If the goal was to make the game have an almost slot machine addictiveness to it, then mission accomplished! Then, of course, you will run over and pop them into oblivion! It’s very satisfying to do this and then, directly afterward, get rewarded with the gigantic fruit that yields a ton of points! Points are good because Bubble Bobble has been, and remains, an arcade style experience from the player screen and score ratings, to the high score list to brag about. The goal is to blast enough bubbles at them to entrap their oversized bodies in a single, large bubble (I love big bosses and I cannot lie). The boss will pop up front and center, and then starts to go about their patterned attacks, with some being more difficult than others.
One, they are all similar in presentation, and have a very similar vibe to that of something you may see in a Kirby game. I want to interject a moment here and just talk about those boss battles very quickly. I wondered about this exact topic when starting the game and was not disappointed. It’s fun to see what will come next and very exciting to find so many bosses available to fight. As you move to a new section, you’ll see a slightly new angle of the room and the new theme will be revealed. That is, nine levels and one boss level to end each section. This makes so much sense! It’s all the more fitting for the aesthetics to be almost Nintendo-like in presentation, with a sense of fun, warmth, liveliness, and safety to it.Īs you progress in Bubble Bobble 4 Friends, you’ll find there are five sections of 10 levels each.
First off, and this may be a spoiler, so warning – it is worth mentioning Bub and the enemy wizard, Bonner, are both toys! And, this game takes place in a child’s bedroom, with each set of levels based on a theme from what is seen in the child’s room. The first thing you’ll notice is, as I mentioned, how bright and colorful this new installment Bubble Bobble is! I really enjoy the route they went with this. While things are still very familiar, there is quite a bit that has changed from the classic formula, and I’d like to mention some of the most notable examples: aesthetics, level design, gameplay mechanics, and the all new HARD MODE. Now, 25 years after that experience, I was fortunate enough to see Taito come back with something new! They allowed me to relive the nostalgia and make new memories in Bubble Bobble 4 Friends right on my favorite hybrid console.ħ Hours Played // Review Copy Provided // $39.99īubble Bobble 4 Friends bring back Bub and Bob (plus a couple new friends), in glorious high definition with bright colors and all new mechanics. From bubble bouncing to riding the glitchy-looking waves through enemies, I was completely entranced in the original Bubble Bobble game as a child. I have a special place in my heart for two small dragons named Bub and Bob.