Bubble Bobble

Bubble Bobble

released on Jun 16, 1986
by Taito

,

Sega

Bubble Bobble

released on Jun 16, 1986
by Taito

,

Sega

In the game, each player controls one of the two Bubble Dragons, Bub and Bob. The player can move along platforms, as well as jump to those above and to the side, similar to most platform games. The player can also blow bubbles. These can trap enemies, who are defeated if the bubble is then burst by the player's spiny back. Bubbles that contain enemies can be popped at the same time resulting in different foods being projected around the level. Each enemy trapped in a bubble equates to a different food. Food is consumed and transferred to points (an increasing scale of 1000 points is awarded for each enemy burst in tandem with another meaning: one enemy burst equals one food item worth 1000 points, two enemies burst equals two food items worth 1000 and 2000 points, three enemies burst equals three food items worth 1000, 2000 and 4000 points, and so on), which results in earning lives. These same bubbles also float for a time before bursting, and can be jumped on, allowing access to otherwise inaccessible areas. Players progress to the next level once all enemies on the current level are defeated. Enemies turn "angry" — becoming pink-colored and moving faster — if they are the last enemy remaining, escape from a bubble after being left too long or a certain amount of time has been spent on the current level. A monster will also become angry if either player collects a skull (the only negative item in the game), and the monster is hit by the resulting comet crossing the screen (however, this is a rare occurrence). After a further time limit expires, an additional invincible enemy appears for each player, actively chasing them using only vertical and horizontal movements. These do not need to be defeated to complete the level, and disappear once a player's life is lost. Contact with enemies and their projectiles (rocks, lasers, fireballs, etc.) results in death.


Also in series

Bubble Bobble Also Featuring Rainbow Islands
Bubble Bobble Also Featuring Rainbow Islands
Bubble Memories: The Story of Bubble Bobble III
Bubble Memories: The Story of Bubble Bobble III
Bubble Symphony
Bubble Symphony
Bust-A-Move
Bust-A-Move
Bubble Bobble Part 2
Bubble Bobble Part 2

Reviews View More

What Tetris is to the droves that played it, is what Bubble Bobble is to me. Nothing but bubbly feelings (haha) arise from playing or thinking back on this game. Not being one for reminiscing, rather wanting make what I have right now count, I can’t help but look back on playing this game and Bust-A-Move with my mom back when we were in San Juan and feeling melancholic about it; will I ever recapture that feeling again? Likely not, but I’d like to think so.

The series itself is just unbelievably fun and addictive too, and just like Tetris, deceptively simple in its inner workings. Sure, being the proponent of games as an art form that can remold over time, and being the votary of storytelling that I am, I usually need more out of games than just the fun factor, and am even open to games defying what fun is, but this type of game is just untouchable. The mold had to come from somewhere, and games of this ilk, like Galaga, Defenders, Space Invaders, and so on are the mold. The industry wouldn’t be where it is now, for better or worse, without these games.

Looking back on them, they may be considered primitive, philistines whomever does consider them such, and change was bound to happen, as change is the constant of the universe, but greatness comes from small beginnings. Sic Parvis Magna baby. Classic games being the way they are and coming from the time they did brings greater appreciation for the games we have now and seeing how far the medium has come. Bubble Bobble forever.

Please do not let me see the cover art for this game, it causes the main theme to loop in my head.

Why did Brentalfloss make a fucking country cover of the bubble bobble song it sounds like shit and I hate it. Anyways cool game it feels like doing a bunch of psychedelics and and eating a shit ton of gummy bears. Sorry it’s kinda hard to write a review I’m trying to focus but listening to more brentalfloss as I write this is kinda driving me insane. Just like the game itself. It’s like spiraling into colorful insanity and slowly everything makes less and less sense. But who cares! It’s colorful and fun.

The bubble mechanic is simple but the variety of levels keeps each scenario short and sweet. It does get repetitive after a while.

inventive stuff right here right now