Bubble Bobble
Reviewed by Shaun J. Smith
In the days of NES dominance, my game purchases were shots in
the dark in terms of quality (before $20 bargains.) Some, like good
old Double Dragon, were well worth the cash; others, like Athena,
were unplayable. Even though I had a high tolerance for even bad
games back in 1989, I appreciated a good game. I must admit,
when I purchased Bubble Bobble at Kay-Bee, its presence was my
first indication of the game's existence. I have never regretted choosing
Bubble Bobble from among 20 candidates. Its depth was a credit to its designers.
Graphics 9 out of 10
I rate this game so highly in graphics largely because of the excellent
colors one could see from start to finish. The characters are bright
and appealing. The various items come in attractive colors; those
that affect game play (e.g. candy) tend to come in the basic set of red,
blue, and green. There are no backgrounds, but the "blocks" with which
each area is constructed vary from level to level. The manner in which
the enemies turn blue when popped is very similar to Pac-Man.
Music and Sound 6 out of 10
In-game, there are only two tracks and a tune representing the Baron's
arrival. There is also music in the title screen, the bonus rounds,
the good ending, the bad ending, and the credits, but 80% of the music
you'll hear is the main game music (sometimes sped up for said Baron.)
The music is good overall, but one could only listen to the same
music for so long.
Game Challenge 8 out of 10
Mind you, part of a good challenge is a fair challenge. After all, we're
only human, and games are supposed to be fun. Bubble Bobble passes
this test with about a B. The technique of bouncing off bubbles (hold A
while landing on one) MUST be mastered, although a player could get
fairly far without it. A password system helps greatly, though one
could play through this game in one sitting without much trouble.
Problems occur in level 57, level 99 (fershlugginer crystal ball and
door), and during the lone boss (see below). Still, the game is somewhat
easy, and passwords are given for every level except the boss stage.
The game must be played through twice; enemy types change in the
second outing. A bonus challenge lies in getting to the secret diamond
room by clearing the first 20 levels without dying once. This
increases the score; it is not easy.
Game Play-Fun 10 out of 10
This is where it matters, and this is why Bubble Bobble is worthy of
your consideration. You could try for high scores, for starters. The
two-player mode is great entertainment; it is not unusual for players
to make comments as to who kills what, who gets what, and so on.
Teamwork is of great value. The technique of riding bubbles is easy
to learn and fun to implement. The real fun, however, lies in the
implementation of items. A huge variety of items is available.
Parasols can help one skip levels (3 or 5, depending on the color.)
The passwords register this, so one is a welcome sight. I will
disclose two secrets involving bubbles. One: sometimes they turn
into score bonuses upon the end of a level. It is pre-set in some
levels (e.g. carrots in level 5), but random in others. The hunt for
such items can bring smiles. Also, if you get a book, a cross, or a bomb,
and use it to defeat an enemy in a bubble, it will turn into a food
instead of a jewel. The food is more visually appealing, but worth
less points. Example: using fire breath (red cross; 10 shots carried
round to round) to smoke a guy in a bubble will yield a sundae with
red topping. Two players (or one, for that matter) will have a great
time trying to obtain the most lucrative bonuses (remember to share!)
A one player game could be converted to a two-player one with minimum trouble
Frustration
Remember what I said about bonus items? The good ones are replaced
by something common and boring if you have to restart the level. If
you lose a life at the boss, good luck getting the rhythm back. Some
levels, like 57, tend to require as much luck as skill (If you get a parasol
and skip some of these bad boys, smile!) In level 99, you must get a
crystal ball and then go through a door; if either one disappears,
choke and retry. A depressing bad ending with music to inspire
nightmares plays if you do not satisfy certain conditions before
defeating the boss. Either you didn't get the crystal ball, or only
one player was alive when you beat the boss. To say that the latter
is ludicrous would be a huge understatement. If you read this warning,
though, you can easily avoid the bad ending. (Press SELECT while
pausing to exchange one of your lives for the other player's presence.)
Replayability 10 out of 10
A password will allow the player to access all levels up to and
including the one where it was obtained. The player could try for
exotic items. As an incentive, the items obtained through wizard's
canes and bonus round potions change as the game progresses, and
are exclusively gained through them. Just try to get apples without
a wand, or money bags without a potion. Once the second quest ends,
a sound test opens up. That could only help. The overall presentation
of the game is so appealing that one would be eager to replay it.
Game Value 8 out of 10
I'm not sure about this one, as I'm partly basing this on Funcoland
prices. At last check, this game was $13.00, making it more expensive
than most other NES games. (That same place charges $55.00 for Dragon
Warrior 4-good grief! But I digress.) Still, the immense fun one could
have playing it makes it a worthwhile purchase. This game's value is
higher if you have a playing partner. It's even higher if you split the
cost. Ignore the other games with the Bubble Bobble name, as they are
not two-player simultaneous. Besides, Bubble Bobble 2 is too expensive.
Overall 8 out of 10
This game is a memorable one. It says a lot that my cousin, who is
now almost exclusively a sports gamer, still asks to play Bubble Bobble,
10 years after he first saw it. He was very disappointed when he
learned that Bust-A-Move was a puzzle game, since he saw the
familiar dinosaurs on the box. This brings to mind a current grievance
with Taito: they are currently milking the Bust-A-Move and Densha
de GO! franchises, instead of making games like Bubble Bobble. If
only Bubble Symphony was released on N64. It wasn't even released
in North America! I'm willing to bet that if you try Bubble Bobble,
you'll agree.