Game: Bubble Bobble 4 Friends: The Baron is Back
Genre: Action, Arcade
System: Nintendo Switch (Also on PS4)
Developer|Publisher: Taito | ININ Games
Age Rating: EU 3+ | US Everyone
Price: UK £35.99 | EU €39,99 | US $39.99
Release Date: November 17th, 2020
Review code provided with many thanks to PR Hound
Back For More
Bub and Bob are back and they’ve brought along a few buddies Peb and Pab in Bubble Bobble 4 Friends: The Baron is back. It’s been almost a year to the date since this game originally released on the Switch but now it’s back with a massive expansion on Switch as well as releasing on PS4. If you purchased the original Bubble Bobble 4 Friends on Switch I’m very pleased to report you get the new expansion completely free at no extra charge. Whether you’re new or old to the game this is well worth a re-visit.
Blow Bubbles
Bubble Bobble 4 Friends: The Baron is Back is a simple but addictive arcade game to enjoy alone or with up to 4 people locally. You choose a cute dinosaur and enter single-screen levels where the goal is to defeat all the enemies on screen. To achieve this, you shoot little bubbles from your mouth trapping the enemy inside, you then need to pop the bubbles quickly in order to defeat the enemies. There is a score based method to this madness. If you trap multiple enemies and pop them at the same time this will net you a higher score than if you choose to take them out one by one. The choice is yours and there’s no pressure to aim for a high score unless you want to make a dent in the online leader board or just compete with your own score. You can also collect a variety of delicious fruit the enemies leave behind to increase the score.
The controls are simple and precise. Simply move, shoot bubbles and jump just like the original arcade title. One hit and you lose a life. A newly added feature is the ability to use special bubbles with an ability like lightening or a bomb. These are unlocked as you progress through the game and can even be upgraded if you collect all the letters of the word EXTEND which fans of the original game will be very familiar with.
After 9 levels you take on a boss which is not too challenging, often requiring some basic pattern recognition. The game overall felt significantly easier the more players you bring into the game. The boss fights in particular being more simple to conquer with the help of a second player.
The Baron is Back
Originally this campaign felt a little short and too easy. But thanks to the new expansion ‘the baron is back’ the game added a whole extra set of levels and boss fights appropriately titled ‘hard mode.’ Additionally, a new arcade mode has been added (the Baron is Back) which acts as a sort of remake of the original arcade game. Here you jump from level to level trying to progress as far as you can with the lives you are given. When you hit Game Over you have to restart from the beginning. However, the game does allow you to practice on the previous levels you struggled with so you can hopefully progress further next time. This design is an old school arcade at its best and I love it! This was easily where I sunk most of my playtime for this review.
The Baron is a ghost-like character that fans of the original arcade will remember vividly as he can’t be destroyed and tends to turn up when you spend too long in a level. In ‘the Baron is Back mode’ he does make multiple appearances, ready to once again haunt the dreams of a new gaming audience.
Best Bubbles in Gaming
Graphically the game hits the high scale of cute. Not sure what it is about Bub and Bob but these two are by far the cutest dinosaurs in all of the video games and seem insistent on holding on to that title. The characters and models are full 3D but everything is played on a 2D plain just like the original ’80s arcade title. The characters and enemies feel like toys brought to life, it works too since the backdrop of this game appears to be set in a kids bedroom. Essentially making this Bubble Bobble Toy Story edition.
The highest praise goes to the bubbles in this game. I don’t think I’ve ever played a game where bubbles look this delightful and this isn’t even a title I would consider a graphical powerhouse. It just goes to show you don’t need a powerful console to make something look charming. The game also runs and looks great in handheld or TV modes.
It’s a shame the game moved away from the original story of Bub and Bob being fellas turned into dinosaurs on a quest to save their girlfriends. But this version is suitably family-friendly. After all, you can’t complain too much as the original arcade version is available to play at any time in all its glory.
A Memorable Tune
Fans of the original arcade title will be pleased to know the original score is back. Reworked and ready to make your ears bleed all over again in this version. To those new to the series Bubble Bobble has a particular score that plays over and over in each level. It is addictive and will drill into your brain to the extent you’ll be humming it at work the next day. It’s a nice number to remember when you need a positive pick up. While one might think this doesn’t work in most games it most certainly has always worked for the Bubble Bobble franchise and dedicated fans of the original probably wouldn’t have it any other way including myself.
Something for Everyone
While hardcore Bubble Bobble fans like myself will spend most of their time in the original arcade game or ‘the Baron is Back’ mode. Gamers who were able to enjoy Bubble Bobble in the arcades when they were younger and have now grown up and have grey hair will be able to share the experience with loved ones or maybe even children. It’s here where I think the game offers something quite special. You have a casual game that everyone will be able to play but when people are ready they can dive into the more difficult stages and even be introduced to the magic of the original title. Though its possible young ones will comment on how old and retro the graphics look. For me playing Bubble Bobble 4 always brings back delightful nostalgic memories of playing the NES with my wife and conquering it together.
Friends for Life
Bubble Bobble 4 Friends: The Baron is Back is a great package for fans of the old days as well as introducing a new audience to the cuteness of Bub and Bob. Bubble Bobble 4 is a feel-good arcade game that offers a balance of casual and challenging modes that are sure to please a wide audience of gamers. It’s good to have this dinosaur duo back on top form.
Final Verdict: Two Thumbs Up
