Bubba 'N' Stix

From Sega Retro

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  • PAL

BubbaNStix title.png

BubbaNStix MD EU TitleScreen.png

Bubba 'N' Stix
System(s): Sega Mega Drive
Publisher: Core Design
Developer:
Distributor: Tengen (US)
Peripherals supported: Six Button Control Pad
Genre: Action

















Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Mega Drive
US 		$54.9554.95[1] T-115026
301087-0150
Videogame Rating Council: GA
Sega Mega Drive
EU 		T-115026-50
Sega Mega Drive
PT 		MDJ115026
Sega Mega Drive
UK 		£44.9944.99[4] T-115026-50
Sega Mega Drive
GR
Sega Mega Drive
AU 		FBUB00SMC
OFLC: G
Non-Sega versions

Bubba 'N' Stix is a side-scrolling action game for the Sega Mega Drive.

In the United States, the game was released with a Bubblicious brand tie-in. During gameplay, this is reflected by the bonus stages containing Bubblicious pack collectibles that give the player points as well by as an idle animation in which Bubba chews bubble gum and blows a bubble.

A reportedly complete Sega Mega-CD version was planned for release[5] in January[6] (later February[7], then March[8], and then April[9] 1994), but was cancelled for unknown reasons. Former developers at Core Design have confirmed its existence.

Story

Bubba, a redneck handyman, is abducted by an alien named Waldo, who collects beings from around the universe to showcase in his zoo. On his way back to his home planet, Waldo crashes his ship on an alien planet, affording Bubba and a sentient twig named Stix the opportunity to escape. Now the pair must work together to make their way home.

Gameplay

The game is a puzzle platformer. The player must use Stix in a variety of different ways in order to progress. Stix can be used as a bludgeoning weapon, as a temporary platform, as a stirrer, as a snorkel, or as a prybar, for instance. Bubba swipes Stix by pressing A or throws him like a boomerang by holding A, both of which can be used to defeat enemies. Stix can be used to interact with various objects found in the stages with A, sometimes combined with a direction on the D-pad. If Stix is left in an object, pressing A calls him back. Bubba can be moved with Left or Right and can jump with B. He can run if the C button is held down while walking. He can crouch with Down and crawl with Down-left and Down-right. When underwater, he can swim by pressing the D-pad in any direction and surface by pressing Up with enough momentum.

Bubba's vitality is shown as a six-segment bar represented by Stix in the lower-left corner of the screen. He loses vitality when he takes damage from enemies or stage hazards. Bubba's vitality is carried over from stage to stage, though he can find vitality items in bonus stages in between each stage. He loses a life if he loses all of his vitality. He can also lose a life if he drowns underwater; his air level is indicated on his portrait in the lower-right corner of the screen. However, the game can be continued as many times as desired if the player runs out of lives, and there is a password system for starting any stage from the beginning at a later time. The antagonist, Waldo, sometimes appears in stages to torment (and inadvertently help) Bubba.

Items

Bubba 'N' Stix, Items.png
 Vitality Replenisher
Replenishes one segment of Bubba's vitality bar.
Bubba 'N' Stix, Items.png
 Extra Life
Gives the player an extra life.
Bubba 'N' Stix, Items.png
 Checkpoint
Checkpoint where Bubba revives after losing a life.
Bubba 'N' Stix, Items.png
 Various Monsters
Awards the player with extra points. A bonus stage is played after the current stage is completed if enough bonus points are accumulated.
Bubba 'N' Stix, Items.png
 Small Blobs
Gives the player more time in the bonus stage.
Bubba 'N' Stix, Items.png
 Clown Unicycle
Hidden in each stage. Gives the player bonus points and more time in the bonus stage if Bubba finds and catches it.
Bubba 'N' Stix, Items.png
 Bubblicious Gum
Collect in bonus stages for points.

Stages

Bubba 'N' Stix, Stage 1.png

Alien Forest

Bubba 'N' Stix, Stage 2.png

Waldo's Starship

Bubba 'N' Stix, Stage 3.png

The Volcano

Bubba 'N' Stix, Stage 4.png

Marine Temple

Bubba 'N' Stix, Stage 5.png

Bubba 'N' Stix, Stage 5 Boss.png

  • Bubba 'N' Stix, Stage 5.png

  • Bubba 'N' Stix, Stage 5 Boss.png

The Spaceport

Bonus Stages

Bubba 'N' Stix, Bonus Stage.png

Bonus stage

Bonus stages are played after each stage (except the last) if the player accrues enough points. Each bonus stage is timed; the amount of time depends on the amount of blobs the player finds in the prior stage (in addition to the Clown Unicycle, which appears in each stage). Bubba can collect bonus points, vitality, and extra lives in the bonus stages.

Development

According to designer Simon Phipps,[10] 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.

Production credits

  • Produced By: Jeremy Heath-Smith
  • Bubba 'N' Stix Team: Billy Allison, John Kirkland, Simon Phipps, Mark Watson
  • Music and Sound Effects By: Mark Iveson
  • Play Tested By: Darren Price, Troy Horton, Jamie Morton
  • Special Thanks: Linda Blanchard, Steve Calfee, Bill Hindorff, Ted Hoff, Mike Klug, Susan Lusty, Mike Kruse, Mitzi McGilvray, Dan Van Elderen, CJ Welch
Source:
US manual
BubbanStix MD US manual.pdf
[11]

Magazine articles

Main article: Bubba 'N' Stix/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in EGM² (US) #2: "August 1994" (1994-0x-xx)
also published in:
Logo-pdf.svg
Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Mean Machines Sega (UK) #18: "April 1994" (1994-02-28)
Logo-pdf.svg
VAD 16 RU Bubba 'N' Stix advert.jpg
Print advert in Video-Ace Dendy (RU) #16 (1995-02-28)
VAD 16 RU Bubba 'N' Stix advert.jpg

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
{{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
Based on
0 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
80
[13]
Console Mania (IT) PAL
88
[14]
Consoles + (FR)
88
[15]
Cool Gamer (RU)
80
[16]
Computer & Video Games (UK) PAL
85
[17]
Digitiser (UK) PAL
90
[18]
Electronic Games (1992-1995) (US) NTSC-U
75
[19]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
68
[20]
Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1 (RU)
80
[21]
Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 3 (RU)
80
[22]
FLUX (US)
70
[23]
Game Players (US) NTSC-U
77
[1]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
75
[24]
Gamers (DE)
60
[25]
Game Informer (US) NTSC-U
67
[26]
Joypad (FR) PAL
88
[27]
MAN!AC (DE) PAL
77
[28]
Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK) PAL
81
[29]
Mega (UK) PAL
84
[30]
Mega Force (FR)
84
[31]
Mega Fun (DE) PAL
62
[32]
Mega Machines (UK) PAL
84
[33]
Mega Play (US) NTSC-U
65
[34]
MegaTech (UK) PAL
83
[35]
Magazina Igrushek (RU)
90
[36]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
89
[37]
Player One (FR)
86
[38]
Play Time (DE)
62
[39]
Power Up! (UK)
80
[40]
Sega Magazine (UK) PAL
78
[2]
Sega Magazine (UK) PAL
74
[41]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
74
[42]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
84
[43]
Sega Zone (UK) PAL
81
[44]
Sega Force (SE)
90
[45]
Sega Megazone (AU) PAL
87
[46]
Sonic the Comic (UK) PAL
76
[47]
Supersonic (FR)
90
[48]
Todo Sega (ES) PAL
85
[49]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
80
[50]
Video Games (DE) PAL
80
[51]
VideoGames (US)
60
[52]
Sega Mega Drive
 79
Based on
42 reviews

Bubba 'N' Stix

Mega Drive, US
BubbanStix MD US Box.jpg
Cover
BubbanStix MD US manual.pdf
Manual
BnS MD US pcb.jpg
PCB
Mega Drive, EU
BubbanStix MD EU Box.jpg
Cover
BubbanStix MD EU Cart.jpeg
Cart
BubbanStix MD EU Manual.jpg
Manual
Mega Drive, PT
BnS MD PT cover.jpg
Cover
Mega Drive, GR
BnS MD GR cover.jpg
Cover
Mega Drive, AU
BubbanStix MD AU Box.jpg
Cover
Mega Drive, AU (Silver)
BnS MD AU silver cover.jpg
Cover
BnS MD AU silver cart.jpg
Cart

Technical information

Main article: Bubba 'N' Stix/Technical information.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Game Players, "Vol. 7 No. 8 August 1994" (US; 1994-0x-xx), page 54
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Sega Magazine, "May 1994" (UK; 1994-04-15), page 90
  3. ↑ Computer Trade Weekly, "" (UK; 1994-07-04), page 8
  4. ↑ Mega, "April 1994" (UK; 1994-03-17), page 35
  5. ↑ Sega Power, "August 1993" (UK; 1993-07-01), page 26
  6. ↑ MegaTech, "July 1993" (UK; 1993-06-19), page 34
  7. ↑ Mega Power, "February 1994" (UK; 1994-01-20), page 10
  8. ↑ Sega Magazine, "March 1994" (UK; 1994-02-15), page 29
  9. ↑ Sega Pro, "Easter 1994" (UK; 1994-03-24), page 10
  10. ↑ https://www.simonphipps.com/games/bubbanstix/
  11. ↑ File:BubbanStix MD US manual.pdf, page 12
  12. ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "September 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 105
  13. ↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 37
  14. ↑ Console Mania, "Marzo 1994" (IT; 1994-0x-xx), page 44
  15. ↑ Consoles +, "Avril 1994" (FR; 1994-0x-xx), page 120
  16. ↑ Cool Gamer, "9" (RU; 2002-10-13), page 41
  17. ↑ Computer & Video Games, "April 1994" (UK; 1994-03-15), page 44
  18. ↑ Digitiser (UK) (1994-07-21)
  19. ↑ Electronic Games (1992-1995), "July 1994" (US; 1994-0x-xx), page 72
  20. ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "June 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 34
  21. ↑ Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1, "" (RU; 1999-xx-xx), page 297
  22. ↑ Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 3, "" (RU; 2000-xx-xx), page 20
  23. ↑ FLUX, "Issue #1" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 78
  24. ↑ GamePro, "July 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 60
  25. ↑ Gamers, "Mai/Juni 1994" (DE; 1994-05-06), page 50
  26. ↑ Game Informer, "July/August 1994" (US; 1994-0x-xx), page 22
  27. ↑ Joypad, "Avril 1994" (FR; 1994-0x-xx), page 122
  28. ↑ MAN!AC, "06/94" (DE; 1994-05-11), page 62
  29. ↑ Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "May 1994" (UK; 1994-xx-xx), page 16
  30. ↑ Mega, "April 1994" (UK; 1994-03-17), page 34
  31. ↑ Mega Force, "Avril 1994" (FR; 1994-0x-xx), page 80
  32. ↑ Mega Fun, "05/94" (DE; 1994-04-20), page 106
  33. ↑ Mega Machines, "March 1994" (UK; 1994-02-03), page 60
  34. ↑ Mega Play, "August 1994" (US; 1994-0x-xx), page 61
  35. ↑ MegaTech, "March 1994" (UK; 1994-02-20), page 36
  36. ↑ Magazina Igrushek, "5/1995" (RU; 1995-xx-xx), page 76
  37. ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "March 1994" (UK; 1994-01-28), page 88
  38. ↑ Player One, "Avril 1994" (FR; 1994-0x-xx), page 76
  39. ↑ Play Time, "6/94" (DE; 1994-05-04), page 132
  40. ↑ Power Up!, "Saturday, July 09, 1994" (UK; 1994-07-09), page 1
  41. ↑ Sega Magazine, "June 1994" (UK; 1994-05-15), page 95
  42. ↑ Sega Power, "April 1994" (UK; 1994-03-03), page 64
  43. ↑ Sega Pro, "Easter 1994" (UK; 1994-03-24), page 60
  44. ↑ Sega Zone, "September 1994" (UK; 1994-08-xx), page 5
  45. ↑ Sega Force, "4/94" (SE; 1994-06-01), page 18
  46. ↑ Sega Megazone, "September 1994" (AU; 1994-0x-xx), page 30
  47. ↑ Sonic the Comic, "June 10th 1994" (UK; 1994-05-28), page 10
  48. ↑ Supersonic, "Avril 1994" (FR; 1994-xx-xx), page 22
  49. ↑ Todo Sega, "Mayo 1994" (ES; 1994-0x-xx), page 46
  50. ↑ Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 31
  51. ↑ Video Games, "6/94" (DE; 1994-05-25), page 93
  52. ↑ VideoGames, "November 1994" (US; 1994-1x-xx), page 114


Bubba 'N' Stix

BubbaNStix title.png

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Sega Mega Drive
Prototypes: 1994-03-09
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