Developer: Taito
Publisher: ININ Games
Genre: Puzzle, Arcade
Where to buy: Here!
Price: $39.99
It has been a while since I tackled the Puzzle Bobble series, along with its parent games with Bubble Bobble. The ever popular Puzzle bobble charmed the arcades with its simple, bubble popping frantic chaotic fun. With this installment Puzzle Bobble Everybubble presents a colorful four player experience on the Nintendo Switch.
In this installment of the series you can play as a series of characters, however 4 stables are here with Bub, Bob, Pab and Peb. Along with extra characters with the games story mode can you unlock more to access. Ones also featured across many of the games within the series of Puzzle/Bubble. The game can be played with the usual set up of Switch accessories. I just used a gamepad pro, life was good there. There are a total from my sight of playing through three total game modes on top of mini games. A predetermined arrangement of colored “bubbles” is present in the rectangular playing area at the beginning of each game. The player directs a “pointer” at the bottom of the screen, which shoots bubbles upward with aim. The color of the bubbles that are shot is randomly selected from the colors of the bubbles that are still visible on the screen. To eliminate every bubble from the arena without a bubble crossing the finish line is the goal of the game. If the player is inactive, bubbles will pop on their own. Once the arena has been cleared, the next round’s bubble pattern must be cleared. For the first time really in the series it self it allows for four player co-op within the story. With the same traditional story set up. Another new feature added in with 2v2 battle mode. Which both played pretty well within our tests.
The story is as you would guess many of the citizens of Rainbow Island are abducted by nasty fizzy pop. Then before we know it, everyone and their uncle are slurped into a bubble, and it is your job as the main four via story mode to fix this bubbly mess. The story keeps the tone warm, with some mild humor. You are given a world map where you sort through a series of puzzles before going to the next section like Miniroon Park.
As time goes on the game gets more challenging adding more difficulty to the mix. Also unique objectives to each puzzle slab to solve. As you progress through you are also given all sorts of mini games to play, which in their own right are fun, but do not give you as much, aside from online scoring if you are into that. Other then that I felt great enjoyment of just trying to 3 star every challenge through the core story mode. The other mode of mention is Puzzle Bobble Vs Space Invaders which is a nice twist on both titles. It is a simplified mini game more so aiming to get the highest score from the previous you make or obtain. Aside from your Versus mode you really are left with the core basics. Which within the package offered is plenty for a arcade style game of course. I found myself wanting to go back to previous stages wanting that ex stage access per stage section. The Ex Stages are extra stages offered per section if you three star each sub section of levels within the game. I love these little extra modes as a sense of more content, and greater challenge. However, they are not as important if you just want a clear play-through of the game, just optional.
In Closing:
If you come in expecting innovations to the franchise with Puzzle Bobble EveryBubble. That is is offered with the games 4 player co-op, and the 2v2 battle mode. Which were nice features. With gentle gloves they also added in light touches towards Quality of Life, with online leaderboards, and possible couch co-op. The light mini games are charming, and could offer something for those whom like simple cozy things within their experiences in games. With the hectic deeper levels of the game. With a decent price, those whom hunt for bargain gaming will not find it here at the moment, with those whom edge towards home arcade gaming will seek the same game they expected, and perhaps wanted from the games already established style! Even for those older gamers whom they want to share what they remembered and enjoyed from our earlier connection to the series. Grab it today off of the Nintendo Switch store. As well as pick up the limited physical release here!
