Puzzle Bobble

Puzzle Bobble

Infobox VG
title = Puzzle Bobble


developer = Taito
designer = Seiichi Nakakuki
publisher = Taito
release = June 1994, December 1994
genre = Puzzle game
modes = Up to 2 players simultaneously
platforms = Arcade, PSP
cabinet = Upright
arcade system = Neo-Geo (and later systems)
display = Raster, standard resolution
input = Joystick (4-way); 1 button
platforms = 3DO, Arcade, Game Gear, Mobile, N-Gage, Neo Geo CD, NGP, IBM PC, PS2, PSP, SNES, VGPC, WS, XB, GBA, NDS, PS1, GCN, Wii, DC, X360 (XBLA)

"Puzzle Bobble" (also known in certain countries as "Bust-a-Move") is a 1994 arcade puzzle game (for 1 or 2 players) created by Taito and contains elements of Sega's "Columns" and Atari's "Breakout".

The game was based on Taito's popular 1986 arcade game "Bubble Bobble", featuring characters and themes from the original. The game's characteristically "cute" Japanese animation and music, along with its well-balanced mechanics and level design, proved successful in arcades and spawned several sequels.

Versions of the game

Two different versions of the original game were released. "Puzzle Bobble" was originally released in Japan only in June 1994 by Taito Corporation, running on Taito's B System hardware (with the preliminary title 'Bubble Buster'). Then, 6 months later in December, the international Neo Geo version of "Puzzle Bobble" was released. It was almost identical aside from now being in stereo and having some different sound effects (and translated text).

The Neo Geo version could be set to display the alternative title "Bust a Move", which was used in United States, Canada, and sometimes in Europe. This mode also featured anti-drugs and anti-littering messages in the title sequence.

Gameplay

At the start of each round, the rectangular playing arena contains a prearranged pattern of coloured "bubbles". (These are actually referred to in the translation as 'balls'; however, they were clearly intended to be bubbles, since they pop, and are taken from "Bubble Bobble".) At the bottom of the screen, the player controls a device called a "pointer", which aims and fires bubbles up the screen. The colour of bubbles fired is randomly generated and chosen from the colours of bubbles still left on the screen.

The fired bubbles travel in straight lines (possibly bouncing off the side walls of the arena), stopping when they touch other bubbles, or reach the top of the arena. If a bubble touches identically-coloured bubbles, forming a group of three or more, those bubbles — as well as any bubbles hanging only from them — are removed from the field of play, and points are awarded.

After every few shots, the 'ceiling' of the playing arena drops downwards slightly, along with all the bubbles stuck to it. (The number of shots in between the ceiling dropping is influenced by the number of bubble colours left on the screen.) The closer the bubbles get to the bottom of the screen, the faster the music plays and if they cross the line at the bottom then the player dies and the game is over.

The objective of the game is to clear all the bubbles from the arena without dying. Bubbles will fire automatically if the player remains idle. After clearing the arena, the next round begins with a new pattern of bubbles to clear. The game has 30 rounds in total.

Scoring system

As with many popular arcade games, experienced players (who can complete the game relatively easily) become much more interested in the secondary challenge of obtaining a high score (which involves a lot more skill and strategy). "Puzzle Bobble" caters to this interest very well, featuring an exponential scoring system which allows extremely high scores to be achieved.

'Popped' bubbles (that is, bubbles of the same colour which disappear) are worth 10 points each. However, "dropped" bubbles (that is, bubbles that were hanging from popped bubbles), are worth far more: one dropped bubble scores 20 points; two score 40; three score 80. This figure continues doubling for each bubble dropped, up to 17 or more bubbles which scores 1,310,720 points. It is possible to achieve this maximum on most rounds (sometimes twice or more), resulting in a potential total score of 30 million and beyond.

Bonus points are also awarded for completing a round quickly. The maximum 50,000-point bonus is awarded for clearing a round in 5 seconds or less; this bonus then drops down to zero over the next minute, after which no bonus is awarded.

Two player mode

There are no rounds in the two player game. Both players have an arena each (both visible on screen) and an identical arrangement of coloured bubbles in each arena. When a player removes a large group (four bubbles or more) some of thoes removed are transferred to the opponent's arena, usually frustrating his or her efforts at trying to remove all the bubbles from the arena. In some versions, the two player game can also be played by one player against a computer opponent.

Connections with Bubble Bobble

The characters and theme of the game are based on the 1986 platform arcade game "Bubble Bobble". A remix of the original "Bubble Bobble" music is played in the game's end credits.

The two dinosaurs operating the pointer are called "Bub" and "Bob" (or "Bubblun" and "Bobblun" in Japan). Their graphics and animation are based directly on the original "Bubble Bobble", only larger (very similar to Bubble Symphony which was released the same year as "Puzzle Bobble"). Less obvious is the fact that "Puzzle Bobble" also features all the enemies from "Bubble Bobble", which are trapped inside the bubbles and fly out when the bubbles pop. Inspecting the bubbles closely, one can see the enemies twitching inside the bubbles.

Game series

# Puzzle Bobble (a.k.a. Bust-a-Move) - 1994
# Puzzle Bobble 2 (a.k.a. Bust-a-Move 2 in Europe, Bust-a-Move Again in North America) - 1995
# Puzzle Bobble 2X (Christmas Edition, with a Christmas animation and a special mode with new levels) - 1995
# Puzzle Bobble 3 (a.k.a. Bust-a-Move 3 in Europe, Bust-a-Move '99 in North America) - 1996
# Puzzle Bobble 4 (a.k.a. Bust-a-Move 4) - 1997
# Puzzle Bobble Mini (on Neo Geo Pocket Color) - 1999
# Super Puzzle Bobble (a.k.a. Super Bust-a-Move) - 1999
# Super Puzzle Bobble 2 (a.k.a. Super Bust-a-Move 2) - 2002
# Super Puzzle Bobble All-Stars (a.k.a. Super Bust-a-Move All Stars in Europe, Bust-a-Move 3000 in North America) - 2003
# Puzzle Bobble Mobile (on various mobile devices) - 2003
# Puzzle Bobble VS (on Nokia N-Gage) - 2003
# Puzzle Bobble Pocket (on PlayStation Portable) - 2004
# Ultra Bust-a-Move (on Xbox) - 2004 in USA, 2005 in Japan
# Puzzle Bobble DS - 2005
# Hippatte!! Puzzle Bobble (a.k.a. Bust-a-Move DS) - 2006
# Ultra Puzzle Bobble Pocket (a.k.a. Bust-a-Move Deluxe in USA, Bust-a-Move Ghost in Europe) - (on PlayStation Portable) - 2006
# Bust-a-Move Bash! (on Wii) - 2007
# Bust-a-Move Online - 2007
# Bust-a-Move Mobile! (on Mobile Phones) - 2008cite web|url=http://blastmagazine.com/2007/10/bust-a-move-mobile/|title=Bust-A-Move coming to mobile, Blast Magazine|accessdate=2007-10-10|language=English]

Xbox Live Arcade

On January 8, 2008, an Xbox Live Arcade version of "Ultra Bust-a-Move" was listed by the ESRB. [ [http://www.xbox360fanboy.com/2008/01/08/rumor-peggle-bliss-island-and-ubam-to-xbla/ Rumor: Peggle, Bliss Island and UBAM to XBLA] ]

ee also

* "Frozen Bubble"
* "Snood (game)"

References

External links

*KLOV game|id=9169
* [http://www.arcade-history.com/index.php?page=detail&id=2079 Arcade-History.com entry]
* [http://www.arcadehits.net/datObase/rom.php?zip=pbobblen Arcadehits game information]
* [http://www.system16.com/hardware.php?id=660 Taito B-System version hardware]
* [http://www.system16.com/hardware.php?id=869 Neo Geo version hardware]
* [http://dmoz.org/Games/Video_Games/Puzzle/Puzzle_Bobble_Series/ open directory project: Bubble Bobble Series]
* [http://www.mobygames.com/game/bust-a-move Bust-A-Move at MobyGames]
*GameFAQs|type=/coinop/arcade|num=563199|name="Bust-A-Move"
* [http://arcade.svatopluk.com/puzzle_bobble/ "Puzzle Bobble" screenshots]
* [http://blastmagazine.com/2007/10/bust-a-move-mobile/ Bust-a-Move coming to mobile phones]


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