Hey gang, Valkor here. Puzzle Bobble, Bubble Bobble, Bust-A-Move, or whatever the games are called these days, have been around for as long as I've been gaming – and that's a pretty long time! In both arcade and console form, there's no denying Puzzle Bobble has earned its stay in all things gaming. And they're always a blast! And I'm excited to have the chance to check out Taito's latest in the series: Puzzle Bobble Everybubble! It's a fun title and an enjoyable gaming experience! Let's check it out!
Puzzle Bobble Everybubble follows the series format where you play as a little dino character that shoots colored bubbles at more colored bubbles clearing the screen of this colored, bubbly mess and moving on to the next stage. Things get more chaotic when the bubble area drops. And if it goes too low and you haven't cleared enough of the area, it's game over. The same can be said if you don't clear the bubbles within a certain time limit. Thankfully you're given an assist in the form of power-ups that aid you in clearing up the bubble mess by either taking out sections of the board or better guiding your attack bubbles. Need a few extra hands? Up to three more players can join in on the fun during the game's co-op mode.
From the jump, Puzzle Bobble Everybubble offers three modes of play – Story mode, Vs. mode, and Puzzle Bobble vs. Space Invaders. In story mode, you must clear the world of an oversupply of bubbles brought on by a group known as Miniroons. Miniroons never had the power to produce bubbles until a wizard bestowed upon them this ability. And now bubbles are everywhere! Vs. Mode allows you to play either online or locally against other players. But Puzzle Bobble vs. Space Invaders is by far the most interesting and enjoyable mode the game has to offer. Mixing things up with another classic title, huh? I ain't even mad.
Puzzle Bobble vs. Space Invaders can be played with up to four players as you work your way to clearing the screen of bubbles while the bubble mass lowers. And if it goes below the line, then game over. It tosses in Space Invaders mechanics as you're attacked from above as the screen lowers. Unfortunately, I didn't get the chance to try the game with other players. However, if no one else is around, the computer makes for a suitable replacement. With the computer controlling the other three characters, I can see the fun if I were playing with real people. It's on-screen chaos, but it's so much fun! And the game would move at such a fast pace with more people! And this goes double when playing in story mode because you can clear three stars easily. It's not always perfect as the computer will do what it wants and not always play along with what is needed to be done. For instance, on one stage I played, I had to blow up wooden boards in order to reach the final few bubbles. When the computer got a bomb, it would throw it in places that didn't require clearance. So I had to make sure to move fast enough to get at the remaining bombs in order to complete the stage. Or else it's a restart.
Puzzle Bobble Everybubble is the type of game I enjoy playing when I'm in-between beefier titles such as the upcoming Final Fantasy XVI. It has tons of charm and visual appeal and is quite adorable and entertaining. The controls are spot on! And I'll admit, I was never one for properly aiming when playing a Bobble game. However, I was taking bubbles out with the quickness! Everything about the controls, while simple, just felt right. The voices are super cutesy but never annoying. And I can't see myself not playing the game without having the volume turned up and echoing the little voices (what I do in my cave is my business). I really enjoyed playing story mode. But I'm down with the PB vs. Space Invaders to change things up. Overall, if you're looking for some puzzle action and if you can snag a few friends to come along for the ride, then you're in for a real treat with Puzzle Bobble Everybubble. Even if you're into solo play, you can't go wrong. It's highly addictive and and a blast to play. I recommend adding this one to your Nintendo Switch library. And out of TOV 5 stars, I'm giving Puzzle Bobble Everybubble a solid 4.
