Puzzle Bobble -or Bust-a-Move, as it is also known in some areas of the world- has marked the history of video games. It is impossible that at least once in your life you have not found yourself in front of one of their closets, or in any case that you have not seen a gadget dedicated to the two well-known dragons Bub and Bob (the green one and the blue one respectively) somewhere. comic fair. It cannot even be ruled out that in more recent times some of you have seen its return in three dimensions, known as Puzzle Bobble 3D: Vacation Odyssey.
However, it is useless to deny what we can properly consider a banality: the first love, or rather the first episode of a successful series, is also usually the one that is never forgotten, and that after years - remakes aside - continues to give failures. to all subsequent episodes. Take Metal Slug, the first Super Mario, or even Puzzle Bobble from '94, for that matter. That's why we couldn't help but exclaim "finally!" when the development of Puzzle Bobble Everybubble! was announced, a video game that returns the series to its origins, but without skimping on the necessary concessions to modernity (classifications, new modes, history, etc.). The next is the Puzzle Bobble Everybubble Review!, which fundamentally proves two things: that Puzzle Bobble is more alive and fun than ever and that, ultimately, it is never necessary to change the basic philosophy to produce something attractive for the contemporary market.
Puzzle Bobble Everybubble!: A way history
The first new addition to Puzzle Bobble Everybubble! consists of the introduction of a history mode. Taito has selected four very balanced protagonists, the aforementioned and well-known Bub and Bob, but also their female counterparts Peb and Pab, who together will have to save their island from a very particular threat: an invasion of colored bubbles. In fact, the miniroons - that is, the smallest dragons, which cannot yet shoot bubbles like their adult counterparts - suddenly "activated" all together, disturbing the balance of the ecosystem; In reality, it is a broader threat, plotted by some of the historical enemies of the series, who also appeared in the different episodes of Bubble Bobble, which is referred to several times with a delicate and appreciable quotation.
La history It acts as a necessary glue for the various areas spread across the island: world after world, the player will complete all the levels, unlocking access to the next ones. It is interesting that, beyond the hand-drawn backgrounds that give cohesion and coherence to the different areas, the objectives also change from one to another. For example, the first world (Chuck'n's Rainbow Village) doesn't even require destroying all the bubbles on the screen, but simply rescuing trapped creatures. From the second on, however, it becomes necessary to eliminate all the bubbles, and subsequently the requests change again.
Each area houses around fifteen levels, upon completion of which a higher difficulty level is unlocked; and you must also take into account the completion time, because depending on the speed, one to three stars will be unlocked. In short, the finalists will be happy with the structure of Puzzle Bobble Everybubble!; at the same time, the challenge It never really feels prohibitive, even for newcomers or less skilled players. Everything was dosed with extreme intelligence, taking into account personal skill, the desire for perfectionism, replayability after the first completion and collectibility (new helpers are unlocked by aiming for records).
so many possibilities
The story mode is the highlight of Puzzle Bobble Everybubble!, but not the only surprise it can boast of. Since the gameplay has returned to the pure and simple of the origins, we prefer to delve into them. many possibilities, since for better or worse you will know "how to play" Puzzle Bobble: you shoot colored bubbles trying to aim at the one of the same color, since combining three or more similar ones allows you to burst all the connected ones. the same tone. All before the board fills up to flood the player (or time runs out).
En primer lugar, ¡Puzzle Bobble Everybubble! introduce un a cooperative up to four players locally, as well as a 2 VS 2 competitive mode. You'll remember how in the past it was possible to "just" tackle level after level alone, or challenge a friend. Now, if you want, you can collaborate: a giant screen is invaded by bubbles and four players together try to pop them all. Each one has their own arrow and ammunition, so it is not simply a matter of supporting the protagonist who shoots: each one must guarantee his contribution, under penalty of collectively losing the round.
Something similar happens in two-on-two competitive mode: In this case, the pair of players manages their bubble quadrant independently and the other pair does the same. But here too, each individual present has his own weapon and his own bubbles: everyone, at the same time, has the same possibilities of action. And ultimately the real news is precisely this, the elimination of a main role and a supporting role for the introduction of equal roles.
The Baron's Tower and... Space Invaders?
Bobble Every Bubble Puzzle! is based on the alternation of two specific values: extremely conservative gameplay, but solid and above all full of exciting possibilities (unreleased bubbles, objects to destroy, customizable helpers); and then about the many new methods. It is as if the first chapter of the series had been taken up again, updating it (but faithfully) in its artistic direction, and enriching it with possibilities. Apart from some excessive increases, it will also be the love for the series, we find it difficult to find major flaws and we believe that we must value the moments in which the developers have dared more.
For example, in the introduction of a completely separate game mode, also separate in the start menu, in which Puzzle Bobble is located space invaders. You have understood it well, and if in words it seems crazy to you, we assure you that in practice, repetitiveness aside, it works very well. The spaceships in Space Invaders are ready to invade Earth, only to stop them are the little dragons that run around the screen throwing bubbles at the attackers. Dodge here and shoot there, a whole half hour flew by.
Not even theen línea, present in two different offers. The first is the classic Versus mode: you are paired with a random player and must defeat them exactly as you would a friend of yours locally. Nothing surprising, as long as you can find an opponent of the same level as you.
However, the effectiveness of Baron Tower. It is an infinite level, in which only the score accumulated before being defeated counts; score which is then inserted into a global ranking, updated by difficulty levels. At the time of writing, we are ranked XNUMXth in the world in normal mode. What a shame just Puzzle Bobble Everybubble! will be available to everyone in the market, presumably we will end up in the last places.
Conclusions
Tested version Nintendo Switch digital delivery Nintendo eShop Price 39,99 € Holygamerz.com 8.0 Readers (8) 7.7 your voteBobble Every Bubble Puzzle! It's a little gem that no fan of the series should miss. The game maintains the fun, atmosphere and brilliant ideas of the first arcade chapter, but updating everything with the necessary possibilities offered by modern times. There's a story mode, which is perhaps a little too talky, but acts as a useful glue for the various areas with levels attached; There are small new mechanics that enrich the gameplay without distorting it; there are collectible and customizable elements; Above all, there are many never-before-seen modes, such as local multiplayer for up to four people, alternating between cooperative and "2 VS 2". There's no shortage of online either, with a global ranking, and there's that spin-off with Space Invader that the developers could have easily enriched a bit and sold separately as a standalone product. Now, that's okay with the loads, but, rated as a Puzzle Bobble episode, Puzzle Bobble Everybubble! It is a highly successful product, which reverses the risky trend marked in 2021 with Vacation Odyssey. And thank God!
PRO
- The soul of Puzzle Bobble, updated for 2023
- Many worlds, difficulty levels for all tastes.
- Cooperative and competitive for up to 4 players (also online)
AGAINST
- Loading times are a bit annoying at times.
- Good for online, but could have been structured even better.
- There are always a handful of slightly less inspired levels.
