Great news, Bubble Bobble fans! Remember when we said that a brand new Switch-exclusive game called Bubble Bobble 4 Friends was on the way? Well, it turns out we're getting a little more than we bargained for.
That's right, ININ Games has revealed that Bubble Bobble 4 Friends will also come with Taito's original Bubble Bobble, the coin-op arcade version from 1986. This essentially means that in addition to the 100 stages players will experience in the new game, there will also be another 100 from the original game, complete with original music, sound, and visuals.
If you missed the news last time around, here's an official description of the new release:
Bubble Bobble is an iconic cult game and is considered the most popular and innovative platformer of the ’80s. The twins Bub and Bob set out to free their girlfriends from the hands of the nasty baron, who also enchanted them into bubble dragons. As such, the brothers hop through the differently arranged platforms of the 100 colourful levels and shoot bubbles at numerous enemies. In the '80s and '90s, players jumped solo or in two-player co-op mode through the levels. Bubble Bobble's success has seen it ported to more than 20 different platforms in recent decades, including the C64, Sega Mega Drive and NES Classic Mini.
In Bubble Bobble 4 Friends, the latest entry in the widely popular Bubble Bobble series, a 4-player co-op mode has been integrated for even more fun with friends. Also, players can acquire special skills by collecting letter bubbles that form the word “extend” to add some strategic depth and increase replayability. So, there will be a lot to discover and tinker with for the players, during their journey through the all-new worlds of Bubble Bobble 4 Friends.
The new game - and the original - will be released digitally and physically on Switch on 19th November. Excited for this one? Let us know in the comments.
Comments 63
day 1 purchase...
Oh my God... YES... at last!!! Have been waiting SO long to have the original on Switch. Will buy this just for that.
Yessss, buying this day one!
And now the original's theme is in my head and I am delighted.
Just pre-ordered the Special Edition physical from Amazon, YEY!!
One of my most wanted Switch games.
Says pre-order now, but it isn't on eshop.
Bubble Bobble was the game, that introduced me to videogames, so it holds a special place in my heart. I don't really dig the looks of this new entry in the series, but I will keep an eye on it.
I've never played the originals but this looks like some great arcade styled fun. Looking forward to it
This looks so cute!
Yes, Yes, Yes Finally 🙂 Great News, now can we have Rainbow islands as well.
Excellent news!
I'm generally very happy about Taito's recent comeback (Darius Cozmic Collection, Darius on the Mega Drive/Genesis Mini, Space Invaders Invincible Collection, Ninja Warriors).
Can't find it available to preorder anywhere physically here in the US. Which is weird since it's out so soon. Definitely want to pick this up at retail.
Wow. This checks a lot of boxes on how to mess up the visuals in a classic franchise revival.
But I'm still happy it exists!
@Joker13z not coming stateside until Q1 2020 unfortunately
@redd214 Well shoot...I may be importing then haha. Hurrah for region free systems. Thanks for the info!
Yahoo! I can’t wait. I am an original NESer and remember this game fondly.
Baron von Blubba appears Duuuh-duh-nuuuuuuh nuhhhhhh'
This is excellent news! Can't wait to replay it for the 564th* time
*not sarcasm, I really do love this game!
@Joker13z no problem, I too was searching to preorder and came across that tidbit.
I will be picking this up.
The arcade classic got me into Co op games, and now this remaster plus original package is a must own. Now all they need to do is remaster the sequels with original arcade versions
I was saying only the other day that I wished that they'd bring Bubble Bobble out for switch, it's the ultimate couch co-op
I still remember EECFG to this day.
It’s a bit weird that I’m only thinking of getting the game because of the original being included rather than the new title.
Well, add this to my wish list.
Add Bubble Memories, Bubble Symphony, Rainbow Islands and Parasol Stars as extras and I will start queuing for my copy now!
So THAT's why Bubble Bobble never got on NES Switch Online... Cool! (Not trying to be sarcastic, I just think that's neat.)
Looking forward to it! I hope it includes the second NES game as an unlockable too!
Oh. My. God.
It’s like I just rediscovered a piece of my childhood. Instabuy!
TAITO on a roll, please bring back/port Elevator Action returns and Night Strikers.
Looks strangely like kirby...?
Anyways I loved the original one so I might pick this one up.
I was on the verge with this one, I was afraid it was very multiplayer oriented, but with the inclusion of the arcade classic I'm sold.
I was looking forward to the inevitable Hamster's release in Arcade Archives, which will eventually happen as with every PS4 Arcade Archives game, but now I prefer this option.
Did I miss something about Bubble Bobble on Mega Drive? I thought the only version on that was a bootleg.
Unless they mistook it for Rainbow Islands, which did legitimately appear on the console.
Good! Makes me want this game even more
haha niiiiice memories
I LOVED the original. I don't know what black magic the composer was using, but that short upbeat tune never got grating.
I almost loved the DS version, but it insisted on terrible limitations like continues in honor of old-school/arcade design.
Yeap. The music came to my mind too.
YES!!!! THNQ!!!! Was hoping sooooooo badly for this!!!!
This. Changes. Everything.
Pa ..ra.... sol.... STARS!!!!!
I own numerous Bubble Bobbles thanks to Taito Legends as well as the Wiiware version, but ya know what, I'll buy this one too. You can never have too much Bubble Bobble.
Amazing news! It's so lovely to see Taito back with releases.
Great news
How limited do you reckon physical copies will be?
Tempted to get it, but that price point seems high and I've spent so much already
Plz Include 2D Mode, Thx!
I'm excited for this as long as it's not 60 bucks, hopefully this is like a 30 dollar title max. Seeing that it's physical I don't expect lower than this though it would be nice.
I was always more of a Puzzle Bobble/Bust A Move guy, but this looks like a good get sometime down the line
@Mr_Pepperami
You must be an old gammer like me! 🤣
No platform system is complete unless there's a version of this classic. Fingers crossed this one doesn't mess too much with winning co-op formula. Even with infinite lives it was tough to complete all 100 levels, anyone ever figure out what that on screen code message meant when you finished the arcade?
@Bengals76 totally. Had the original on the NES back in the day. Classic😂
@Tempestryke heckin kirby level cuteness bro!
Do do do, do do do, doo doo doo tah do...
Seared into your memory for a lifetime after even a short session.
Cannot wait for this!!!!! 😆
Why is it so frickin expensive £36 on Amazon.co.uk and £45 for the collectors edition which might be the same thing?
This just kills it for me.
Epic. Day one.
One of the best games of all time.
Don’t sleep on this people
Was waiting for Hamster to do this, but this is sooo much better!!!
Bub and Bob for Smash.
@KingMike I own almost 400 Genesis games including rainbow islands import! I certainly don’t remember bubble bobble hitting the system cause I definitely would’ve tracked down a copy!!
The original Bubble Bobble was one of my favorite NES games. I still love to play it on my AVS. I have a lot of great memories of playing co-op with friends. There was a cabinet at my local skating rink that I'd play regularly too.
I've been waiting for the arcade original on Switch forever. I'm a little nervous about the emulation considering Arcade Archives isn't handling it. Still, the inclusion makes the reboot a day one buy.
GEJJJ - Is that right?
Some portals say it's an updated version of the original. That would be a letdown.
@Kirbster1992 Not really. This is the arcade version and the game that could potentially end up in NES Online would be the NES version. Despite what some people don't want to understand, arcade and NES versions are different games not only in Bubble Bobble, but in every case, and are treated as different when it comes to releases.
And even if they were the same rom, there are examples of titles launched twice on Switch: some SNK 40th Anniversary Collection games were released also as standalone titles on Hamster's Arcade Archives series.
For that matter, I guess this will be the rom itself and nothing else in the settings department, whereas the Hamster release (that I insist, will happen down the line because it exists on PS4) will include regional versions, several settings, the Hi-Score and Caravan modes and online leaderboards.
Definitely added to my wish list.
Oh wow, I love bubble bobble, THIS LOOKS AWESOME
in Europe
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
@Moroboshi876 Ah. That makes sense!
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