Believe it or not Bubble Bobble was originally designed to be a date game in order to lure couples into arcades when the coin op version was released in Japanese game rooms.
One of my favourite games of all time. Been playing it in various versions since the 80's..... Spectrum, Commodore 64, PS1, Original Xbox, Xbox 360 (Bubble Bobble Neo) and currently the PS4 version. Love it as much now as i did back then :D
This was the third video game I ever played, and I played it with my dad when I was really little. This game will always have a special place in my heart :)
I love Bubble Bobble! I got this on my NES Classic Edition, downloaded this on my Wii via Virtual Console, and I also got this on my Taito Legends compilation, published by SEGA for the PlayStation 2.
That song will be stuck in my head for days now - thanks Mark! One of the first video games I ever played. I judged an arcade every time I went into one with 'Does it have Bubble Bobble? If so, this arcade ROCKS.'.
A friend and I spent a week getting all the passwords written down. That was a fun week. The final boss battle is so much fun once you get the pattern down!
I still remember my first time playing this. At my friend's house and he says "let's play this!" When it started I immediately thought "what kind of kids crap is this?!" He said to give it a chance and it took about 5 seconds to realize how awesome it was and I've loved it since!
Taito games of the 1980s had SO Much personality. This one in particular is one of my personal bizarro keepsakes - any time I've owned a game console, I've had to make sure I had a version of it for that platform. I'm currently in love with the DS version, bundled with Bubble Bobble Revolution. It's pretty much arcade perfect!
Mark, there is actual plot to this game. Now, deep, it's not. Bub & Bob...are actually children. Cursed by the witch whom you fight at the end of the game. These kids fight not only to regain their Humanity, but save their...sisters? At least, I think the two females in the witch's lair are their sisters. It's not very well defined within the confines of the game. There's also a bad ending where you don't save their sisters, a good ending where you do and a great ending where even more good things happen. Again, not very well defined on how to gain the better endings. Something like earning a trip to a bonus room, or something. I swear, the game punishes in the later levels for not playing this in two player mode. It does this by redirecting the bubbles into useless patterns, setting up the stages to make it near impossible for one player to reach the foes and other tricks that demand team work. Just a word of warning. Knowing the stages to skip via a power up is crucial. Alas, getting said power up is random. Other things worth noting. The franchise got even more experimental with a couple sequels that change names. (Bubble Bobble II. Rainbow Islands. Parasol Stars.) Then, it hit that Puzzle Bobble phase...and never moved on. Just years and years and years of slightly varied versions of Puzzle Bobble. Like from '94, on wards.
Considering that these two kids sort of/kind of break their curse and return to being children _AND_ go on in the franchise to continue being dragons in spite of that, it would seem to be safe to say that those two kids would quite agree with you. (Either that, or we got a time paradox in motion.)
Nope. Simple enough. Dig Dug is a Namco property and Bubble Bobble is Taito. And, if Bub and Bob have any history prior to this game, I would not know about it.
Always go for the candy first,. don't end the level before you get them. Same with shoes. You can get extra points by moving next to a wall and fire at it, after you have finished the level. It will only last for a couple of seconds and get few points but they pile up. Fantastic game.
I still have the original NES game, and it is fun to play, and the game is still amazing, an excellent port of an arcade classic by Taito, the same company that did "Space Invaders".
It's a low scoring method but it helps to know the distance where you can shoot the bubble and kill them at the same time. I suspect this game is better than it was supposed to be because the sequels succeeded more in having a cute look but weren't as cool.
Grungy Perry Well than you should have followed the Manthology Show, then he may have been back here. Really, so many people complain that they "miss Derek", but didn't even bother to pay attention to what he was doing.
I love the NES version but own the Master System version and have to say that it's superior. Also recently discovered a game called Nightmare in the Dark for the Neo Geo MVS and it is very similar, not quiiiiite as charming as bubble bobble but a great game on its own.
Yet not as widely known, or revered as the NES version. I own both, the SMS version is indeed great, but unless you find a candle item within the first 100 levels, the second set of 100 levels will mostly be dark, you must have candle to light the stages up, a bullshit move from Taito there. And that candle item isn't exactly out in the open to find, but in one of the secret rooms.
Thank you Mark for years and years of fun! I don't watch every episode but whenever I do I greatly enjoy them.
Believe it or not Bubble Bobble was originally designed to be a date game in order to lure couples into arcades when the coin op version was released in Japanese game rooms.
Bubble Bobble and especially Puzzle Bobble are still great games to play with the opposite sex.
One of my favourite games of all time. Been playing it in various versions since the 80's..... Spectrum, Commodore 64, PS1, Original Xbox, Xbox 360 (Bubble Bobble Neo) and currently the PS4 version. Love it as much now as i did back then :D
This was the third video game I ever played, and I played it with my dad when I was really little. This game will always have a special place in my heart :)
I love Bubble Bobble! I got this on my NES Classic Edition, downloaded this on my Wii via Virtual Console, and I also got this on my Taito Legends compilation, published by SEGA for the PlayStation 2.
The soundtrack has been hunting me for decades
BAD END
THIS IS NOT A TRUE ENDING!
TRY AGAIN WITH YOUR FRIEND.
Good times. Loved this growing up. Always used to do dir checks on the old 5150 ibms my school had for this.
That song will be stuck in my head for days now - thanks Mark!
One of the first video games I ever played. I judged an arcade every time I went into one with 'Does it have Bubble Bobble? If so, this arcade ROCKS.'.
played this on a tiny arcade cabinet with my two sons (only two player) at Portland Retro Gaming Expo 2016 and 2017, and it's a blast fosho
A friend and I spent a week getting all the passwords written down. That was a fun week. The final boss battle is so much fun once you get the pattern down!
Love this game played it all the time
I still remember my first time playing this. At my friend's house and he says "let's play this!" When it started I immediately thought "what kind of kids crap is this?!" He said to give it a chance and it took about 5 seconds to realize how awesome it was and I've loved it since!
I just came for the theme song
Wow. The memories of finally beating this game. The final boss wasn't all too difficult I recall.
Taito games of the 1980s had SO Much personality. This one in particular is one of my personal bizarro keepsakes - any time I've owned a game console, I've had to make sure I had a version of it for that platform.
I'm currently in love with the DS version, bundled with Bubble Bobble Revolution. It's pretty much arcade perfect!
Mark, there is actual plot to this game. Now, deep, it's not. Bub & Bob...are actually children. Cursed by the witch whom you fight at the end of the game. These kids fight not only to regain their Humanity, but save their...sisters? At least, I think the two females in the witch's lair are their sisters. It's not very well defined within the confines of the game. There's also a bad ending where you don't save their sisters, a good ending where you do and a great ending where even more good things happen. Again, not very well defined on how to gain the better endings. Something like earning a trip to a bonus room, or something.
I swear, the game punishes in the later levels for not playing this in two player mode. It does this by redirecting the bubbles into useless patterns, setting up the stages to make it near impossible for one player to reach the foes and other tricks that demand team work. Just a word of warning. Knowing the stages to skip via a power up is crucial. Alas, getting said power up is random.
Other things worth noting. The franchise got even more experimental with a couple sequels that change names. (Bubble Bobble II. Rainbow Islands. Parasol Stars.) Then, it hit that Puzzle Bobble phase...and never moved on. Just years and years and years of slightly varied versions of Puzzle Bobble. Like from '94, on wards.
jupreindeer I wouldn't call being turned into a dragon a "curse" if you ask me. ^.=.^
Considering that these two kids sort of/kind of break their curse and return to being children _AND_ go on in the franchise to continue being dragons in spite of that, it would seem to be safe to say that those two kids would quite agree with you. (Either that, or we got a time paradox in motion.)
Aren't they related to dig dug guy or something?
Nope. Simple enough. Dig Dug is a Namco property and Bubble Bobble is Taito. And, if Bub and Bob have any history prior to this game, I would not know about it.
Try the Game Chack'n Pop from 1984 a predecessor to Bubble Bobble with several of the same characters in it.
Always go for the candy first,. don't end the level before you get them. Same with shoes.
You can get extra points by moving next to a wall and fire at it, after you have finished the level. It will only last for a couple of seconds and get few points but they pile up.
Fantastic game.
I still have the original NES game, and it is fun to play, and the game is still amazing, an excellent port of an arcade classic by Taito, the same company that did "Space Invaders".
That's a wee coincidence... I was playing Bubble Bobble only yesterday on the Sega Master System.
I needed this review. Reminded me of a simple time in life.
CeroneGames Go Yup
I beat up a bully who stole my Bubble Bobble cartridge and ran off with it, no way he was taking that game!
I remember playing this game many times to the end and it was so difficult to finish.
Yes, and to get the right ending, you have to beat the game twice with co-op,
That would be truly amazing if CGRundertow came back... Glad to still have Lord Karnage!
I miss that guy.
GT6SuzukaTimeTrials same
I like its port on the gameboy color. It's a great game with a cool two player feature which gives you a differemt ending then playing solo.
We had it on the C64, that was great too.
I'm picking up your books this week brother!
It's a low scoring method but it helps to know the distance where you can shoot the bubble and kill them at the same time. I suspect this game is better than it was supposed to be because the sequels succeeded more in having a cute look but weren't as cool.
Now you have tons of bubble fun with this game.
Gotta get the candy when it shows up. Extends your shot.
small correction, it spells "extend" not "extra".
You try to spell EXTEND, not extra...
Every time I see this game all I can think of is that song by Brentalfloss.
I spent COUNTLESS hours on this game as a kid! :D
You should review the arcade version of this game is available on ps4
Fight For the Future
I love Bubble Bobble,the best game I played.
Mark, we need a Galaxian month too!
you keep the games that people send to you or you send them back after the review?
Is pack man month finished?
Just found the Master System version of this game at a swap meet.
I have it on my C64, easily one of the best C64 games, especially with 2 players =)
They did remake this game in 2009 or so, but why bother with that when you can get an Arcade Archive version on modern consoles?
Song so catchy
There is only one bad Taito game, the rest are amazing. The bad game is Rastan Saga 2, which is weird because Rastan 1 is amazing.
Extra, Mark?
Still, the best game with these cute little dragons is Bust-A-Move.
I am not OCD, but after seeing you ignore all those power-ups, i'm not so sure anymore.
Wow, this is the strangest Pac-Man clone yet. It's practically a completely different game.
Mark This isn't Pac-Man related!
Wait a sec, this isn't Pac-Man! 0/10 would not recommend
It's a spin-off!
great
There's a lizard that shoots Blood Out of it's eye is it a dragon
This game is 10 times better with a second player.
Where's my Pac-Man?
not only fun on its own but fun with non gamers
!! OMFG !! ITS BUBBLE MOTHA FSCKING BOBBLE!!!!
I miss Derek...
Grungy Perry Well than you should have followed the Manthology Show, then he may have been back here.
Really, so many people complain that they "miss Derek", but didn't even bother to pay attention to what he was doing.
Objective fact, not an opinion. If people missed Derek at all, they would have actually paid attention to where he went. He didn't keep it a secret.
Tattle Boad
DOOOOOOOD...........
I beat this game so many times
What happened to Pac Man ? I thought you were going to do another 200 videos WHAT!!
Whatt? This is the weirdest Pac Man clone I've ever seen.
I prefer the master system version
TRUXTON!!!
Oh wait wrong video.
or is it? .........
The Commodore 64 version has better music.
I love the NES version but own the Master System version and have to say that it's superior. Also recently discovered a game called Nightmare in the Dark for the Neo Geo MVS and it is very similar, not quiiiiite as charming as bubble bobble but a great game on its own.
The Master System Version is actually better.
Not a fan of the new direction of this channel. Go back to your roots. Pac-Man videos every single day forever.
It's not as good as Truxton.
Master system version its 100 Times better
Yet not as widely known, or revered as the NES version. I own both, the SMS version is indeed great, but unless you find a candle item within the first 100 levels, the second set of 100 levels will mostly be dark, you must have candle to light the stages up, a bullshit move from Taito there. And that candle item isn't exactly out in the open to find, but in one of the secret rooms.
Fiirssssttttt!!!!