Bubble Bobble Revolution

Bubble Bobble Revolution is a 2D platform game for the Nintendo DS. Developed by Dreams, it was released in Japan on 24 November 2005 by Taito as Bubble Bobble DS (バブルボブルDS, Baburu Boburu DS), in Europe on 2 December 2005 by Rising Star Games (Distribution handled by (Atari Europe[1]) and in North America on 3 October 2006 by Codemasters.

This article is about the Nintendo DS video game. For the PSP video game, see Bubble Bobble Evolution.

Bubble Bobble Revolution
European cover art
Developer(s)Dreams
Publisher(s)
SeriesBubble Bobble
Platform(s)Nintendo DS
Release
  • JP: 24 November 2005
  • EU: 2 December 2005
  • NA: 3 October 2006
Genre(s)Platform
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Bubble Bobble Revolution received a strongly negative reception after its release, because of poor graphics and level design, and the presence of a major software bug in the North American version that prevented the game from being completed.

Gameplay
Main article: Bubble Bobble § Gameplay
Typical gameplay screenshot in Bubble Bobble Revolution.

There are two primary gameplay modes in Bubble Bobble Revolution: "Classic", and "New-Age".

"Classic" mode is a conversion of the original Bubble Bobble to the DS hardware. Gameplay is nearly identical to the original game: players must control either Bub or Bob through 100 single-screen levels, in which they must defeat a certain number of enemies in order to proceed; being hit by an enemy results in a loss of a life. Enemies are defeated by blowing bubbles to trap them and then colliding with them; each enemy produces a food item that can be collected for extra points. The original two player co-op multiplayer mode is also implemented; if each player owns a copy of the game, they can use the DS' Multi-Card Play feature to play together.[2]

"New-Age" plays similarly to the original game, with several key differences. Characters and levels are larger (spanning the DS's dual screen), and enemies and projectiles are faster. There are additionally boss fights every tenth level, and Bub and Bob can now take three hits instead of one before dying and have several new types of bubbles. Fans are also scattered around levels, and can be spun by blowing into the DS's microphone. Rather than a co-op mode, "Revolution" includes a four-player competitive mode in which players compete for the most points in ten different levels.[3]

Level 30 bug

All levels beyond #30 in the North American version are unplayable due to a programming error that causes the boss of that level not to spawn.[4] This was an often criticized aspect of the game.[2] Codemasters ultimately responded by releasing a fixed version of the game, which included a free copy of Rainbow Islands Revolution.[5]

Reception

The game received "unfavorable" reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[6] In Japan, Famitsu gave it a score of one seven and three sixes, while Famitsu Cube + Advance gave it a score of three sixes and one five.[10] 411Mania gave it an unfavorable review, nearly two months before it was released Stateside.[14]

Common criticism was directed at the game's dated visuals and level design. Reviewers also heavily criticized the game's number of odd glitches (such as enemies failing to spawn in levels, as well as levels being skipped entirely), which were described by Frank Provo of GameSpot as "strange" and "bizarre".[3] Many critics also made note of the level 30 glitch, which Craig Harris of IGN claimed "makes a bad game worse".[2] John Walker of Eurogamer began his review off by giving praise for the original game before harshly criticizing the "new-age" remake.[9] Reviewers also made note of the drastic redesigns of the original characters, which were described as "stupendously ugly".[2]

Despite the negative criticism, some did praise the game's inclusion of the original Bubble Bobble. Provo called the game "a genuine classic" and "enjoyable", and praised the multiplayer modes as well.[3] However, Harris referred to them as "unacceptable" for requiring two copies of the game,[2] a statement echoed by Walker.[9]

References
  1. GamesIndustry International (25 October 2005). "Atari and Rising Star Games Announce PAL Territories Deal". GamesIndustry.biz. Gamer Network. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
  2. Harris, Craig (6 October 2006). "Bubble Bobble Revolution". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 3 June 2019. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  3. Provo, Frank (11 October 2006). "Bubble Bobble Revolution Review". GameSpot. Red Ventures. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
  4. rawmeatcowboy (14 October 2006). "Bubble Bobble Revolution DS production issues confirmed *UPDATE*". GoNintendo. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
  5. McCracken, Harry (16 June 2009). "Bizarre Bugs: Nine of the Strangest Software Glitches Ever". PC World. IDG Communications Inc. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
  6. "Bubble Bobble Revoution for DS Reviews". Metacritic. Red Ventures. Retrieved 23 April 2012.
  7. Kautz, Paul (25 December 2005). "Test: Bubble Bobble Revolution". 4Players (in German). 4Players GmbH. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
  8. Edge staff (February 2006). "Bubble Bobble Revolution". Edge. No. 159. Future plc. p. 92. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
  9. Walker, John (12 January 2006). "Bubble Bobble Revolution". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on 13 October 2012. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
  10. Gantayat, Anoop (28 November 2005). "Now Playing in Japan". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
  11. Bedigian, Louis (9 October 2006). "Bubble Bobble Revolution - NDS - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on 29 February 2008. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
  12. Killy (6 March 2006). "Test: Bubble Bobble Revolution". Jeuxvideo.com (in French). Webedia. Archived from the original on 23 November 2019. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
  13. "Bubble Bobble Revolution". Nintendo Power. Vol. 208. Nintendo of America. October 2006. p. 91.
  14. Struck, Shawn (15 August 2006). "Bubble Bobble Revolution (DS) Review [Import]". 411Mania. Archived from the original on 20 August 2006. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
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