Product Info

Platform

Switch

Publisher

ININ Games

Developer

Taito

Series

Bubble Bobble

Genre

Action, Arcade, Multiplayer, Party

Players

1-4

File Size (Minimum)

660 MB

Release Date (NA)

Mar 31, 2020

Purchase From

eShop

Bubble Bobble, starring the twin Bubble Dragons Bub and Bob, first appeared in arcades in 1986. It was later ported to home consoles, most notably the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). Since then, several sequels have come out for various consoles and handhelds. Bubble Bobble 4 Friends is the latest entry, exclusive to the Nintendo Switch.

The plot of Bubble Bobble 4 Friends doesn’t explain itself aside from the fact that the wicked magician Bonner is picking a fight. But really, it’s not like you need an elaborate reason for stomping monsters in this series anyway. All you need to know is that each stage takes place in an area of a child’s room such as a bookshelf or a bed during the middle of the night. You’re given a 2D view of a 3D world, and the classic tunes from the 1980s are still there. Moreover, with 100 levels, five bosses, and the option for extra help from friends, the title is poised to be a fun party game. It’s just unfortunate that there is no online mode for a faster and more convenient way to play multiplayer.

Bubble Classic

Before even starting the first level, Bubble Bobble 4 Friends automatically gives you the option to play the classic 1986 arcade game. Up to two players in co-op can play this title, and your progress is saved temporarily as you go. When you leave the arcade game, however, enemies continue to move while your character stands there vulnerable. You can quickly return to your game, but you may have lost enough lives in the meantime to where starting over is a better option. In short, it’s treated as if you were abandoning a game from an arcade room. For modern players, save points would have been helpful.

Nevertheless, not having to unlock this feature is a breath of fresh air for those wanting to enjoy some classic pixel bubble fun.

Perfect Bubble Scores

If you have played Bubble Bobble before, you know the drill. Shoot bubbles out of the dragon’s mouth to capture enemies. Stomp on them to score combos and points. What’s more is that after each stage, you’ll be scored on how well you performed. Timing and combos are the keys to getting a perfect score. After defeating an enemy, fruit will drop. Depending on your combo, different types of fruit will appear and earn you more points. For example, bananas are the default fruit to get, whereas pineapples are worth more. Pull off a killer combo and diamonds will appear instead.

Players can also try to catch the E-X-T-E-N-D bubble letters to earn extra goodies such as upgrading skills. They’re tricky, but there’s some replay value for those looking for perfection.

Bubble Tunes

Bubble Bobble’s classic tune returns and doesn’t miss a beat. As you continue to play, different scores are introduced per stage, with five stages total. It’s still a short soundtrack, and while it may not be as memorable as the original Bubble Bobble theme, it’s energetic and bubbly fun.

Bubble Skills

Skill items are available after defeating a boss after every 10 stages, with five skills total. These items will give your Bubble Dragon special abilities. Some items can enhance your bubbles with lightning bolts or improve your mobility, like letting you dash to bypass enemies. They can come in handy, but the amount of times you can use these skills is limited when first acquired. You’ll have to level them up if you want more use out of them.

The game also has transparent blocks that your Bubble Dragon can utilize, while enemies cannot. When standing on them, you can go through them like a one-way street. This is very similar to the 1986 arcade game where you can pass through platforms but cannot go down, making you look for another way back.

Some platformer games let players drop to a lower platform by holding down on the directional pad and pressing an action button. 4 Friends does not allow this, preferring to stay very close to the original Bubble Bobble. Perhaps too close. It makes grabbing fruit and letter bubbles before they disappear from the screen more tedious than it needs to be.

Bubble Craziness

After going through 50 levels and defeating all five bosses, the game takes the difficulty up a few notches with hard mode. You’ll be revisiting the same levels but with more challenges. And yes, boss battles are harder, too. The game’s rehashing of levels may turn some people away, though. After all, upon the completion of hard mode, you’ll unlock a special movie—and that’s about it. There isn’t much to play after the 100 levels except perfecting each level and playing the arcade game.

For those looking for a competitive multiplayer mode, it’s not available. Multiplayer action takes place only during the 100 levels offered. Moreover, it’s limited to couch co-op; you can’t play online, which is a surprising omission. Friends these days can be around the country or even the world, not just across town. Plus, with social distancing being part of the new normal for a while, getting four people in one physical location is not as easy as it used to be.

Still, such features could be added later. The game will be receiving a free downloadable expansion in the future. This will include new stages and the return of Baron von Blubba. The fact that players will receive this free update will keep the game fresh.

Bubble Popping

From its classic music to its gameplay, Bubble Bobble 4 Friends captures the delightful essence of the original. Despite a rehashing of levels and a curious lack of online play, the Bubble Dragons are back in a big way, and they are a perfect fit for the Nintendo Switch. At the end of the day, you’ll be humming the Bubble Bobble theme before you know it.