Difference between revisions of "Bubble Bobble"

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[[Image:Bubble Bobble - NES - USA.jpg|thumb|256x256px|North American NES box art.]]
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{{Video Game
 +
| Title            = Bubble Bobble
 +
| Image           = Bubble Bobble - NES - USA.jpg
 +
| ImageDescription = NES - USA - 1st edition.
 +
| Developer        = {{VideoGameDeveloper|Taito}}
 +
| Publisher        = {{VideoGamePublisher|Taito}}
 +
| PublishedYear    = 1986
 +
| PublishedMonth  = 06
 +
| PublishedDay    = 16
 +
| Platforms        = {{Platform|Amiga}}, {{Platform|Amstrad CPC}}, {{Platform|Apple II}}, {{Platform|Arcade}}, {{Platform|Atari ST}}, {{Platform|Commodore 64}}, {{Platform|DOS}}, {{Platform|Famicom Disk System}}, {{Platform|Game Boy}}, {{Platform|Game Gear}}, {{Platform|Master System}}, {{Platform|MSX2}}, {{Platform|NES}}, {{Platform|ZX Spectrum}}
 +
| Genres          = {{VideoGameGenre|Action video game|Action}}, {{VideoGameGenre|Elimination platformer|Elimination platformer}}, {{VideoGameGenre|Single-screen video game|Single-screen}}, {{VideoGameGenre|Platform shooter|Platform shooter}}, {{VideoGameGenre|Platformer|Platformer}}, {{VideoGameGenre|Shooter|Shooter}}
 +
| Themes          = {{MediaTheme|Cartoon}}
 +
| Series          = ''[[Bubble Bobble (universe)|Bubble Bobble]]''
 +
| Multiplayer      = {{GameMultiplayer|Simultaneous co-op}}
 +
| Distributions    = {{VideoGameDistribution|Commercial}}
 +
}}
  
'''''Bubble Bobble''''', known in Japan as '''''バブルボブル [Baburu Boburu], "Bubble Bobble"''''', is a single-screen action game developed and published by [[Taito]], originally in the [[arcade]] in 1986, and then ported to over a dozen platforms.
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'''''Bubble Bobble''''' is a single-screen action game developed and published by [[Taito]], originally in the [[arcade]] on 1986-06-16, and then ported to over a dozen platforms.
  
I first saw Bubble Bobble in an [[NES]] strategy guide, and, from a screenshot I assumed the end boss was on level 50. Only later, after playing the game with the daughter of one of my mother's clients, did I realize that the end boss was on level 100, and it was his hit points that I was reading which replace the level in the display.
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==Personal==
 +
{{VideoGameStatus
 +
| Own      =
 +
| CantOwn  =
 +
| Won      = Yes. I have beaten the single-player bad ending on the NES port.
 +
| CantWin  =
 +
| Finished = 1990s.
 +
}}
  
==Status==
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I first saw Bubble Bobble in an [[Nintendo Entertainment System|NES]] strategy guide, and, from a screenshot I assumed the end boss was on level 50. Only later, after playing the game with the daughter of one of my mother's clients, did I realize that the end boss was on level 100, and it was his hit points that I was reading which replace the level in the display. We didn't beat the game then, but I later borrowed the game from a friend and beat it in single player mode. Although I like the general idea of the game, I now find it to be quite dull.
I have beaten the NES port and received the bad ending (one-player mode).
 
  
 
==Review==
 
==Review==
* '''Overall:''' 3/10
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{{Video Game Review|3|4|4|4|3|Arcade}}
* '''Best Version:''' ?
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 +
{{Spoilers}}
  
 
===Good===
 
===Good===
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===Bad===
 
===Bad===
 
* The sound gets pretty annoying pretty quickly.
 
* The sound gets pretty annoying pretty quickly.
* For a game that is so easy, the end boss is importunately difficult.
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* For a game that is so easy, the end boss is especially difficult.
 
* The UK computer manuals are awful.
 
* The UK computer manuals are awful.
  
 
===Ugly===
 
===Ugly===
 
* The game is highly repetitive. After only a few minutes, you've seen pretty much everything the game has to offer. It would be better paced at about 30 levels.
 
* The game is highly repetitive. After only a few minutes, you've seen pretty much everything the game has to offer. It would be better paced at about 30 levels.
 +
* To get the "true ending," you need to beat the game to get a code, then enter the code at the title screen and beat the game in [[hard mode]] without dying once, a ridiculous expectation.
  
==Box Art==
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==Media==
 +
===Box Art===
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
 +
Bubble Bobble - ARC - USA - Marquee.jpg|The North American [[Romstar]] marquee is a mess. Bub and Bob are quite malformed and, although the typeface is interesting, the extremely busy background and red-on-black makes it hard to read.
 +
Bubble Bobble - ARC - USA - Marquee (Alt).png|This alternate marquee is much better, featuring a properly drawn Bub and Bob and the in-game logo.
 
Bubble Bobble - FDS - Japan.jpg|The Japanese Famicom Disk System art features the adorable duo surrounded by the game's various enemies trapped in bubbles and the arcade logo. Great drawings individually, but they don't form a coherent image.
 
Bubble Bobble - FDS - Japan.jpg|The Japanese Famicom Disk System art features the adorable duo surrounded by the game's various enemies trapped in bubbles and the arcade logo. Great drawings individually, but they don't form a coherent image.
 
Bubble Bobble - C64 - UK.jpg|This box was used for European computer releases (Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, and ZX Spectrum). It uses the FDS art with slightly different layouts for different platforms.
 
Bubble Bobble - C64 - UK.jpg|This box was used for European computer releases (Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, and ZX Spectrum). It uses the FDS art with slightly different layouts for different platforms.
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</gallery>
 
</gallery>
  
==Documentation==
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===Documentation===
 +
<gallery>
 +
Bubble Bobble - ARC - USA - Manual.pdf|Manual - Arcade - USA.
 +
Bubble Bobble - ARC - USA - Instructions.png|Instructions - Arcade - USA.
 +
Bubble Bobble - ARC - USA - Manual (Schematics).pdf|Schematics - Arcade - USA.
 +
Bubble Bobble - AMI - USA - Manual.pdf|Manual - Amiga / Atari ST - USA.
 +
Bubble Bobble - AMI - USA - Manual - Hit Squad.pdf|Manual - Amiga / Atari ST - USA - Hit Squad
 +
Bubble Bobble - NES - USA - Manual.pdf|Manual - NES - USA.
 +
Bubble Bobble - NES - USA - Manual (Digital).pdf|Manual - NES - USA - Digital.
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Bubble Bobble - AST - UK - Manual.pdf|Manual - Computers - Europe.
 +
Bubble Bobble - SMS - Japan - Manual.pdf|Manual - Master System - Japan.
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Bubble Bobble - SMS - EU - Manual.pdf|Manual - Master System - Europe.
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Bubble Bobble - GB - USA - Manual.pdf|Manual - Game Boy - USA.
 +
Bubble Bobble - USA - Comic.pdf|Comic - USA.
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Nintendo Power - 1988-11 - 074-075.jpg|''[[Nintendo Power]]'' - 1988-11 - Video Shorts.
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Bubble Bobble - ARC - UK - Flyer.jpg|Flyer - Arcade - UK.
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Bubble Bobble - NES - Ad.jpg|Advertisement - NES - USA.
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Taito - Ad - 1988-06.jpg|Advertisement - [[Taito]].
 +
</gallery>
 +
 
 +
===Maps===
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
Bubble Bobble - ARC - USA - Manual.pdf|North American arcade manual.
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Bubble Bobble - ARC - Map.png|Arcade.
Bubble Bobble - NES - USA - Manual.pdf|North American NES manual.
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Bubble Bobble - NES - Map.png|NES.
Bubble Bobble - AST - UK - Manual.pdf|European manual for Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, and ZX Spectrum.
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Bubble Bobble - SMS - Map.png|Master System.
Bubble Bobble - SMS - EU - Manual.pdf|European Master System manual.
 
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
 +
 +
===Graphic Sheets===
 +
<gallery>
 +
Bubble Bobble - ARC - Sprites.png|Arcade sprite sheet.
 +
</gallery>
 +
 +
===Videos===
 +
{{YouTube|LGpnvz4foxU|Review - NES Boy Works.}}
 +
{{YouTube|WaJcuq08Nx4|Review - Game Boy Works.}}
 +
{{YouTube|pNfQBaS03M0|Longplay, Amiga - Happy ending.}}
 +
{{YouTube|V--Hq0pYmZQ|Longplay, Amstrad CPC - Happy ending.}}
 +
{{YouTube|BuXOSBb4hQw|Longplay, Arcade - Happy ending.}}
 +
{{YouTube|QwKXAvbW6tU|Longplay, Atari ST - Happy ending.}}
 +
{{YouTube|1KLi8tAZMHU|Longplay, Commodore 64 - Happy ending.}}
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{{YouTube|VbfuLxWzYdg|Longplay, Famicom Disk System - Bad ending.}}
 +
{{YouTube|tn_xR-qnVVM|Longplay, Game Boy - Happy ending.}}
 +
{{YouTube|dMDLhdNnI6k|Longplay, Game Gear - Happy ending.}}
 +
{{YouTube|YA5c3UHN8Z4|Longplay, Master System - Happy ending.}}
 +
{{YouTube|Q4gqRdQOU88|Longplay, MS-DOS - Happy ending.}}
 +
{{YouTube|k020DFTnxCE|Longplay, MSX2 - Happy ending.}}
 +
{{YouTube|ij3f4_APEow|Longplay, NES - Happy ending.}}
 +
{{YouTube|Eva0b6F4s1w|Longplay, ZX Spectrum.}}
 +
 +
==Play Online==
 +
{{PlayOnline|https://classicreload.com/amiga-bubble-bobble.html|Amiga}}, {{PlayOnline|https://www.retrogames.cc/arcade-games/bubble-bobble-us.html|Arcade}}, {{PlayOnline|https://classicreload.com/c64-bubble-bobble.html|Commodore 64}}, {{PlayOnline|https://www.retrogames.cc/fds-games/bubble-bobble-japan.html|Famicom Disk System}}, {{PlayOnline|https://www.retrogames.cc/gameboy-games/bubble-bobble-japan.html|Game Boy (Japan)}}, {{PlayOnline|https://www.retrogames.cc/gameboy-games/bubble-bobble-usa-europe.html|Game Boy (USA)}}, {{PlayOnline|https://www.retrogames.cc/gamegear-games/bubble-bobble-usa-europe.html|Game Gear}}, {{PlayOnline|https://www.retrogames.cc/mastersystem-games/bubble-bobble-europe.html|Master System}}, {{PlayOnline|https://classicreload.com/bubble-bobble.html|MS-DOS}}, {{PlayOnline|https://www.retrogames.cc/msx2-games/bubble-bobble.html|MSX2}}, {{PlayOnline|https://www.retrogames.cc/nes-games/bubble-bobble-europe.html|NES (Europe)}}, {{PlayOnline|https://www.retrogames.cc/nes-games/bubble-bobble-usa.html|NES (USA)}}
 +
 +
==Representation==
 +
{{Representation
 +
| Media                      = Video games
 +
| StrongFemaleCharacterStatus = Fail
 +
| StrongFemaleCharacterNotes  = The only females are a damsels in distress.
 +
| BechdelTestStatus          = Fail
 +
| BechdelTestNotes            = No women speak.
 +
| StrongPOCCharacterStatus    = Fail
 +
| StrongPOCCharacterNotes    = The cartoons, all the characters appear white.
 +
| QueerCharacterStatus        = Fail
 +
| QueerCharacterNotes        = There are no queer characters.
 +
}}
 +
 +
==Titles==
 +
{| class="wikitable"
 +
! Language !! Native !! Transliteration !! Translation
 +
|-
 +
| English || Bubble Bobble || ||
 +
|-
 +
| Japanese || バブルボブル || Baburu Boburu || Bubble Bobble
 +
|}
  
 
==Links==
 
==Links==
* [http://www.mobygames.com/game/bubble-bobble mobygames.com/game/bubble-bobble] - MobyGames.
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{{Link|MobyGames|http://www.mobygames.com/game/bubble-bobble}}
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bubble_Bobble en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bubble_Bobble] - Wikipedia.
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{{Link|Wikipedia|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bubble_Bobble}}
* [http://www.thealmightyguru.com/Games/Hacking/Wiki/index.php?title=Bubble_Bobble thealmightyguru.com/Games/Hacking/Wiki/index.php?title=Bubble_Bobble] - NES Hacker Database.
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{{Link|SegaRetro|https://segaretro.org/Bubble_Bobble}}
 +
{{Link|StrategyWiki|https://strategywiki.org/wiki/Bubble_Bobble}}
 +
{{Link|GameFAQs|https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/arcade/583720-bubble-bobble}}
 +
{{Link|ROMDetectives|2=http://www.romdetectives.com/Wiki/index.php?title=Bubble_Bobble_(NES)}}
 +
{{Link|TCRF|https://tcrf.net/Bubble_Bobble}}
  
  
[[Category: Games]]
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[[Category: Video Game Prime Order - Action, Strategy, Adventure]]
[[Category: Video Games]]
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[[Category: Game Mechanic - Multiple Endings]]
[[Category: Arcade Games]]
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[[Category: Trope - Damsel In Distress]]
[[Category: Amstrad CPC Games]]
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[[Category: Video Games I've Beaten]]
[[Category: Apple II Games]]
 
[[Category: Amiga Games]]
 
[[Category: Atari ST Games]]
 
[[Category: Commodore 64 Games]]
 
[[Category: DOS Games]]
 
[[Category: Famicom Disk System Games]]
 
[[Category: Game Boy Games]]
 
[[Category: Game Gear Games]]
 
[[Category: MSX2 Games]]
 
[[Category: NES Games]]
 
[[Category: Sega Master System Games]]
 
[[Category: ZX Spectrum Games]]
 
[[Category: Action]]
 
[[Category: Single-Screen]]
 
[[Category: Games I've Beaten]]
 
[[Category: Multi-Player]]
 
 
[[Category: 4-bit Color Graphics]]
 
[[Category: 4-bit Color Graphics]]
 +
[[Category: Grayscale Graphics]]

Latest revision as of 15:51, 12 March 2024

Bubble Bobble

Bubble Bobble - NES - USA.jpg

NES - USA - 1st edition.

Developer Taito
Publisher Taito
Published 1986-06-16
Platforms Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Apple II, Arcade, Atari ST, Commodore 64, DOS, Famicom Disk System, Game Boy, Game Gear, Master System, MSX2, NES, ZX Spectrum
Genres Action, Elimination platformer, Single-screen, Platform shooter, Platformer, Shooter
Themes Cartoon
Series Bubble Bobble
Multiplayer Simultaneous co-op
Distribution Commercial

Bubble Bobble is a single-screen action game developed and published by Taito, originally in the arcade on 1986-06-16, and then ported to over a dozen platforms.

Personal

Own?No.
Won?Yes. I have beaten the single-player bad ending on the NES port.
Finished1990s.

I first saw Bubble Bobble in an NES strategy guide, and, from a screenshot I assumed the end boss was on level 50. Only later, after playing the game with the daughter of one of my mother's clients, did I realize that the end boss was on level 100, and it was his hit points that I was reading which replace the level in the display. We didn't beat the game then, but I later borrowed the game from a friend and beat it in single player mode. Although I like the general idea of the game, I now find it to be quite dull.

Review

Video Game Review Icon - Enjoyment.png Video Game Review Icon - Control.png Video Game Review Icon - Appearance.png Video Game Review Icon - Sound.png Video Game Review Icon - Replayability.png
3 4 4 4 3

Best Version: Arcade

— This section contains spoilers! —

Good

  • The dinosaur kids, Bub and Bob, are both cute characters for the game, and many of the monsters are also adorable enemies.
  • The main music theme is quite hummable.
  • Several of the levels have a creative layout that not only look cool, but take advantage of the game engine.
  • The NES and Game Boy manuals are quite comprehensive.

Bad

  • The sound gets pretty annoying pretty quickly.
  • For a game that is so easy, the end boss is especially difficult.
  • The UK computer manuals are awful.

Ugly

  • The game is highly repetitive. After only a few minutes, you've seen pretty much everything the game has to offer. It would be better paced at about 30 levels.
  • To get the "true ending," you need to beat the game to get a code, then enter the code at the title screen and beat the game in hard mode without dying once, a ridiculous expectation.

Media

Box Art

Documentation

Maps

Graphic Sheets

Videos

Review - NES Boy Works.
Review - Game Boy Works.
Longplay, Amiga - Happy ending.
Longplay, Amstrad CPC - Happy ending.
Longplay, Arcade - Happy ending.
Longplay, Atari ST - Happy ending.
Longplay, Commodore 64 - Happy ending.
Longplay, Famicom Disk System - Bad ending.
Longplay, Game Boy - Happy ending.
Longplay, Game Gear - Happy ending.
Longplay, Master System - Happy ending.
Longplay, MS-DOS - Happy ending.
Longplay, MSX2 - Happy ending.
Longplay, NES - Happy ending.
Longplay, ZX Spectrum.

Play Online

Amiga, Arcade, Commodore 64, Famicom Disk System, Game Boy (Japan), Game Boy (USA), Game Gear, Master System, MS-DOS, MSX2, NES (Europe), NES (USA)

Representation

Strong female character?FailThe only females are a damsels in distress.
Bechdel test?FailNo women speak.
Strong person of color character?FailThe cartoons, all the characters appear white.
Queer character?FailThere are no queer characters.

Titles

Language Native Transliteration Translation
English Bubble Bobble
Japanese バブルボブル Baburu Boburu Bubble Bobble

Links

Link-MobyGames.png  Link-Wikipedia.png  Link-SegaRetro.png  Link-StrategyWiki.png  Link-GameFAQs.png  Link-ROMDetectives.png  Link-TCRF.png