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Bubble Bobble

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Adleid (talk | contribs) at 04:01, 5 February 2024 (continuing to convert into a series article). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

  • Comment: GameFAQs is not a reliable source and should never be used on Wikipedia, please replace with a reliable one.
    This is also a "List of video games" rather than a series page. I will have to change its name if ever approved. If you wanted to write a series article, its format would have to be totally different. ᴢxᴄᴠʙɴᴍ (ᴛ) 14:34, 4 February 2024 (UTC)
Bubble Bobble
TypeVideo Game
GenrePlatform
Publisher(s)JP: Taito

US: Romstar

EU: Electrocoin
First releaseBubble Bobble
June 16, 1986
Latest releaseBubble Bobble 4 Friends
2019

Bubble Bobble is a series of platforming arcade and home video games originally published by Taito. The first entry in the series, Bubble Bobble, was released on June 16, 1986 for arcade cabinets. In most entries in the series, players control two dragons named Bub and Bob. The series was later expanded with puzzle games as well as a Pachinko game and Medal games.

Main series

Main series games
Title Original release date

Japan

North America

European Union

Bubble Bobble June 16, 1986 October 1986 October 1986
Notes:
  • Originally released on arcade.
  • Released on the Famicom Disk System in Japan in October 30, 1987.
  • Released on the NES in North America in November 1988 and in the European Union in October 26, 1990.[1]
Rainbow Islands: The Story of Bubble Bobble 2 1987 1987 1987
Notes:
  • Sequel to Bubble Bobble.
  • Originally released on arcade.
  • Ported to home computers and home video game consoles from 1989 to 2024. Many ports had alternate level layouts and game mechanics.
  • Ported to NES in 1988 for North America as Rainbow Islands and in 1991 for the European Union as Rainbow Islands: Bubble Bobble 2. Both ports feature changes in level layout and game mechanics.
  • Ported to WonderSwan in 2000 as Rainbow Islands: Putty's Party.
Rainbow Islands Extra Version 1988 1988 1988
Notes:
  • A modified version of Rainbow Islands: The Story of Bubble Bobble 2.
  • Originally released on arcade in limited numbers.
  • Released on Mega Drive in 1990.[2]
Parasol Stars: The Story of Bubble Bobble III 1991 1991 1992
Notes:
  • Sequel to Rainbow Islands: The Story of Bubble Bobble 2.
  • Originally released on the NEC PC Engine in Japan and North America (where the PC Engine was known as the TurboGrafx-16).
  • Ported to Amiga, Atari ST, NES, and Game Boy for sale exclusively in the European Union.[3]
Bubble Bobble Part 2 March 5, 1993 July 1993 N/A
Notes:
  • Two versions of the game were developed independently from each other for the NES and Game Boy systems.
  • Known in Japan as Bubble Bobble 2.
  • The Game Boy version is known in Japan as Bubble Bobble Junior.[4]
Bubble Symphony October 5, 1994 October 5, 1994 October 5, 1994
Notes:
  • Originally released on arcade.
  • Ported to Sega Saturn in Japan on November 27, 1997.
  • Also known as Bubble Bobble II.
Bubble Memories: The Story of Bubble Bobble III February 7, 1996 N/A February 15, 1996
Notes:
  • Sequel to Bubble Symphony.[5]
Bubble Bobble Old & New 2002 Unknown Unknown
Notes:
  • A remake of Bubble Bobble.
  • Released on the Game Boy Advance.[6]
Bubble Bobble Revolution 24 November 2005 3 October 2006 2 December 2005
Notes:
  • Released on Nintendo DS.
  • Known as Bubble Bobble DS in Japan.
  • Featured "Classic" mode, which played similarly to the original Bubble Bobble, and "New-Age" mode, which made use of the Nintendo DS' dual screens.
Rainbow Islands Revolution 29 December 2005 3 October 2006 28 April 2006
Notes:
  • Update of Rainbow Islands: The Story of Bubble Bobble 2.
  • Released on Nintendo DS.
  • Also released in Australasia on 14 April 2006.
  • Known in Japan as New Rainbow Islands.
Bubble Bobble Evolution August 31, 2006 December 19, 2006 September 29, 2006
Notes:
  • Released on the PlayStation Portable.
  • Also released in Australasia on October 19, 2006.
  • Known in Japan as Bubble Bobble: Magical Tower Daisakusen!!.
Rainbow Islands Evolution February 8, 2007 January 24, 2008 March 23, 2007
Notes:
  • Remake of Rainbow Islands: The Story of Bubble Bobble 2.
  • Released on PlayStation Portable.
  • Also released in Australasia on March 29, 2007.
  • Known in Japan as New Rainbow Island: Hurdy Gurdy Daibōken!!.
Bubble Bobble Double Shot N/A February 26, 2008 March 23, 2007
Notes:
  • Released on the Nintendo DS.
  • Also released in Australasia on April 5, 2007.
Bubble Bobble Plus! February 10, 2009 May 25, 2009 N/A
Notes:
  • Remake of Bubble Bobble.
  • Originally released on the Wii in Japan (as Bubble Bobble Wii) on February 10, 2009, in the PAL regions on April 10, and in North America on May 25.
  • Released as Bubble Bobble Neo! on Xbox 360 in Japan on August 5, 2009 and in North America on September 16.
Rainbow Islands: Towering Adventure! March 3, 2009 June 15, 2009 N/A
Notes:
  • Spin-off of the Rainbow Islands games.
  • Originally released on Wii, including for the PAL regions on May 8, 2009.
  • Also released on Xbox Live Arcade on October 28, 2009.
Bubble Bobble Double 2010 Unknown Unknown
Notes:
  • Released on iOS.
Bubble Bobble for Kakao June 2015 Unknown Unknown
Notes:
Bubble Bobble 4 Friends February 2020 March 2020 November 19, 2019
Notes:
  • Originally released on Nintendo Switch in Europe and Australia.
  • Released in Japan and North America a few months later.
  • Also released on Steam as Bubble Bobble 4 Friends: The Baron's Workshop on September 30, 2021.[8][9][10][11][12]

Bubble Bobble

The first game in the series was Bubble Bobble, originally released on June 16, 1986 in Japan, which was a platforming arcade game which puts the players in control of two dragons named Bub (who is green) and Bob (who is blue) who need to save their girlfriends from a world known as the Cave of Monsters. In each level, Bub and Bob must defeat each enemy present by trapping them in bubbles blown from their mouths and then popping the bubbles. The enemies then drop bonus items when they hit the ground. There are 100 levels total, each becoming progressively more difficult.[13] The game was designed around two-player gameplay, and so by inserting another coin the second dragon, Bob, can be controlled.[14]

Bubble Bobble was ported to many home video game consoles, including the Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, DOS, Apple II, Amiga, Famicom Disk System, Nintendo Entertainment System, MSX2, and Master System.[15][16] The Master System port featured 200 levels and was released as Final Bubble Bobble in Japan. Ports to the Game Boy (in 1991) and the Game Boy Color (in 1996) were released as Classic Bubble Bobble.

Bubble Bobble Part 2

Bubble Bobble Part 2 was a sequel to Bubble Bobble with simultaneous development by different teams on the Nintendo Entertainment System and the Game Boy. This lead to each version of the game having different storylines while the gameplay was largely unchanged from the original. Both versions of the game were released in 1993.

In the Game Boy version, a character named Robby has to rescue people from a village who have been captured by the floating skull character.

In the NES version, Bub's friend Judy is kidnapped by a floating skull character. Bub and Bob then turn into dragons and head off to save her. In addition, unlike the original Bubble Bobble, the two players must take turns playing on every other level, rather than playing the levels cooperatively as in other entries in the series.[17] The NES version also includes three bonus games which are located after the player defeats a boss, or through a certain door.

In Japan, the NES version of the game was known as Bubble Bobble 2, and the Game Boy version was known as Bubble Bobble Junior.

Bubble Symphony

Bubble Symphony (also known as Bubble Bobble II), a sequel to Bubble Bobble was released in 1994.[18] It makes many changes to the original gameplay formula. The changes that have been made are that a boss is now encountered every five to ten levels, which is similar to a feature in Rainbow Islands, and the player takes a branching route through the levels by selecting one of two doors after every boss. Two new playable female dragons were also added, Kululun (an amber dragon) and Cororon (a pink dragon).

The players can now charge the bubble, and if released when the dragon's horns or bow is glowing, he/she will breathe three bubbles at once, with the specific formation dependent on the character chosen. The players must collect certain square cards with music notes inside, in order to get the 4 keys that lead to the final world or face an early false ending. Also, the characters have to collect a rod to turn their characters from their dragon to human forms during the course of the game.

The game was ported to Sega Saturn in Japan.

Bubble Memories

Bubble Memories: The Story of Bubble Bobble III

Bubble Bobble Revolution

Bubble Bobble Evolution

Bubble Bobble Double Shot

Bubble Bobble Plus!

Bubble Bobble 4 Friends

Rainbow Islands

Remakes

Puzzle Bobble

Many of the characters and musical themes of Bubble Bobble were used by Taito in a tile-matching video game Puzzle Bobble (also known as Bust-a-Move) and its sequels.

Other formats

References

  1. ^ "Bubble Bobble Release Information for Famicom Disk System – GameFAQs". gamefaqs.gamespot.com. Retrieved 2024-02-04.
  2. ^ "Rainbow Islands Extra Version for Arcade Games – GameFAQs". gamefaqs.gamespot.com. Retrieved 2024-02-04.
  3. ^ "Parasol Stars: The Story of Bubble Bobble III for TurboGrafx-16 – GameFAQs". gamefaqs.gamespot.com. Retrieved 2024-02-04.
  4. ^ "Bubble Bobble Part 2 for Game Boy – GameFAQs". gamefaqs.gamespot.com. Retrieved 2024-02-04.
  5. ^ "Bubble Memories for Arcade Games – GameFAQs". gamefaqs.gamespot.com. Retrieved 2024-02-04.
  6. ^ Taito (2002-07-25), Bubble Bobble Old & New (Gameboy Advance), retrieved 2024-02-04
  7. ^ "스코넥 Mobile | Mobile News". June 21, 2017. Archived from the original on 2017-06-21.
  8. ^ "Bubble Bobble 4 Friends announced". Metro. August 14, 2019.
  9. ^ "Bubble Bobble 4 Friends launches March 31, 2019 in North America". Gematsu. 25 February 2020. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
  10. ^ Lada, Jenni (29 November 2019). "Amazon Japan Bubble Bobble 4 Friends Cyber Monday Deal Gives People Final Bubble Bobble". Siliconera. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
  11. ^ "Bubble Bobble 4 Friends for PS4 launches in November in Japan alongside major update". Gematsu. 23 June 2020. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  12. ^ "Bubble Bobble 4 Friends: The Baron is Back! for Nintendo Switch – Nintendo Official Site". www.nintendo.com. Retrieved 2024-02-04.
  13. ^ "Bubble Bobble - Videogame by Taito". Museum of the Game. Retrieved 2024-02-05.
  14. ^ Crash Magazine Issue 39. April 1987.
  15. ^ "Atari ST Bubble Bobble : scans, dump, download, screenshots, ads, videos, catalog, instructions, roms". www.atarimania.com. Retrieved 2024-02-05.
  16. ^ "Bubble Bobble at Spectrum Computing - Sinclair ZX Spectrum games, software and hardware". Spectrum Computing. Retrieved 2024-02-05.
  17. ^ "Bubble Bobble: Part 2 (1993)". MobyGames. Retrieved 2024-02-05.
  18. ^ "Bubble Symphony - Videogame by Taito". Museum of the Game. Retrieved 2024-02-05.
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