Bubble Bobble

Famicom Disk System

Famicom Disk System

In the game's plot, "Baron Von Blubba" has kidnapped the brothers Bubby and Bobby's girlfriends and turned the brothers into Bubble Dragons, Bub and Bob. Bub and Bob have to finish 100 levels in the Cave of Monsters in order to rescue them. In the game, each player controls one of the two drag...

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Developer
Taito

Released on
1987

Size
1–2 Players

Version
Famicom Disk System

Requirements
Nintendo Famicom Disk System

Downloads
Action

ESRB Rating
Not Rated

Cooperative
Yes

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Description

In the game’s plot, “Baron Von Blubba” has kidnapped the brothers Bubby and Bobby’s girlfriends and turned the brothers into Bubble Dragons, Bub and Bob. Bub and Bob have to finish 100 levels in the Cave of Monsters in order to rescue them.

In the game, each player controls one of the two dragons. Players can move along platforms, fall to lower ones, and jump to higher ones and over gaps. Each level is limited to a single screen, with no scrolling; however, if a screen has gaps in its bottom edge, players can fall through these and reappear at the top. Each level has a certain number of enemies that must be defeated in order to advance. The players must blow bubbles to trap the enemies, then burst these bubbles by colliding with them. Each enemy defeated in this manner turns into a food item that can be picked up for extra points. Defeating multiple enemies at once awards higher scores and causes more valuable food items to appear. All bubbles will float for a certain length of time before bursting on their own; players can jump on these and ride them to otherwise inaccessible areas. Magic items appear from time to time and grant special abilities and advantages when picked up. Special bubbles occasionally appear that can be burst to attack enemies with fire, water, or lightning. Furthermore, if a player collects letter bubbles to form the word EXTEND, he/she earns a bonus life and both players immediately advance to the next level

Bubble Bobble

Overview & History

Released by Taito in 1988, the Famicom Disk System (FDS) version of Bubble Bobble brought the beloved arcade platformer into Japanese homes with unique audio enhancements made possible by the Ricoh RP2C33 sound chip. The whimsical storyline follows human brothers Bub and Bob, who are transformed into green and blue bubble-blowing dragons by the wicked Baron von Blubba and dragged into a 100-floor cavern labyrinth to rescue their kidnapped girlfriends. Unlike the standard cartridge format, the FDS floppy disk medium allowed for quick loading sequences and a distinct chiptune soundtrack that elevated this port. Players must conquer all 100 single-screen stages, avoiding enemies like Super Drunk and Zen-Chan while collecting life-extending items and spelling out secret words.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

Mechanically, Bubble Bobble is a masterclass in single-screen arcade puzzle-platforming. Bub and Bob lack traditional offensive weapons; instead, they generate magic bubbles to trap foes. Once an enemy is encapsulated, the player must pop the bubble by jumping into it with the dragon's dorsal spine to defeat them, transforming the adversary into delicious fruit or bonus items. Timing and positioning are crucial, as trapped enemies will eventually turn angry, break free, and move faster. The game features momentum-based jumping physics and unpredictable air currents that shift the trajectory of floating bubbles. Collecting umbrella icons skips multiple levels, while alphabet bubbles spelling 'EXTEND' grant extra lives and clear the screen. The FDS version retains the famously elusive two-player cooperative mode, which is essential for unlocking the true ending and defeating the ultimate boss.