Parasol Stars: The Story of Bubble Bobble III Review

Game: Parasol Stars: The Story of Bubble Bobble III 
Genre: Action, Arcade
System: Nintendo Switch (also available on PS4, PS5 & Xbox)
Developer|Publisher: Taito | ININ games
Age Rating: EU 3+ | US Everyone
Price: US $9.99 | UK £8.99 | EU € 9,99
Release Date: July 11th, 2024

A review code was provided, and many thanks to Pr Hound.

Parasol Stars, Another Unique Entry in the Cutest Series 

Parasol Stars: The Story of Bubble Bobble Part III is the third game in the unique Bubble Bobble series. The prior two games were Bubble Bobble and Rainbow Islands. If you’re new to this series, this probably already sounds very confusing. Both these arcade tiles are very different in terms of gameplay. Bubble Bobble can be played co-op and features the cute dinos Bub and Bob as they work together to save their girlfriend by firing bubbles at the enemies.

It’s as cute as it sounds, and if you have yet to try it, grab a loved one and give it a go. Next came Rainbow Islands. This shifted the game into a more single-player-focused experience where you vertically scroll through levels, shooting rainbows at enemies instead. Readers who know me well know this is one of my favourite games of all time. Then we come to Parasol Stars. This entry kinda brings the gameplay back to the template of Bubble Bobble but still has a few unique tricks of its own. If you have missed this retro gem, then this is a great opportunity to enjoy it on modern systems with some quality-of-life additions.

Bring an Umbrella

The goal of Parasol Stars is to work your way through multiple levels, eliminating all of the enemies on screen before taking on a boss fight. Then, you move on and repeat this process for multiple planets, each with different themes and enemy types. Your weapon of choice is a parasol. It’s not a typical weapon you expect to see in a video game, but it adds to the game’s charm.

Using the parasol is fairly simple: when you attack an enemy, you can stun them. In this stunned state, they can then be picked up and thrown at other enemies to eliminate them entirely. The parasol can also block enemy projectiles.

Additionally, you can collect droplets of water and elements, which sometimes drip from the level platforms. This can be thrown at enemies, but if you collect 5, you power it up and unleash a devastating attack, which can really help clear the room. There are other subtle gameplay tricks you can pick up, such as jumping on stunned enemies to reach higher ground.

If you play the game in co-op, you can actually pick up your co-op partner and use them as a weapon. But be careful; they can be stunned and left vulnerable. You can’t dilly-dally either; take too long to clear the level, and a grim reaper-like figure will appear to stalk you and take one of your precious lives. 

It’s a nice pick-up-and-play arcade experience that shares a lot of DNA with Bubble Bobble, but thanks to the parasol mechanic, it feels different enough. Although I liked the gameplay, it’s hard not to compare the game to the far more superior predecessor, Rainbow Islands. A game that contained several power-ups and secrets. Parasol Stars does have two secret levels to discover to get the best ending, but it lacks depth in its gameplay. Examining it as its own game, it still feels heads and shoulders above other arcade titles, showing how strong this trilogy really is.

Graphics and Plot 

The story of Parasol Stars is that Bubby and Bobby have saved the Rainbow Islands, but now their heroic services are needed in space on other planets. But who needs a rocket ship when you can just travel by parasol? Being a retro game, it’s not the deepest plot, nor does it need to be.

When you start this game, it just jumps into the first level without any context or plot. This was, of course, common for retro games, but what the developers neglected to do was include the game’s original manual in the digital version of the game to provide what on earth is going on. It’s a small niggle, but I am one of those old goats that still likes to flick through instruction manuals of old games. 

The graphics for Parasol Stars are just gorgeous. Probably the best of the entire trilogy of games. Levels and the sprites have this gorgeous colourful design for them, like some happy-go-lucky children’s book. It gives these warming, feel-good vibes as you face off against unusual enemies like sentient musical instruments and big dinosaurs. It’s suitable for all audiences. Like the other two games in the series, the same score plays as you explore each level. This is upbeat, like the game’s graphical tone, to the degree it drilled into my brain, and I was humming it whilst doing the washing up. I was okay with it, but some may want to mute it after a while.

Extra Features 

This version of Parasol Stars features a fair few additions to add value for money. The emulation seems spot on. The game features the usual save stats and rewind features that have become the gold standard in retro ports. Control bindings can be mapped to your liking, and there’s a generous supply of video options, including filters, to make the game look as retro or crispy as you like for the modern system.

One of the biggest appeals to some is the inclusion of cheats. Various options can be switched on, like invincibility, infinite credits and multi-jump, to make the gameplay experience more manageable. It is an appealing prospect for those looking for a more casual experience or possibly playing with younglings. If you want to play the game in its purest form without any of these features, you can select arcade mode, which gives you the most authentic experience. 

As is often negative for me with these retro ports, the game features no actual history or extra information for those who would like to learn more. Another niggle I have though it’s likely out of the control of the makers of this game, is it’s a shame this isn’t a collection of the Bubble Bobble trilogy. Feels like it would have been really nice to have all three games packaged together like this. Bubble Bobble and Rainbow Islands are actually available to purchase separately in the eShop if you want to explore these. 

Conclusion: Third Times a Gem

Overall, this is easily the best way to enjoy Parasol Stars on modern systems. For me, it’s probably not the strongest game in the Bubble Bobble trilogy. But in no way dismisses all the elements this game gets right. It is an upbeat action arcade game that you can enjoy alone or with a loved one. An art style that explodes positivity. And, of course, a few quality-of-life improvements to make this version of the game welcoming to old and new fans alike. If it’s raining outside, consider your next retro gaming session sorted.

Final Verdict: I Like it

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