Bubble Bobble is one of the best coin-op games ever created in video games history. The game hit the arcades in 1986 and a year later was ported to all home computers and consoles.
Review
STORY / GAMEPLAY Young boys Bub and Bob were cursed and transformed into small dinosaurs. Their girlfriends are held prisoners by the Giant Bee Master and now Bub (and Bob) must fight their way through 100 levels to save the girls and kill the Bee, breaking the curse and gaining back their human nature. Your main quest is to jump from one platform to another and eliminate all your enemies by trapping them inside bubbles. To help Bub (and Bob) survive the challenge, you must always keep an eye for various power ups and bonuses that appear from time to time. The most valuable bonus is the chewing gum power up that can make you shoot different and more powerful bubbles (like the rapid-fire bubble for example). Also, you have the opportunity to complete the word EXTEND by collecting all letters needed. This bonus will transport Bub (or Bob or both) to the next level at once. There are also numerous other bonuses that will transport you to more levels, make you shoot fire blasts or take you to some extra stages to collect diamonds. The best way to play this game is with a friend as there are some levels that need some co-operation! Bubble Bobble is a really fun game to play! It's also very easy to get you into and learn its gameplay mechanism while its cuteness really draws you in! Bubble Bobble is one of the best arcade platform games ever created in video gaming history, hands down!
GRAPHICS / SOUND The C64 conversion is technically the best 8bit home-computer port. Although the Commodore's weird color palette, the graphics are pleasant and the action is pretty fast, resembling the playability of the original version. Each level is a typical platform with different colors, a variety of designs and several nicely drawn and animated sprites. The C64 conversion features the original introductory and in-game tunes. The sound effects are typical for this kind of platform game. Note that the original tunes are also available on the BBC Micro and ZX Spectrum systems running in 128k.