Puzzle Bobble Everybubble! – Switching up an old classic

Puzzle Bobble Every Bubble!, the latest release from retro publisher ININ Games, is the latest of the long-running Puzzle Bobble series that is based on Taito classics Bubble Bobble and Rainbow Island. It’s being released exclusively to Nintendo Switch on May 23, 2023.

The popular puzzle block series is 29 years old this year and it’s great to see new releases. To back up its popularity, there is a physical version available from Strictly Limited Games. And for the superfan, plushies and collectors bundles underline the celebration of this classic series that is getting a new lease of life on Switch.

One of the aspects of Puzzle Bobble Everybubble! that makes it instantly recognisable is its unique presentation. From the visual to the sound, everything about this title screams Puzzle Bobble. The graphics are colourful and bright and engaging throughout. The brightness may be a little garish in places, especially the mini cutscenes spread throughout the story mode. However, these are enjoyable if you like kid-friendly Japanese characters.

The music is excellent and has a real quality as it bops and beeps along. It also seamlessly turns the tempo up if you find yourself in a spot of bother which works well. To round off the polished presentation, a celebration of Taito games of old is hidden within with references to some of the arcade legends’ early games such as Chack’n Pop.

The controls are fine for the most part. Use the left stick to aim the cannon and press A to launch once you’re set. Apart from that, there are only the menu controls and these are easy to navigate. Puzzle Bobble is more about testing your brain and dexterity and it achieves this through its fun gameplay.

The main portion of the game is the story mode where you set about saving the Rainbow Island. It’s broken up into smaller areas with different characters to meet and overcome. You will need to aim for three stars to fully complete a level but you can go back to them so your progress isn’t halted. During the story mode, short chat scenes between the characters appear and can be skipped at any time if you wish to jump right back into the action.

There is also the versus mode that allows you to use Joy-Cons to maximise the number of players. You and three friends can enjoy some great battles across several different game settings. There is also an extra game included called Puzzle Bobble vs. Space Invaders. In this wild game, you throw bubbles up in an attempt to eradicate the invading aliens. It’s a madcap cooperative experience where you still battle for the best score.

If you’re a fan of the series then Puzzle Bobble Everybubble! is a must-own. It keeps the traditional gameplay intact while adding new ideas that freshen the experience up. The different difficulties and modes make this accessible to gamers of all levels and the multiplayer is outstanding.

The experience may not last as long for casual fans of the genre or those that don’t intend to play in multiplayer. However, this is a polished game with excellent gameplay with lots of levels and modes to play. It’s great to see the Puzzle Bobble series go from strength to strength in its latest release.