aero.” (8.25 out of 10)
Zero the Kamikaze Squirrel (Genesis)
#1
“It looks as if Aero the Acro-Bat is in for some trouble now. Zero is simply too cool. There's a never-ending array of techniques you can use to get through the levels, which are huge by the way! The background colors are very vibrant. It seems that companies are learning how to get around the Genesis' color limitations quite nicely. Zero the Kamikaze Squirrel is a definite must-have for every action game fan!” (8.25 out of 10)
