Bubble Bobble Neo - XBLA

Gamblor74 on Thu Oct 08, 2009 3:21 pm

Now it is the start of a fantastic Journey! Let’s make a journey to the cave of monsters.

Bubble Bobble Neo is a remake of the classic arcade version from 1986 (really, that long ago!). The storyline, as I remember it, goes that Bub and Bob’s girlfriends were kidnapped and they were both turned into dinosaurs (not sure why). They need to travel though 100 levels to rescue them.

Bubble bobble was a fantastic arcade game, not for the graphic, which are fine but looked dated when the game was first release, not for the music, although I can still remember the tune, but for the playability and fun factor, which still remains. This is a game not to be played alone though. In fact certain levels seem impossible on your own.

To play the game, all you have to do is blow a bubble to trap the baddies and then using your spikes, jump up and pop the bubbles. Popping baddies leaves a whole host of collectable food; collect certain object for extras, like large food, fireballs, extra speed etc.

In the arcade, if you lost all your lives, you could just feed more 10p’s in to continue where you left off, when ported to computer (specifically the C64). You were given 9 credits to battle your way though all the levels. This version gives you seemingly unlimited credits, which to me takes the challenge of the game away a little, it will also continue where you left off if you play again another day. In my previous unofficial review / rant, I stated level 72 was impossible, its not, it’s just very difficult, and takes a while to do. Along with the original version, there is also an arrangement version, this is a whole new set of levels, design for four not two players.

As always with Xbox live Arcade titles there 200 points up for grabs….these are: -

• Bubble Bonanza / Defeated 5 or more trapped enemies in one go (15)
• Food Master /Collect all foods.(20)
• Jewel Master /Collect all jewels. (20)
• Happy Ending /Clear Classic Mode with the Happy Ending. (25)
• Super Happy Ending Clear Arrange Mode with the Happy Ending.(25)
• Bonus Bonanza /Grab all the bonus food in the Bonus Round. (15)
• Skilled Explorer 1 /Find all 3 secret rooms in Classic Mode. (10)
• Skilled Explorer 2 /Find all 7 secret rooms in Arrange Mode.(15)
• Incredible Appetite /Eat up a total 20 big food items. (15)
• Speed King /Clear the first 10 rounds of Classic Mode in under 3 minutes. (10)
• Bubble Bobble Master / Clear Classic or Arrange Mode in Super difficulty. (15)
• Sunny Side Up /Defeat 5 enemies on top of a frying pan with Fire Bubbles. (15)

Bubble bobble is a classic, and if you ever played and enjoyed it in the past, and have a friend or two to play it with, it’s well worth getting, as the credits are unlimited you should be able to complete it (once you get through level 72) in one or two sittings. Two or three runs of both the Original and Arrangement modes, should get you most of the achievements, but don't expect to play it week in week out, Still worth 800 points.

Score: 8/10.

Add me to your XBOX Live Friends list · **SimonB Demented** on Fri Oct 09, 2009 10:28 am

Nice review mate, well done.

**Kent Hammer** on Fri Oct 09, 2009 11:59 am

Good work mate!
Welcome to the fold.

palindromic BOB on Sat Oct 10, 2009 3:22 am

Nice review, couldn't agree more. It's a great game but not one to sit a play for days on end. Year's ago I could (mainly cause a spectrum tape took so long to load) but not now.

Bubble Bobble Neo - XBLA

Bubble Bobble Neo - XBLA

Re: Bubble Bobble Neo - XBLA

Re: Bubble Bobble Neo - XBLA

Re: Bubble Bobble Neo - XBLA