Beyond Nostalgia: “Demon Tides” Revives a 90s Mascot with Mario Odyssey-Level Moves

The 1990s were a golden age for mascot platformers, but for every Sonic or Crash Bandicoot, there was a legion of forgotten faces like Bubsy the Bobcat and Aero the Acro-Bat. Now, a truly obscure relic of that era is getting an unexpected, and frankly jaw-dropping, revival. Demon Tides, the upcoming sequel from developer Fabraz, the team behind the cult classic Demon Turf, is bringing back the most forgotten of 90s mascots with a bold promise: a move set that rivals the best of modern platformers. After a stunning gameplay trailer and a hands-on preview, it’s clear that this game, with its planned 2026 release, is not just a nostalgic trip; it’s a genre-defining title with a level of creative and expressive movement that has surprised even the most cynical players.

“Expressive Platforming” Taken to the Next Level

The core of Demon Tides‘ appeal lies in its “expressive platforming” philosophy, a term coined by the developers themselves. It’s a game that puts the player’s creativity and skill at the forefront, giving them an expansive toolbox of moves to navigate a new, massive open world. The game’s protagonist, Beebz, is a 2D sprite in a 3D world, a unique art style that makes her movements feel both fluid and impossibly dynamic. The trailer showed her chaining together a dizzying array of moves: she can double jump, wall run, dash, and even transform into a bat to glide across large gaps. But the developers haven’t stopped there. The game introduces new moves like a paraglider, a bubble that allows you to float in place indefinitely, and a spin that can turn into a hookshot, giving players even more tools to navigate the environment. This level of creativity is reminiscent of the freedom found in games like Super Mario Odyssey, where every move is designed to make the player feel in control and every environment is a playground for acrobatic experimentation.

• A Deep Move Set: The game gives players an expansive toolbox of moves, including a paraglider and a hookshot, to navigate the world creatively.
• A Seamless Open World: The game takes the series’ signature expressive platforming and drops it into a seamless, massive open world.
• Unique Art Style: The game’s blend of 2D characters in a 3D world creates a visually stunning and dynamic experience.

More Than Just a Platformer: It’s a Sandbox

But Demon Tides is more than just a platformer; it’s a sandbox for players to break. The game is designed for speedrunners and platforming pros, with its open-ended level design and a variety of hidden collectibles and secrets. The developers have even included an online component that is “Dark Soulsian,” allowing players to race against the ghosts of other players and leave graffiti on walls to either “hint towards a secret nearby or troll the players with lies.” This is a level of community engagement that is unheard of in the genre. The game is also a sequel to the developers’ other title, Bubsy 4D, an official Bubsy revival that was also met with critical acclaim. This is a testament to the developers’ commitment to not just reviving dead franchises but actively improving on them. They are not just creating a new game; they are building a new foundation for the genre, one that is focused on player creativity, skill, and the joy of movement.

While some may be skeptical about a game that is a sequel to a reboot of a forgotten mascot, the proof is in the pudding. The developers of Demon Tides have a clear vision and a track record of delivering on their promises. They are taking a forgotten genre and giving it the love and attention it deserves, creating a game with a level of freedom and creative expression that is on par with the best of the best. For those who grew up on the classic platformers of the 90s, and for those who have only ever known modern ones, this is a game that is poised to be an instant classic, a game that proves that with the right developers at the helm, even the most obscure of mascots can become a star.