The game's legacy has also been affected by unfavorable comparisons to other early 3D platformers from the same year, Super Mario 64 and Naughty Dog's Crash Bandicoot.

The player must also collect rocket parts to build a transport back to planet Earth, and defeat the two Woolie queens, Poly and Esther.

[note 1] Bubsy's actions include running, jumping, gliding, swimming, and even piloting a rocket car in certain levels.

Bubsy has limited lives and hit points, which can be extended by collecting atoms, reaching a high score, or by attacking clams who offer random prizes.

There are also jumping puzzles where Bubsy must activate four platforms or switches in the right order, which unlocks either a rocket or a power-up that grants temporary abilities.

Three of them take place underwater, where Bubsy must manage his oxygen supply, and his gliding action is replaced with a jetting dive.

[6] The Woolies fail to understand why Bubsy is collecting atoms and rocket parts, but nonetheless see him as a danger and call for a military campaign to stop him.

The game was designed by mainly Michael Berlyn, the original creator of Bubsy,[11] with a team that included fellow Eidetic founder and industry veteran Marc Blank (of Zork fame).

[16] The team paid particular attention to Bubsy's body language, taking inspiration from Warner Bros.

Berlyn said he chose this unusual combination because it made the characters stand out, ensuring the player's attention would be on Bubsy rather than on the environments.

[25][31] Retrospective reception of Bubsy 3D turned more vehemently negative, with several sources citing the game as one of the all-time worst.

[8] Three reviewers in GameFan gave ratings of 80, 79, and 80[30] with E. Storm commenting that he found Bubsy 3D refreshing for its peculiarity, uniqueness, and addictive qualities.

[43] NowGamer credited Bubsy 3D with being the first genuinely 3D PlayStation game, and said that "younger players will be enthralled by its bright colours and simple gameplay, even if adults reach straight for the sick bucket.

[34] Brazilian magazine Ação Games was critical of the graphics and sound, but felt that the levels featured many fun gameplay and design elements.

[35] On the other hand, GameSpot was critical of almost every aspect of the game, especially the voice acting: "Thank god the programmers included an option to turn off the sound bites Bubsy spews during the game; after having to endure that lispy, grating voice two or three times, the player may be tempted to kill his or her television.

He explains that "platform games require precise actions and split second decisions [and] Bubsy 3D's controls are very prohibitive to this type of gameplay.

[38] GameTrailers was another publication that named Bubsy 3D the eighth worst video game ever made, criticizing the voice clips, the tank controls, and comparing it unfavorably to Super Mario 64.

[49] Bubsy 3D is remembered as one of three 3D platformers released in 1996 that established the template for the genre, along with Super Mario 64 and Crash Bandicoot.

In the game, the player guides an effigy of Bubsy through a nightmarish simulation of the James Turrell exhibition at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

[50] A remaster of the game was released by Arcane Kids in 2017, featuring an additional epilogue to the story in which Bubsy reflects on the events of his experience.