Bubba 'N' Stix

Bubba 'N' Stix is a platformer-puzzle game created by Core Design simultaneously for the SEGA Genesis and Amiga, including the CD32 version. The game, conceived by Simon Phipps, was released in 1994.

The first thing that catches the eye is the graphics, which resemble a cartoon. CORE Design has accustomed us to games with excellent graphics, such as Heimdall, Chuck Rock, or Darkmere: The Nightmare's Begun. However, we are on a higher level with Bubba, featuring hand-drawn animations inspired by Disney and Don Bluth animated films, coupled with a sense of humor. Most importantly, the quality of the game design stands out, presenting a platform game that requires exploration and, above all, puzzle-solving. The puzzles are intelligently and precisely designed.

This doesn't mean the difficulty level is low. Be cautious not to underestimate Bubba 'N' Stix; the graphics might make you think it's a children's game, but it is, in fact, a challenging game. There are only five levels, but you need patience to explore and get to know them well to solve all the puzzles. Some moments can be frustrating, with perhaps excessive penalties for the player's mistakes. Overall, it's a high but acceptable level of difficulty.

The only real criticism for this game, and CORE, is regarding the soundtrack. The CD32 version has a high-quality soundtrack that fits perfectly with the levels. Of course, the digital music couldn't be included in the floppy version as it was. An adaptation would have been required; however, the problem is that the music in the floppy version is entirely different, more of a rewrite than an adaptation. Apart from the quality, the music is less catchy. Since the Amiga and Genesis versions were developed simultaneously and separately, I suspect that the Amiga team only created music for the CD32 edition. Then, once the development was completed, the floppy version for the Amiga included the music composed for the Mega Drive edition.

However, beyond this, the biggest criticism is that you have to choose between music and sound effects; you can't have both. This is inexplicable from a technical point of view because the Amiga chipset would have been perfectly capable of reproducing music and sound effects simultaneously. The Genesis version faces the same issue. To overcome this limitation, we have included the CD32 version's soundtrack in mp3 format, so you can choose to play with sound effects and have music separately.

Despite the criticisms regarding the musical accompaniment, Bubba 'N' Stix remains an original game and one of the best representatives of the puzzle-platformer genre on the Amiga, and I would say, in the world of video games. And let's not forget the amazing graphics. If you enjoy this genre, download it now and put your deductive skills to the test. Have fun!