Classic Games

Bubble Bobble

Now it is the beginning of a fantastic story

Taito's 1986 arcade classic turned cooperative bubble-trapping into one of gaming's most joyful experiences.

C64SpectrumAmigaNES arcadeplatformertaitocooperative 1986–2024

Overview

Bubble Bobble made cooperation joyful. Two bubble dragons—Bub and Bob—trapped enemies in bubbles, then popped them. 100 levels of single-screen platforming, power-ups that transformed gameplay, and secrets that players shared for years. Taito’s 1986 arcade game became one of the most ported and beloved games ever made.

Fast facts

  • Developer: Taito.
  • Release: August 1986 (arcade).
  • Characters: Bub (green) and Bob (blue), cursed humans transformed into dragons.
  • Levels: 100 screens.
  • Endings: multiple, requiring specific conditions for the “true” ending.
  • Secret: the true ending requires two-player completion.
  • Ports: virtually every platform of the era.

The gameplay

Simple mechanics, deep mastery:

  • Blow bubbles: trap enemies inside.
  • Pop bubbles: jump on trapped enemies to defeat them.
  • Chain reactions: pop multiple bubbles for bonus points.
  • Power-ups: speed shoes, rapid fire, special bubbles.
  • Items: fruits, diamonds, umbrellas (skip levels).

The cooperation

Two-player Bubble Bobble was special:

  • Shared screen: coordinate or collide.
  • Combo bonuses: popping enemies together multiplied points.
  • True ending: only accessible in two-player mode.
  • Social experience: designed for arcades, perfect for home.

The secrets

Bubble Bobble hid depth:

  • Power-up codes: specific item collection patterns.
  • Secret rooms: accessible through hidden doors.
  • Multiple endings: depending on completion conditions.
  • EXTEND bubbles: spell E-X-T-E-N-D for extra life.

Players shared discoveries for years.

Home conversions

The game appeared everywhere:

  • NES: excellent conversion, definitive home version.
  • C64: impressive port capturing the gameplay.
  • Spectrum: playable despite hardware limitations.
  • Amiga/ST: arcade-quality versions.

Quality remained high across platforms.

The music

The main theme became iconic:

  • Simple, repetitive, impossibly catchy.
  • Played throughout all 100 levels.
  • Either beloved or maddening depending on listener.
  • Impossible to forget once heard.

Legacy

Bubble Bobble perfected cooperative arcade gaming. The cute aesthetic hid genuine depth. The secrets created community. The sequels (Rainbow Islands, Parasol Stars, Puzzle Bobble) expanded the universe. The original remains one of gaming’s most purely joyful experiences.

See also