Year Released: ? (Genesis)

Number of Players: 1-2 taking turns... but it's more than that (more on that in Gameplay)

Bubsy has to save the world from Hamm, who is stealing history! Oh, yeah... and the bratty Bubsy Twins are in there somewhere.

Graphics: Wow. They aren't as vibrant as Bubsy in Claws Encounters' graphics are, but they are certainly very good at putting on whatever theme it chooses. Then again, sometimes it tries to make something look to fancy and just embarrasses the Genesis by pointing out how even it can be limited in color. A slight step down from In Claws Encounters.

Play Control: Almost the very same as In Claws Encounters. High jump, glide, and walking. However, these are pulled off somewhat awkwardly as compared to In Claws Encounters--that is, the timing is off. Nothing much to worry about, and it's definetely something you get used to (took me about fifteen minutes). As in the last Bubsy, the collision detection is slightly off. There's finally a real use for the C button: items, which are pretty cool.

Sound: Not as pretty as In Claws Encounters, but definetely interesting. It even gets faster as Bubsy moves faster. You might get bored with it if you're touchy about music, though. There's still those voice clips, which everyone says gets old. They haven't gotten old to me, though...

Challenge: No more one-hit deaths (three hits until death). Still, it's incredibly easy to die. Also, each level is a search for the exit. Bubsy will have to explore and shove the enemies out of his way (that is, enemies won't be his main problem). More in gameplay.

Game Play: The gameplay (as hinted to in Challenge) is not straightforward like In Claws Encounters, but rather, Bubsy II encourages to use your brain. There are many paths, and you have to find the right one. It's not as random as it sounds, though, and you're still bashing enemies. Some people like the twist on In Claws Encounters. Actually, if you found In Claws Encounters too simple, this is probably your game. However, if you loved In Claws Encounters for its simplicity, you might want to stay away from Bubsy II.
However, this affords Bubsy II a certain amount of openness. Sometimes just wandering a stage and bashing enemies is fun. While some areas are cramped and spoil the fun, others are wide open and let you cruise through, even though you may not always take the right path to the finish.
There are five stages to choose from in each level (six levels in all), and you can finish them in any order. Once you complete all six, you go up against a boss. You can take on one level, or go for conquering three (there are two sets of three, thus six levels). If you choose to go after three levels at once, the boss at the end of the first two levels will just be random enemies popping out. You have to bash them (without items). However, the last level's boss will be a weird robot who you jump on top of over and over. That boss visits you should you decide to take a single level at once, as well.
I have to mention that there are items in Bubsy II that you can use rather than collect! You buy them at the end of each level with items you collect as you go along (trading cards, to be specific). You can buy Nerf balls to refill your Nerf Ballzooka (an infinitely useful gun), Smart Bombs (to blow up all the enemies on the screen or even to harm the second player... more on that later), and even warp holes to escape from a stage if you're just about dead (you still have to conquer that level, though... you can just come back to it later).
Also, the two player mode is simultaneous now. One player is Bubsy and goes through the level while the other gets to fly around the screen and go anywhere they want to (they are trapped within the boundaries of the screen only). That second player either helps or hurts Bubsy depending on what setting you chose. Then, when the first player's turn is over, he or she plays the floating character as the second player plays Bubsy. By the way, that floating character, should you care, is a Bubsy Twin.
Oh, yeah... there are some pretty weird mini games you run into for going in certain doors. Nothing much.

The Bottom Line: It kind of ruined Bubsy for me, but it began to grow on me as I played it more. You still have a great engine and some pretty cool enemies, it's just that Bubsy II is not the simplistic platformer I was expecting. Defintely something for Bubsy haters to look into, by that token.

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