Bubble Bobble
REDISCOVER RETRO GAMING - CLASSIC 8-BIT NINTENDO NES
NINTENDO NES
Game Title:Bubble Bobble
System:Nintendo NES
Players:1-2 Players
Genre:Platform
Developer(s):Taito
Release Date(s):1986
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Bubble Bobble is an arcade game by Taito released in 1986. The game, starring the twin Bubble Dragons Bub and Bob, is an action-platform game in which players travel through one hundred different stages, blowing and bursting bubbles, dodging enemies and collecting a variety of items. The game became very popular and led to a long series of sequels and spin-offs. The main goal of the game is to rescue Bub and Bob's girlfriends from the Cave of Monsters. It is an early example of a game with multiple endings, which depend on the player's performance and discovery of secrets.
"Baron Von Blubba" has kidnapped the brothers' Bubby and Bobby girlfriends and turned the brothers into Bubble Dragons, Bub and Bob. Bub and Bob have to finish 100 levels in the Cave of Monsters in order to rescue them.
In the game, each player controls one of the two dragons. Players can move along platforms, fall to lower ones, and jump to higher ones and over gaps. Each level is limited to a single screen, with no scrolling; however, if a screen has gaps in its bottom edge, players can fall through these and reappear at the top. Each level has a certain number of enemies that must be defeated in order to advance. The players must blow bubbles to trap the enemies, then burst these bubbles by colliding with them. Each enemy defeated in this manner turns into a food item that can be picked up for extra points. Defeating multiple enemies at once awards higher scores and causes more valuable food items to appear. All bubbles will float for a certain length of time before bursting on their own, players can jump on these and ride them to otherwise inaccessible areas. A player loses one life upon touching any free enemies or their projectiles - rocks, fireballs, lasers, bottles. Enemies turn "angry" becoming pink-colored and moving faster, if they escape from a bubble after being left too long or the players spend a certain amount of time on the current level. They return to normal if either player loses a life. After a further time limit expires, an additional invincible enemy appears for each player, actively chasing them using only vertical and horizontal movements. These disappear once the level is cleared, or when a player loses a life. When there is only one enemy left, it immediately becomes angry and remains in this state until defeated. Magic items appear from time to time, granting special abilities and advantages when picked up. The appearance of these items is governed by the number of times that a player has performed different actions, such as falling through the bottom of the screen or running from one side to the other. Special bubbles occasionally appear that can be burst to attack enemies with fire, water, or lightning. Furthermore, if a player collects letter bubbles to form the bonus word 'EXTEND' you earn a bonus life and both players immediately advance to the next level. In the 100th and final level, the players must defeat the game's boss, the Super Drunk. They must pick up a potion that allows them to blow lightning bubbles, then burst these bubbles to shock the Super Drunk. This game was one of the first to feature multiple endings. Completing Level 100 in single-player mode reveals a message stating that the game has not truly ended and a hint to the player: "Come here with your friend." Basically meaning you are required to complete the game in 2 player mode. If two players complete the game, they see a "Happy End," in which the brothers are transformed to their human selves and reunited with their girlfriends. This ending also includes a code that, when deciphered, allows the game to be played in the faster and more difficult "Super" mode. And finally, when this mode is completed with two players, a second "Happy End" is displayed in which Super Drunk is revealed to be the brothers parents under the control of some outside influence. The brothers return to normal and are reunited with their parents and girlfriends. Happy Ever After. And the Verdict is...
Simply Outstanding! One of the greatest titles available on the NES. A must for any gamer of any age and any preference. 5* |