A port of Libble Rabble
Libble Rabble is an action puzzle game released by Namco in 1983. Control Libble and Rabble to bashishi various characters. When you bashishi all the Topcups that pop out of treasure chests, a miracle will occur that allows you to enter a bonus stage. Remember treasure chest locations and aim for a high score.
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This is a fascinating arcade game that just officially landed in the west for the first time in November. A Toru Iwatani game that was covered in some detail by Tim Rogers in his Pac-Man review, this game is mechanically unlike anything else I've ever played. You have to account for Libble and Rabble and you control each of them with the left and right joystick. I'm assuming in the arcade this maps pretty well to the two joysticks you would have used so this is a good way to play.
It is pretty hard! You have to track both characters at once and it reminds me somewhat of trying to play a polyphonic piano piece with two different melodies. You move the characters while trapping enemies, getting treasures, calculating risks, and chasing bonuses. This is a pretty awesome arcade game and definitely worth checking out just to see what the "follow-up" to Pac-Man plays like.
It is pretty hard! You have to track both characters at once and it reminds me somewhat of trying to play a polyphonic piano piece with two different melodies. You move the characters while trapping enemies, getting treasures, calculating risks, and chasing bonuses. This is a pretty awesome arcade game and definitely worth checking out just to see what the "follow-up" to Pac-Man plays like.
A joy of mechanics and arcade discovery, wonderful to fire up on the switch for a few games. There are few things that feel quite like Libble Rabble, with how it tests your thumbstick dexterity and ability to watch and manage multiple stimulus at a time. But, when you get good, oh it feels so nice. One of those "in the zone" transcendent experiences.
I won't delve into how the game works, as part of the fun was figuring out how to progress and complete stages (known as "seasons", brilliant) quickly and efficiently. To be brief, you control two chevrons and they gotta wrap this wire around things to collect them, you won't have played much like it. (unless you've played astral chain, then you're officially a cool cat.)
Probably the best Namco arcade soundtrack, with a jaunty tune that will ring around in your head after just 5 minutes of playtime.
The reason this isn't 5 stars is due to the game having frustrating RNG when it comes to playing for high-scores. You find treasure, which gives you lots of points. But, rare treasures give you more. For instance:
Mirror - 4,000
Ruby ring - 10,000
Golden crown - 100,000
These aren't the only three, but the huge disparity in score means a poor run with a rare treasure will eclipse a really long and well-played run where you find bad treasure.
All-in-all, Libble Rabble is a mechanical joy and will still impress despite being almost 40 years old.
oh, and it has co-op, which is sure to baffle your friends. convince them to come play with you by telling them that this is "pac-man 2"
I won't delve into how the game works, as part of the fun was figuring out how to progress and complete stages (known as "seasons", brilliant) quickly and efficiently. To be brief, you control two chevrons and they gotta wrap this wire around things to collect them, you won't have played much like it. (unless you've played astral chain, then you're officially a cool cat.)
Probably the best Namco arcade soundtrack, with a jaunty tune that will ring around in your head after just 5 minutes of playtime.
The reason this isn't 5 stars is due to the game having frustrating RNG when it comes to playing for high-scores. You find treasure, which gives you lots of points. But, rare treasures give you more. For instance:
Mirror - 4,000
Ruby ring - 10,000
Golden crown - 100,000
These aren't the only three, but the huge disparity in score means a poor run with a rare treasure will eclipse a really long and well-played run where you find bad treasure.
All-in-all, Libble Rabble is a mechanical joy and will still impress despite being almost 40 years old.
oh, and it has co-op, which is sure to baffle your friends. convince them to come play with you by telling them that this is "pac-man 2"
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