Bubble bobble: old and new11/15/2022 ![]() ![]() ![]() “New" mode features some sort of collected item list and something else, though as far as I can tell it doesn’t unlock anything. There are a few little extras in the cart. Anyone hoping for new levels to conquer is unfortunately out of luck. The graphics are updated, the sound effects are slightly enhanced (including occasional voices) and the music gets the remix treatment, but the game and its one hundred levels remain untouched. All updates in the “New" game are purely aesthetic. You may have noticed I haven’t really talked about the “New" mode yet: that label is very misleading. While these aren’t horrible problems, any gamer will tell you that part of Bubble Bobble’s charm was its cheery music and bright graphics. Also, MediaKite obviously hasn’t mastered the system’s LCD display yet, as the game’s graphics are much darker than the arcade game’s, sometimes impairing visibility. The happy-go-lucky ice cream truck lead instrument has been replaced with the most basic of square waves, and many sound effects have had a similar downgrade. The “Old" mode’s sound is supposed to emulate the Arcade’s, but it doesn’t do a very good job. Some things have changed in the move to the handheld, though, while others haven’t changed enough. After exploring the arcade original, I can safely say that arcade fans will not be disappointed with the mechanics in this conversion. This one feature is really what makes the game such an excellent port, as there are no unfair surprises when the bottom and top of the level are connected. The screen zooms in and out, creating a very smooth transition without losing sight of your character in the process. ![]() The default horizontal orientation provides full resolution while the vertical orientation sacrifices attractiveness for practicality. By using the GBA’s scaling capabilities, the game offers both horizontal and vertical orientation, changeable at any point during the game with the L button. But though the control is below modern standards and the game has a few holes, all of this can be forgiven-after all, this is a 1986 arcade game! In fact, perhaps the game’s greatest feature is derivative of developer MediaKite’s dedication and observations about other ports’ problems: the developer has made the GBA’s smaller screen a non-issue. Players will also find themselves trapped on a few levels, and the difficulty makes for plenty of “Game Over"s. Though the control is responsive, the dinosaurs (Bub and Bob) are sluggish, especially in midair. Gaming fans of today will most certainly find a few disagreeable aspects with Bubble Bobble: Old & New. Even with no instructions, this game is easy to pick up and play. Both naturally occurring and blown bubbles can be used as platforms, and special bubbles contain helpful items or weapons. Destroying an enemy usually involves blowing a bubble to capture the monster and then popping it with your dinosaur’s body before the creature escapes. A platformer/puzzler hybrid reminiscent of the original Mario Bros., Bubble Bobble brings one or two players on a “journey" to clear out all the baddies in the Cave of Monsters, one floor (screen) at a time. Like many games from the mid-eighties, Bubble Bobble was designed to be simplistically addictive. Knowing it was one of the many classics I’ve missed over the years, I snapped up an import copy of its handheld port to reward my curiosity. Bust-A-Move) has become more recognizable to the modern gamer. It had a respectable following in its day, but Bubble Bobble has since fallen somewhat into obscurity while its spin-off series, Puzzle Bobble (a.k.a. Bubble Bobble is a 1986 Arcade (and NES) game many older gamers fondly remember. ![]()
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