Bubba 'N' Stix

Sega console exclusive

Our goofy hero and his friend - an intelligent alien stick - have crash-landed on a weird planet after being captured by an alien spacecraft. In order to get back to Earth, Bubba must use Stix in a variety of different ways to solve puzzles, overcome adversaries and foil the comedic attempts of his kidnapper to recapture him in this multi-directional scrolling puzzle.

Released: 1994
Platforms: Amiga Amiga CD32 Sega Genesis
Genres: Platformer Puzzle Strategy
Developers: Core Design
Publishers: Tengen
Modes: Single-player
Perspective: Side view
Themes: Action Comedy
Country: United Kingdom
Age ratings: ESRB E
Time to beat: 3hcompletionist
Composers: Nathan McCree

About

Bubba 'n' Stix is a side-scrolling platform game for the Sega Genesis, Amiga and CD32 developed and released by Core Design. The Genesis version was released in the United States and featured a promotional tie-in with the Bubblicious bubble gum brand.

The player controls Bubba, a redneck character, who is accompanied by a sentient stick named Stix. Stix can be used in various ways to help Bubba defeat enemies and get past obstacles: for instance, Stix can be thrust into a hole in the side of a platform so that Bubba can climb higher.

›Story

Bubba and his sidekick Stix are an interesting pair, Bubba is a happy-go-lucky animal delivery guy for the local Zoo here on Earth . One day while going about his daily routine, Bubba is abducted by an alien that plans on delivering him along with several other aliens in their zoo. On the way back to his home planet, the alien spacecraft loses control and crashes, Bubba, the other aliens and Stix (a sentient twig like alien) are able to escape. Bubba and Stix become friends and start on their journey home, They're now on an alien planet, things are a little bit different than they are on Earth.

Take control of Bubba as he wields Stix as various puzzle solving tools (including a weapon), as they try to find a way back home. You'll have to solve mind-boggling puzzles and fight all kinds of wacky aliens if you're planning to return to Earth, so you'll have to have fast reflexes and be able to think fast and sometimes sideways.

Keywords

advergame
sega channel

Media

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Development

According to designer Simon Phipps, originally Core Design had wanted a "moody, dark and atmospheric" game featuring an adventurer wielding a multipurpose stick. It became apparent to him that a realistic approach to the design was not feasible. As a result, Phipps, along with collaborator Billy Allison, sketched out a large number of mostly outlandish uses for the game's central tool. After reviewing the drawings, Core subsequently gave the go-ahead to develop the game.

The game's protagonist started out as a green long-necked alien and went through several iterations until the developers settled on Bubba.

Reception

The four reviewers of Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the Genesis version a 6.75 out of 10, particularly praising the originality of the gameplay concept and the highly challenging puzzles. GamePro likewise praised the game's originality and "thought-provoking challenges". Flux magazine gave the genesis version a 7 out of 10 and saying the game's humor makes Bubba 'n' Stix stand out from other games and they also praised the graphics describing it as "bright, cartoonish and cute". In 1995, MegaZone included the game on their "Top 50 Games In History".