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{{GameInfobox |image = Front-Cover-Bubble-Bobble-NA-NES.jpg |developer = Taito |publisher = Taito,Romstar,Firebird,Ocean,Mattel,Square Enix |designer = Fukio Mitsuji |composer = Tadashi Kimijima |platforms = Arcade,Commodore 64,Amiga,Amstrad CPC,Apple II,Atari ST,Game Gear,Sharp X68000,DOS,FM Towns Marty,Game Boy,Game Boy Color,Famicom Disk System,Master System,Microsoft Windows,Mobile,MSX2,Nintendo 3DS,Nintendo Entertainment System,PlayStation,PlayStation 4,Saturn,Wii,Wii U,ZX Spectrum |dplatforms = Virtual Console,Nintendo eShop,PlayStation Network |vcplatforms = Wii, Nintendo 3DS, Wii U |franchise = Bubble Bobble |na_rel = {{Release|1986|||NA|Arcade}}<br>{{Release|1989|||NA|Commodore 64, Microsoft Windows}}<br>{{Release|1991|March||NA|Game Boy}}<br>{{Release|1999|||NA|Game Boy Color}}<br>{{Release|1994|||NA|Game Gear}}<br>{{Release|1987|||NA|MSX2}}<br> {{Release|1988|November||NA|Nintendo Entertainment System}}<br>{{Release|2007|December|31|NA|Wii Virtual Console}}<br> {{Release|2016|March|15|NA|PlayStation Network}} |eu_rel = {{Release|1987|||EU|Amiga, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, ZX Spectrum}}<br>{{Release|1991|||EU|GB}}<br> {{Release|1999|October||EU|GBC}}<br>{{Release|1990|October|26|EU|Nintendo Entertainment System}}<br>{{Release|2007|November|23|EU|Wii Virtual Console}}<br>{{Release|1992|||EU|Master System}}<br>{{Release|2016|April|1|EU|PlayStation Network}} |jp_rel = {{Release|1986|||JP|Arcade}}<br>{{Release|1987|October|30|JP|Famicom Disk System}}<br> {{Release|1990|October|31|JP|FM Towns Marty}}<br>{{Release|1990|December|7|JP|Game Boy}}<br>{{Release|2000|May|26|JP|Game Boy Color}}<br>{{Release|2008|May|13|JP|Wii Virtual Console}}<br>{{Release|2013|October|16|JP|3DS Virtual Console}}<br> {{Release|2014|January|29|JP|Wii U Virtual Console}}<br>{{Release|1988|July|2|JP|Master System}}<br> {{Release|1990|March|9|JP|Sharp X68000}}<br>{{Release|2016|January|29|JP|PlayStation Network}} |au_rel = {{Release|1990|||AU|Nintendo Entertainment System}}<br>{{Release|2007|November|23|AU|Wii Virtual Console}}<br> {{Release|2016|April|1|AU|PlayStation Network}} |kr_rel = {{Release|2008|June|10|KR|Wii Virtual Console}} |sa_rel = {{Release|1994|||SA|Master System}} |as_rel = {{Release|1993|||AS|Game Boy}} |genre = Platformer |features = Single-player,Multi-player |ratings = PEGI-3,VET-3,ACB-G,USK-All,ESRB-E |media = Cartridge,Download,CD-ROM,Game Boy Cartridge,Master System Cartridge,Cassette Tape,Family Computer Disk,Game Gear Cartridge,NES Cartridge,PlayStation CD-ROM |input = Controller }} '''Bubble Bobble''' is an arcade game developed by [[Taito]]. The game was later ported to many consoles, home computers and handhelds. ==Overview== {{Nihongo|'''''Bubble Bobble'''''|バブルボブル|Baburu Boburu}} is an [[arcade game]] by [[Taito Corporation|Taito]], first released in 1986 <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arcade-museum.com/game_detail.php?game_id=7222 |title=Bubble Bobble Video Game by Taito (1986)| publisher=klov.com|accessdate=2009-10-04 }}</ref> and later [[porting|ported]] to numerous [[home computer]]s and [[Video game console|game console]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mobygames.com/game-group/bubble-bobble-games |title=Bubble Bobble Games| publisher=mobygames.com|accessdate=2009-10-04 }}</ref> The game, starring the twin Bubble Dragons {{nihongo|'''Bub''' ''(Bubblun)''|バブルン|Baburun}} and {{nihongo|'''Bob''' ''(Bobblun)''|ボブルン|Boburun}}, is an action-platform game in which players travel through one hundred different stages, blowing and bursting [[Liquid bubble|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 Robots, among other enemies. It is also notable for being an early example of a game with [[multiple endings]], which depended on the player's skill and discovering secrets. ==Story== The game feature two dinosaurs, Bub and Bob, which had to rescue their girlfriends kidnapped by a monster. ==Gameplay== Bub (or also Bob, if playing two-player) would encapsulate the monsters in bubbles and pop them, destroying the monster and leaving behind food or other items, worth points in multiples of 100. ===Game mechanics=== 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.adamdawes.com/retrogaming/rg_08_bubblebobble.html|title=Bubble Trouble |issue=8 |work=Retro Gamer magazine |first=Adam|last=Dawkes|publisher=adamdawes.com|year=2004|accessdate=2013-01-11 }}</ref> 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. The game's music was written by Japanese team [[Zuntata]]. Peter Clarke, [[Tim Follin]] and [[David Whittaker (video game composer)|David Whittaker]] converted the music for the home computer ports (some versions feature the ending sequence track for the title screen music, such as on the Commodore Amiga version by David Whittaker). ===Monsters=== There are a variety of enemies that move about in different patterns. Contact with an enemy (or the missiles fired by some) will kill a dragon. The dragons' job is to complete the level by killing all enemies in it. If this is not achieved within a time limit, the message '''"Hurry up!"''' will flash across the screen. When this happens, enemies become "angry" (making them red and move faster thus making them more dangerous). Approximately ten seconds later, one or two Skel enemies appear on screen. Enemies also become "angry" if they escape from a bubble that is not burst quickly enough by one of the dragons. They ''may'' but not always calm down when one of the dragons dies. When in Super Mode, most enemies get swapped with a counterpart, e.g. PulPuls replace Monstas and viceversa. There are 8 kinds of normal enemies, plus the final boss and two kinds of invincible monsters that appear after the "Hurry up!" limit, each with their own names. Roughly, in order of appearance in the Normal version of the game, they are: * [[File:Benzo.gif]] '''Bubble Buster''' (Japanese "Zen-Chan"): A box-shaped, clockwork walking monster with a medium moving speed and good jumping abilities. He's the first monster that appears in the game at stage 1. Interestingly, this monster also appears in the graphic tiles of the ROM of the arcade game ''Chack'n Pop'', along with the '''Stoner''' and '''Beluga''', but doesn't actually appear ''inside'' the game. ''Super Mode counterpart: '''Incendo'''.'' * [[File:Ghost (Bubble Bobble) (modified).gif]] '''Stoner''' (Japanese "Mighta"): A walking monster with red eyes who wears a white robe, much like a ghost. Has a medium moving speed, good jumping abilities and is able to shoot. First appearing in this game at stage 6, this monster actually first appeared in Taito's 1983 game ''Chack'n Pop''. ''Super Mode counterpart: '''Willy Whistle'''.'' *[[File:Blubba.gif]] '''Beluga''' (Japanese "Monsta"): A flying blue/dark purple monster shaped roughly like a small whale. It flies fast but can only bounce off walls to change direction. First appearing in this game at stage 10, this monster actually first appeared in ''Chack'n Pop''. ''Super Mode counterpart: '''Hullaballoon'''.'' * [[File:Boaboa.gif]] '''Hullaballoon''' (Japanese "Pulpul"): A pink flying monster looking like a toy bear with a small rotor on his head. Flies around slowly but with greater control than the Beluga, and creeps in very small openings that other monsters and players cannot pass through, thus making it very dangerous in some rounds. It makes its debut at stage 20. (Super Mode counterpart of '''Beluga''') * [[File:Mushroom.gif]] '''Coiley''' (Japanese "Banebou"): A mushroom shaped-monster which can only move by making short jumps, having a single powerful spring instead of legs. It makes its first appearance at stage 30, and is the only monster who stays the same in Super Mode (he is not swapped with any other monster). * [[File:Incendo.gif]] '''Incendo''' (Japanese "Hidegons", singular): A fast walking monster with shooting abilities, but poor jumping. Unlike the Stoner, he doesn't have to stop walking in order to shoot fireballs. He makes his first appearance at stage 40. (Super Mode counterpart of '''Bubble Buster''') * [[File:Drunk.gif]] '''Willy Whistle''' (Japanese "Drunk"): A fast moving monster with good jumping capabilities, and able to throw a bottle which rebounds off walls and is re-caught by the thrower. He first appears at stage 50. The final boss is modelled after them, but is instead called '''Grumple Gromit''' or '''Super Drunk'''. (Super Mode counterpart of '''Stoner''') * [[File:Invader.gif]] '''Super Socket''' (Japanese "Invader"): A robotic-looking monster, which behaves similarly to the enemies from the computer game, [[Space Invaders]]. Can only move left or right, and falls if it reaches the end of a platform. Shoots lasers downwards. It first appears at stage 60, but does not appear at all in the Super version of the game. ('''Incendo''' takes its place in Super Mode.) * [[File:Baron (Bubble Bobble) (modified).gif]] '''Baron von Blubba''' (Japanese "Skel-Monsta"): It is the invincible monster that appears after the time limit for a round has expired (this limit can be as low as 1 or 2 seconds on some rounds, but there are two rounds with no time limit: round 94 and round 100). It looks similar to a white Monsta, but can only move vertically or horizontally at timed intervals. It can pass through walls, ceilings and floors, and speeds up until either the level is completed or a player is killed. In two-player mode, two '''Skels''' appear, each homing in on a particular player, although either player can be killed by touching either of the '''Skels'''. A '''Skel''' can also be dismissed by touching a player who has just been killed and is still flickering, and thus invincible. Another way to get rid of Skel is to pick up the '''flashing heart''' powerup (the only one which remains on the screen after the "Hurry up!" warning. * [[File:Rascol.gif]] '''Rubblen''' (Japanese "Rascal") appears in the secret diamond-filled rounds, which can be accessed by special bonuses that appear on rounds 20, 30 and 40 under certain conditions (explained in later section). Losing one's last life inside such a secret room will cause the maximum round reached to be "Round 102", "Round 103" or "Round 104" depending upon in which secret room death occurred, and the first new game started after that will teleport players to the first secret round straight from round 1, but will also cause secret rounds to appear earlier, at stages 10, 20 and 30, and the special 20-stage skip bonus on stage 40 instead of stage 50. * [[File:Boss.gif|50px]] '''Grumple Gromit''' (Japanese "Super Drunk") is the end-game boss that appears in level 100. It is large, bounces off walls, and fires arcs of bottles. The level contains a magic potion that allows the players to breathe lightning bubbles. It becomes trapped in a bubble only after being struck by many lightning bolts.{{clear}} ===Secret Levels=== ====Weapons and bonuses==== The dragons' main weapon is their ability to blow bubbles. After being blown, they shoot forward for a short distance, then float upwards slowly. It is possible to jump on bubbles to reach otherwise inaccessible areas. An enemy hit by a forward-shooting (not floating) bubble will be trapped in it. The bubble can then be popped, killing the enemy and turning it into an item that can be collected for bonus points. If left floating, it will become angry and escape the bubble after a while. In some levels, there are special bubbles that appear by themselves: * Bubbles with letters that yield an [[extra life]] and the ability to skip the current level when one collects a complete set - all six letters spell 'EXTEND'. Extend bubbles appear when one has popped several enemies at the same time. They will only appear on levels which have holes in the top or bottom of the screen. * Water-filled bubbles that can be popped to release a stream of water that flows down and drowns enemies, turning them into 7000-point blue diamonds. * Bubbles containing lightning bolts that, when the bubble is popped, shoot sideways (even through walls) and kill any enemies they hit, turning them into 8000-point yellow diamonds. The lightning goes in the opposite of the direction that the dragon that popped it was facing. * Bubbles containing flames that, when the bubble is popped, drop downwards setting any surface they touch on fire for a short time, killing any monsters that touch the flame and turning them into 9000-point red diamonds. * A very rare red bubble with a pulsating yellow spark, which when popped awards 100,000 points and gives the player which popped it the ability to breathe fireballs for the six consecutive rounds. This bubble appears randomly with a 1/4096 chance [http://www.tjasink.com/games/bb/items2.html]. Power-ups include: * Red Shoes that enable faster walking and jumping. * A blue bubblegum which increases the travelling and forming speed of bubbles. * A purple bubblegum which increases the shooting range of bubbles. * A yellow bubblegum that increases the rate at which bubbles can be blown. * A yellow lamp which gives all three bubble-related bonuses. * A red cross which gives the player who takes it the ability to breathe flames until the end of the current round. * A yellow cross which causes several lighting bolts to cross the screen, killing any monster they hit, including bubbled ones. * A blue cross which kills all monsters by flooding the round with water. This takes some 3 or 4 seconds to complete though, and players are still vulnerable. * A red lamp which instantly kills all monsters, turning them into 9000-point red diamonds. * A purple bomb, which instantly kills all monsters, turning them into 10,000-point dark blue diamonds. You can't blow any bubbles after the explosion. * A red trophy, gives you all the basic power-ups. * A purple trophy, a smart bomb that kills all enemies and turns them into diamonds. * A blue trophy, gives you extra points when you run along the ground. * A blue umbrella, advance three rooms. * A yellow umbrella, advance five rooms. * A purple umbrella, advance seven rooms. * A diamond necklace, releases a ball that flies around the screen and turns enemies into diamonds. * A red ring, gives you 100 points for every bubble blown. * A silver ring, creates a stream of stars that kill all enemies. * A blue ring, gets you points while running around. * A purple ring, gives you 500 points every time you jump. * A book, smart bomb that kills all enemies and turns them into diamonds - "Throw the book at them!" * A glowing heart, enemies freeze and you can run into them. * A candy cane that gives large bonus fruits at the end of the round that are 10000 to 30000 points depending on the color of the candy cane. * A treasure chest, similar to candy canes except diamonds fall. * A clock/watch, stops level timer and changes screen color. * A bell, activates alarm that will warn the player that a secret weapon is about to appear. * A skull, turns the enemies fast and nasty. * A potion, fills the screen with various items, collect all of these for a 100,000 point bonus ====Bonuses and Events==== A relatively unknown and obscure part of Bubble Bobble gameplay has always been the way the various bonuses appear. While most of them may appear completely random, the game actually keeps a series of internal (and unseen) counters about events such as number of jumps, jumps over bubbles, bubble bursts, bubbles blown etc. during a round or in the whole game, maximum number of monsters blown in a certain round etc. and these events are actually used to determine which bonuses will appear, and to a certain extent ''when'' they will appear. Some known events and the effect they have on bonuses are: The number of ''distinct'' EXTEND bubbles that will appear on a round depend on the maximum number of monsters killed during the round, or on a previous round if said previous round didn't have "openings" for EXTEND bubbles to fly in, or was completed before they could appear. In general, killing '''N+1''' monsters will make '''N''' distinct EXTEND bubbles appear. Since the game actually can have only 7 monsters per round, killing 7 monsters in a single bubble cluster will make all 6 EXTEND letters appear. In Taito's PC port, however, killing '''N''' monsters will cause the '''N-th''' letter of the word to appear - making the N extremely hard to get because there's only few levels where you can easily pop five enemies simultaneously. This is probably a bug. Another known event-triggered event is the appearance of ''candy cane'' bonuses: if a player '''rides a bubble''' more than 20 times, then a candy cane will surely appear in that round. Other bonuses can be made to appear in similar manners, and there is at least one internet page listing some of the events and their effects [http://www.tjasink.com/games/bb/items2.html]. For a special bonus on the NES version, a player must enter the password HIJID, select 2 player continue, and finish round FO (last level) with both players alive. After the entire ending has run and the player is prompted to press start, the player will receive a reward. The reward is a sound test for the whole game. ==Ports== The popularity of ''Bubble Bobble'' led Taito (or its licensees) to [[porting|port]] to many [[home computer]]s and [[video game console]]s. Ports of the game were released for the [[Commodore 64]], [[Sinclair ZX Spectrum]], [[Amiga]], [[Atari ST]], [[MSX]], [[Amstrad CPC]], [[Sharp X68000]], [[Personal computer|PC]] ([[MS-DOS]], 1989 and 1996), [[Apple II series|Apple II]], [[FM Towns Marty]], [[Sega Master System]], [[Game Boy]], [[Game Boy Color]], [[Game Boy Advance]], [[Nintendo DS]], [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]], [[Sega Saturn]], [[Nintendo Entertainment System]], [[Family Computer Disk System|Famicom Disk System]], [[Sega Game Gear]], [[mobile phone]] ([[Sprint Nextel|Sprint PCS]]), [[Texas Instruments]] [[TI-83|TI-8x series]] of calculators<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dwedit.org/bubblebobble/ |title=Bubble Bobble 8x |accessdate=2009-07-18 }}</ref> and [[UltraCade Technologies|UltraCade]]'s Taito Arcade Classics. A version also exists for the [[BBC Micro]] on [[public domain]] though never officially released. The original [[Sega Master System]] version had two hundred levels.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bubble Bobble Cheats, Codes, and Secrets|url=http://www.gamefaqs.com/sms/588042-bubble-bobble/cheats|publisher=GameFaqs|accessdate=2 July 2012}}</ref> Of the original 8 and 16 bit ports, the NES and Game Boy ones were made by Taito themselves. Sega converted Bubble Bobble for the Master System (although this version was not released in North America). The Commodore 64 and Spectrum versions were made by UK-based Firebird Software, and most of the other computer ports by US-based Novalogic. In 1996 [[Taito Corporation|Taito]] announced that they lost the original source code.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arcade-history.com/?n=bubble-bobble&page=detail&id=343 |title=Bubble Bobble video game, Taito Corp. (1986)| publisher=arcade-history.com|accessdate=2009-10-04 }}</ref> As [[Acclaim Cheltenham|Probe Entertainment]] was in charge of the home conversions, [[Taito Corporation|Taito]] sent them a ''Bubble Bobble'' [[arcade game|arcade]] [[Printed circuit board|PCB]] so they could play the original game and reproduce its mechanics. This led to the release of ''Bubble Bobble also featuring [[Rainbow Islands]]'' for [[Sega Saturn|Saturn]], [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]] and [[Personal computer|PC]] ([[MS-DOS]]) in 1996. The original [[Game Boy]] and [[Game Boy Color]] versions have a Moon Water storyline, and are known as ''Bubble Bobble'', and ''Classic Bubble Bobble'' respectively.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://strategywiki.org/wiki/Bubble_Bobble |title=Bubble Bobble StrategyWiki| publisher=strategywiki.com|accessdate=2009-10-04 }}</ref> In 2002, a [[Homebrew (video games)|homebrew]] version for the [[TI-83 series|TI-83]] [[graphing calculator]] was released.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dwedit.org/bubblebobble/ |title=Bubble Bobble 8x |publisher=Dwedit.org |date= |accessdate=2012-08-10}}</ref> {{Computing_platform requirements| OS_name=TI-83&4 series| CPU_name=Zilog Z80| this_software_genre=games}} In October 2005, a version was released for the [[Xbox]], [[PlayStation 2]], and [[Personal computer|PC]] as part of the ''[[Taito Legends]]'' compilation of [[retrogaming|classic arcade games]]. At the end of 2006 a new port for mobile phones in Europe and Japan was released. On December 31, 2007, the NES version of Bubble Bobble was released on Nintendo's [[Virtual Console]] service for the [[Wii]]. It costs 500 [[Nintendo Points|Wii Points]], the equivalent of [[United States dollar|US$]]5. During Christmas of 2011, a new version for the [[Amstrad CPC]], entitled ''Bubble Bobble 4 CPC'' or ''BB4CPC'' was released for free by programmer CNGSoft, as an update to the original/official CPC version, which has been criticised for its lacklustre implementation and underuse of the system's hardware potential.<ref>http://cngsoft.no-ip.org/cng_bb4cpc.htm</ref> ==Reception== {{Video game reviews |title = Reception (home versions) |Allgame = NES: {{Rating|4.5|5}}<ref>{{cite web |last=Couper |first=Chris|title=Bubble Bobble-Review|publisher=[[Allgame]] |accessdate=April 12, 2013 |url=http://allgame.com/game.php?id=263&tab=review |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141115151433/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=263&tab=review |archivedate=2014-11-15}}</ref> |CRASH = ZX: 90%<ref>{{citation |url=http://www.worldofspectrum.org/showmag.cgi?mag=Crash/Issue45/Pages/Crash4500132.jpg |title=Bubble Bobble Review |journal='''Crash''' |date = October 1987 | issue = 45 | pages = 132–133 | archiveurl=http://www.crashonline.org.uk/45/bubble.htm | archivedate = 2006| accessdate=2012-08-10}}</ref> |CVG = C64/CPC/ZX/ST: 27/30<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.worldofspectrum.org/showmag.cgi?mag=C+VG/Issue072/Pages/CVG07200015.jpg |title=Bubble Bobble Review |journal='''C+VG''' | issue=72 | pages=14–15 |date= October 1987 |accessdate=2012-08-10}}</ref> |Gspot = NES: 8.0/10<ref>{{cite web |last=Shau|first=Austin|title=Bubble Bobble Review |publisher=[[Gamespot]] |accessdate=April 12, 2013 |url=http://uk.gamespot.com/bubble-bobble/reviews/bubble-bobble-review-6184910/}}</ref> |SUser = ZX: 8/10<ref name = "suser">{{cite web|url=http://www.worldofspectrum.org/showmag.cgi?mag=SinclairUser/Issue068/Pages/SinclairUser06800050.jpg |title=Bubble Bobble Review |journal='''Sinclair User'''|date = October 1987 | issue = 68 | pages = 50 | accessdate=2012-08-10}}</ref> |YSinclair = ZX: 90%<ref name=YSinclair>{{citation |url=http://www.worldofspectrum.org/showmag.cgi?mag=YourSinclair/Issue69/Pages/YourSinclair6900056.jpg |title=Bubble Bobble Review |journal='''Your Sinclair''' | date= September 1991 | issue = 69 | pages = 56 | archiveurl=http://www.ysrnry.co.uk/articles/bubblebobble-69.htm | archivedate = 2006 | accessdate=2012-08-10}}</ref> |rev1 = [[The Games Machine]] |rev1Score = C64/CPC/ST/ZX: 93%<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.worldofspectrum.org/showmag.cgi?mag=TheGamesMachine/Issue01/Pages/TheGamesMachine0100066.jpg |title=Bubble Bobble Review |journal='''The Games Machine'''| issue=1 | pages=66 |date= November 1987 |accessdate=2012-08-10}}</ref> |rev2 = ''[[Mean Machines]]'' |rev2Score = GB: 91%<ref name="mm_gb"/> |rev3 = ''[[Mean Machines Sega]]'' |rev3Score = SMS: 85%<ref>http://www.smspower.org/Reviews/BubbleBobble-SMS-MeanMachinesSegaGamesIndex</ref> |rev4 = ''[[Sega Pro]]'' |rev4Score = SMS: 81%<ref>http://www.smspower.org/Reviews/BubbleBobble-SMS-SegaPro</ref> |rev5 = [[The Video Game Critic]] |rev5Score = NES: B+<ref>{{cite web | title = Bubble Bobble Review | url=http://videogamecritic.com/nesbb.htm#Bubble_Bobble |publisher=videogamecritic.net |date= |accessdate=April 12, 2013}}</ref> |rev6 = [[Zzap!64]] |rev6Score = C64: 97%<ref>{{citation | journal = '''Zzap!64''' |url=http://www.zzap64.co.uk/cgi-bin/displaypage.pl?issue=030&page=012&thumbstart=0&magazine=zzap |title = Bubble Bobble Review | publisher= [[Newsfield Publications]] |date = October 1987 |accessdate=2014-06-23 | issue = 30 | pages = 12 }}</ref> |award1Pub = [[:jp:ゲーメスト大賞|''Gamest'' Awards]] |award1 = [[Game of the Year|Silver Award]] |award2Pub = ''[[Zzap!64]]'' |award2 = Gold Medal |award3Pub = ''[[Your Sinclair]]'' |award3 = Mega Game,<ref name=YSinclair/><br />[[List of video games considered the best|Top 100 Games of All Time]] (#58)<ref name="sinclair100"/> |award4Pub = [[GamesRadar]] |award4 = Best NES Games of All Time<ref name="gr_nes"/> }} ''Bubble Bobble'' was well received in arcades. In Japan, the [[:jp:ゲーメスト大賞|''Gamest'' Awards]] gave it the Silver Award for being one of the four [[Game of the Year|best games]] of 1986, along with Taito's own ''[[Arkanoid]]'', [[Sega]]'s ''[[Fantasy Zone]]'' and [[Tecmo]]'s ''[[Rygar]]''.<ref name=gamest>''[[:jp:Gamest|Gamest]]'', ''The Best Game 2: Gamest Mook Vol. 112'', pp. 6-26</ref> In Europe, ''Bubble Bobble'' was the most popular arcade game on Euromax's nationwide UK charts during the period of May–July 1987, above [[Capcom]]'s ''[[1942 (video game)|1942]]'' at second place.<ref>https://archive.org/stream/cvg-magazine-070/CVG_070_Aug_1987#page/n111/mode/2up</ref> The arcade game also received positive reviews from European critics. In the November 1986 issue of ''[[Computer and Video Games]]'', Clare Edgeley described it as an "addictive" game that "sounds quite easy", letting "you in gently", before "the nasties get faster, more of them appear and they're harder to catch." She stated the "[[Continue (video games)|continue]] play facility" is "a great help and allows you to see much more of the game" if "you've got the cash", and the "two player option is more fun as" both "can act as a team" to "clear the screens quickly" and "get to the harder levels." She also noted "the sense of competition is heightened as the player who grabs the fruit gets the points, regardless of who burst the bubbles", which "fast develops into a race against each other."<ref>http://www.solvalou.com/subpage/arcade_reviews/231/60/bubble_bobble_review.html</ref> In the April 1987 issue of ''[[Crash (magazine)|Crash]]'', Gary Penn described it as a "deceptively simple" arcade game "that proves very addictive and lots of fun to play." He concluded that it was "very compelling" and recommended readers to "Invest a few coins as soon as you can."<ref>http://www.solvalou.com/subpage/arcade_reviews/74/60/bubble_bobble_review.html</ref> The console and computer ports were also well received. ''[[Mean Machines]]'' gave the Game Boy port of the game a score of 91%, noting that while some changes had been made, the game played identical to the original arcade port and "provides much addiction and challenge".<ref name="mm_gb">{{citation |date=August 1992 |title=Bubble Bobble Review |journal='''Mean Machines''' |issue=23|url=http://www.meanmachinesmag.co.uk/pdf/bubblebobblegb.pdf | archiveurl=http://www.meanmachinesmag.co.uk/review/386/bubble-bobble.php | archivedate = 2006 | accessdate=2009-06-04}}</ref> The Spectrum version was voted number 58 in the ''[[Your Sinclair]] Readers' Top 100 Games of All Time''.<ref name="sinclair100">{{citation |date=September 1993 |title=Let the People Decide |journal='''Your Sinclair''' |issue=93 |pages=11 |url=ftp://ftp.worldofspectrum.org/pub/sinclair/magazines/YourSinclair/Issue93/Pages/YourSinclair9300058.jpg | accessdate = 2014-06-24| archiveurl= http://www.worldofspectrum.org/ystop100.html | archivedate= 16 August 2006 }}</ref> [[GamesRadar]] ranked it the 24th best NES game ever made. The staff praised its advancements over other platform games of its time and its use of multiple endings.<ref name="gr_nes">{{citation |title=Best NES Games of all time |url=http://www.gamesradar.com/best-nes-games-all-time/ |journal ='''GamesRadar''' |date=2012-04-16 |accessdate=2013-12-05}}</ref> ==Legacy== ''Bubble Bobble'' inspired many sequels, including: *''[[Rainbow Islands: The Story of Bubble Bobble 2]]'' (1987) *''[[Rainbow Islands: The Story of Bubble Bobble 2#Extra version|Rainbow Islands Extra Version]]'' (1988) *''[[Parasol Stars]]'' (1991 originally released for PC-Engine/TurboGrafx-16, converted for NES (Europe only), Amiga, Atari ST, and Game Boy (Europe only) *''[[Bubble Bobble Part 2]]'' (1993 Nintendo Famicom, Nintendo Entertainment System, Game Boy) *''[[Bubble Symphony|Bubble Bobble II]]'' (World) / ''[[Bubble Symphony]]'' (Europe, Japan, U.S.) (1994 Arcade, [[Sega Saturn]] (Japan only)) *''[[Bubble Memories|Bubble Memories - The Story of Bubble Bobble III]]'' (1995 Arcade) *''Rainbow Islands - Putty's Party'' (2000 Bandai Wonderswan) *''Bubble Bobble Old & New''* (Remake, 2002 Game Boy Advance) *''[[Rainbow Islands: Towering Adventure]]'' (2009 [[WiiWare]], [[Xbox Live Arcade]]) *''[[Bubble Bobble Plus!]]'' (2009 [[WiiWare]]on the Wii) aka ''[[Bubble Bobble Neo!]]'' (2009 [[Xbox Live Arcade]]on Xbox 360) *Many of the characters and musical themes of Bubble Bobble were used by Taito in a [[tile-matching video game]] ''[[Puzzle Bobble]]'' (a.k.a. Bust-a-Move) and its sequels. ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== *[http://www.adamdawes.com/retrogaming/rg_08_bubblebobble.html Adam Dawes' article on Bubble Bobble] *{{KLOV game|7222}} *{{Arcade History|id=343}} *{{StrategyWiki}} *[http://www.adamdawes.com/retrogaming/rg_08_bubblebobble.html ''Bubble Trouble''] A detailed analysis of the arcade version, as published in Retro Gamer magazine. *[http://tjasink.com/games/bb/items2.html ''Bubble Bobble'' Items] Compiled by Stephen Tjasink and Paul Rahme. *[http://mamestuff.lowtrucks.net/Files/BubbleBobbleSeries.pdf ''Bubble Bobble'' series chart] Chronological chart of all Bubble Bobble games. *{{dmoz|Games/Video_Games/Platform/Bubble_Bobble_Series|''Bubble Bobble'' Series}} *[http://bub-n-bros.sourceforge.net/ Bubble Bobble open source clone - The Bub's Brothers] {{Bubble Bobble series}}
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