An epic bubble fight begins again! Yes, a sequel to the arcade classic Bubble Bobble is coming to Nintendo Switch this November 19. Bubble Bobble 4 Friends is going to be digitally and physically exclusive for Switch in Europe in November, with a US release scheduled for the first quarter of 2020.
Bubble Bobble is a very popular platform game, first released in arcades in 1986, before it was made available to home systems. Twin Bubble Dragons Bub and Bob are the main stars of the game and the principal objective is to rescue their girlfriends from the Cave of Monsters. Players go through one hundred stages of blowing and bursting bubbles, jumping on and off bubbles to pass through obstacles and clear levels, dodging and getting rid of enemies, and collecting items for power-ups and other bonuses. There are multiple endings for the game depending on the secrets that the player discovers, as well as their performance.
The game’s popularity has led to a long series of sequels and spin-offs. Bubble Bobble 4 Friends comes after almost a decade since the last installment, Bubble Bobble Double, was released in 2010. The current game takes place in a child’s room, where every object has suddenly come to life, including Bub. The wicked magician Baron von Blubba, jealous of the little dragon's status as the child’s most favorite toy, challenges Bub to battle.
In the Bubble Bobble games released in the 80s and 90s, players were able to enjoy the challenges in either solo mode or in two-player mode. In Bubble Bobble 4 Friends, players can have more fun with their friends by engaging the four-player cooperative mode.
Taito Corp. Executive Officer Hiroshi Uemura, in a statement, explained the difference in release schedules for Europe and USA, citing that the European pre-sale was implemented because Bubble Bobble is an extremely popular title in Europe. The pre-sale was in conjunction with ININ Games and Strictly Limited Games.
Uemura added that the game was the "first internally developed title since Taito has re-entered the consumer market, and the development team is thrilled to be working on this famous IP. I deeply hope that many people will enjoy it.”
Fans also have something to look forward to in the Collector's Edition of Bubble Bobble 4 Friends, which is set for exclusive distribution by Strictly Limited Games.
