Puzzle Bobble-Demo

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Overview

  • Full Name: Puzzle Bobble
  • Code: FZ-JJ9DSA-5K
  • Type: Demodisc
  • Developer: Microcabin
  • Publisher: Taito
  • Language: Japanese
  • Release Date: November 22, 1995
  • Region: JP
  • Barcode:
  • Local Title: パズルボブルサンプル版
  • Rarity: 1
  • Notes: Called Bust a Move in America

Overview

Puzzle Bobble, also known as Bust-a-Move, is a 1994 tile-matching puzzle arcade game developed and published by Taito. It is based on the 1986 arcade game Bubble Bobble, featuring characters and themes from that game. Its characteristically cute Japanese animation and music, along with its play mechanics and level designs, made it successful as an arcade title and spawned several sequels and ports to home gaming systems.

Gameplay

The home version of Bust-A-Move is not a straight adaptation of the arcade game. It greatly increases the number of levels, has new gameplay features and introduces new modes.

The general concept remains the same: the player controls a catapult at the bottom of the screen that shoots bubbles of random colors. When three or more bubbles of the same color touch on the play field, they are removed, with any bubbles falling away that are not attached to ceiling, side wall or another bubble. The ceiling periodically descends, pushing the bubbles downward. The game is lost if any bubbles touch the bottom.

In single player mode, the goal is to clear pre-set bubble patterns. The game consists of 100 levels, more than tripling the number from the arcade game. Some arcade levels are reused, but most are entirely new. Also new are gameplay elements in the form of special bubbles: explosive bubbles destroy bubbles in a small radius around them if hit. Lightning bubbles move sideways if hit, clearing a horizontal line. Water bubbles burst, with the downward stream recoloring all bubbles it touches. Another new element is a boss fight in the final level.

The two-player mode from the arcade version also reappears, but optionally adds a series of ten computer opponents with different playing strategies. In two-player mode, the goal is to make the other player fail. Instead of the ceiling descending, new bubbles are added from the top. Removing more than the required three bubbles at a time sends bubbles to the opponent's field.

The final mode is Challenge mode: it is an endless unwinnable mode where new bubbles are continuously added from the top. It is played for high score: both the score and the number of bubbles popped are counted.

Reception

A reviewer for Next Generation, while questioning the continued viability of the action puzzle genre, admitted that the game is "very simple and very addictive". He remarked that though the 3DO version makes no significant additions, none are called for by a game with such simple enjoyment. GamePro's brief review of the 3DO version commented, "The move-and-shoot controls are very responsive and the simple visuals and music are well done. This is one puzzler that isn't a bust."Edge magazine ranked the game 73rd on their 100 Best Video Games in 2007.

Magazine Reviews

Name Date Region Rating Notes
3DO Magazine* Dec 95
10/10 The hit Neo-Geo coin-op has been substantially enhanced for 3DO with more varied and challenging one-player modes. However, the main appeal of this colourful, Tetris-style game is still an unbelievably addictive two-player mode. Brilliant fun.
GamePro* Mar 96
80% The move-and-shoot controls are very responsive and the simple visuals and music are well done. This is one puzzler that isn't a bust.
Next Generation Feb 96
4/5 Very simple and very addictive, He remarked that though the 3DO version makes no significant additions, none are called for by a game with such simple enjoyment.
Game Zero Dec 95
4/10 This game is a lot of fun in two-player mode, be it against the computer or against a friend. But, one-player mode really sucks. Unfortunately I've never played the arcade version of this game, so I can't really make a comparison on that item. As far as graphics go, this game seems to run in a very high interlaced resolution, giving you super fine graphics, but causing the screen to vibrate slightly (personally this doesn't bother me, but some people I know can't tolerate the vibrating). As for sound... gameplay sound is fine, but the soundtrack bites it big. The music is cute for about the first bazillion rounds and then you want to just yell for it to stop (so play with other music on your stereo is possible). If you're really into puzzle games, this title offers a bit of variety for you, otherwise I can't see this game as a real hot seller.
  • - Need review page

Other Versions

The game was originally released in Arcades, the first home port was the Neo-Geo, other versions included SNES, Game Gear, Windows and the WonderSwan

Legacy

The simplicity of the concept has led to many clones, both commercial and otherwise. 1996's Snood replaced the bubbles with small creatures and has been successful in its own right. Worms Blast was Team 17's take on the concept. Mobile clones include Bubble Witch Saga and Bubble Shooter. Frozen Bubble is a free software clone. For Bubble Bobble's 35th anniversary, Taito launched Puzzle Bobble VR: Vacation Odyssey on the Oculus Quest and Oculus Quest 2, later coming to PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 as Puzzle Bobble 3D: Vacation Odyssey in 2021.

Credits

  • Director Shōji Takahashi
  • Planner Yuji Koga
  • Assistant Planners Shige Sakaki, Kazuhiro Ohhara
  • Programmers Kazuhiko Sugiyama, Satoru Tanabe
  • Graphic Designers Midori Tokutomi, Tokuhisa Tajima
  • Map Designers Yukari Sakabe, Tetsuya Ueda, Mikiyo Yoshida
  • Sound By Kazuko Umino (Karu. ZTT)
  • Tester Yoichi Sato
  • Manual Designer Toshiki Sakai
  • Special Thanks To Seiichi Nakakuki, TKHC. 02.5, VG‑NOB, Kazuhiro Kinoshita
  • Producers Seizou Matsutaka, Takeo Shirasaka
  • Executive Producer Koichi Nakamura
  • 3DO Version Staffs Katsuya Nagai, Kiyoshi Yamada, Daisuke Iwahori, Tadahiro Nitta, Yasufumi Fukuda, Etsuko Higuchi, Hiroshi Yamada, Mitsuyoshi Higashiyama

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