Puzzle Bobble/Bust a Move recommendations

[drauch]

Been into puzzle games lately and wanted to pick one up. Any release people would recommend or one a should stray from?

[Drum]

Personally, I liked the PC version of the original for its endless mode where bubbles are constantly descending from above. That's really the only way I enjoy playing Puzzle Bobble - not a real big fan of the set stage layouts/gimmicks/story mode stuff. If anybody knows another version that has that, let me know.

[BulletMagnet]

Not sure if you'd seen it already, but some months ago I did a rather lengthy blog series on obscure puzzle games - this particular article would probably be of most interest to someone looking for a Puzzle Bobble-ish title, but feel free to check out the other ones in the sidebar too, if you'd like.

[Drum]

Not sure if you'd seen it already, but some months ago I did a rather lengthy blog series on obscure puzzle games - this particular article would probably be of most interest to someone looking for a Puzzle Bobble-ish title, but feel free to check out the other ones in the sidebar too, if you'd like.

And if you like Ghostlop, play Graplop/Cluster Buster (also by Data East) - it's kind of the ancient ancestor of Ghostlop (and Puzzle Bobble for that matter). Awesome breakout/puzzle bobble/other-type game release way back in 1983 that still plays marvelously and is ridiculously clever and well thought-out.

[neorichieb1971]

Puzzle bobble 2x is my favourite. Its also called Bust a move again EX. They came out on Saturn/PS1 etc.

There were a few sequels after that but they got a bit silly, trying to push the genre into the "over complicated its not necessary" era of puzzle bobbles.

[TarkanX]

Not exactly like Puzzle Bobble, but Magical Drop 3 is a great puzzle game, especially head-to-head (which is where it shines the most). Easy to learn, touch (but not impossible) to become very good at.

[Turrican]

Puzzle Bobble 4 (Crawfish/Altron) GBC 2000
Puzzle Bobble Millenium (Altron) GBC 2000
Super Puzzle Bobble Advance (Altron) GBA 2001

1.
Puzzle Bobble DS---Lancarse/Taito---NTR-P-APZJ---08/25/05 ---JP


2.
Bust-A-Move DS---Happy Happening/Majesco---NTR-ABTE-USA---12/06/05---US
Hippatte! Puzzle Bobble---Happy Happening/Taito---NTR-P-APBJ---02/02/06---JP


3.
Space Puzzle Bobble---Lancarse/Taito(SE)---NTR-P-CB6J---12/18/08---JP
aka Space Bust A Move
aka Puzzle Bobble Galaxy

1 has single screen action and was never released outside of Japan - it also comes with edit mode and an option I would have liked to see more: you can turn off backlight for the screen you aren't using. Multiplayer for two via single cart. Huge highscore tables too; 2 is western made, and the only one of the bunch that uses both screens for action (which of course isn't a good thing). The slingshot mechanics make it a little awkward imho, even playing with regular buttons instead of the stylus. Multiplayer up to five. 3 should be the best of the lot, with (single cart) multiplayer up to 4 wfc connection and Taito Paddle Controller support (TCPP-20020). Main action is on the bottom screen, but like SIE you have bosses which take both screens.

Interestingly, the recent 3DS "Universe" release made by Arika not only loses paddle (obviously) but also any form of multiplayer.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

The Puzzle de Pon series is another fun romp to try your hand at, drauch. At my local Funworks arcade hangout in Modesto, CA back in the mid-1990s, it was up & running on a 2-slot MVS Big Red cab upright.

Also, another cool arcade puzzler title by the name of Sen-k-yuu (aka "Battle Balls" stateside) was released on the famed Seibu Kaihatsu SPI arcade platform by Seibu themselves. It was Fabtek USA (the American arcade distro whom handled Seibu's arcade PCB releases for the North American arcade marketbase) whom did the initial distribution of BB in the USA back in the mid-1990s. The long-ago defunct local arcade called "The Electric Underground" had such a BB setup in one of those Low Boy uprights (half the size of a typical Dynamo cab in height {& sporting a full-sized 20" arcade RGB monitor} but still retained the full sized robustness of it's bigger brother cab upright). Fun times back in those days.

I was hoping to see if BB would be released on the American PSX console but it never materialized (despite such a Japanese PSX port of Senkyuu being released in the "Land of the Rising Sun"). Eventually, I had to break down & get a proper SP1 mobo along with a treasured SP1 cart of BB to play at my leisure/revisit a stroll down memory lane during the Silver Age of the American arcades era.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[KAI]

Azumanga Daioh Puzzle Bobble, You can play with Osaka.
Land Maker, YACK. BGM

[undamned]

play Graplop/Cluster Buster (also by Data East) - it's kind of the ancient ancestor of Ghostlop (and Puzzle Bobble for that matter). Awesome breakout/puzzle bobble/other-type game release way back in 1983 that still plays marvelously and is ridiculously clever and well thought-out.

I've been after this for some time!

Puzzle Bobble DS Lancarse/Taito NTR-P-APZJ 08/25/05 JP
... Taito Paddle Controller support.

Oh, man, on the note of paddle controllers, it's never crossed my mind to try any of the Puzzle Bobble games using my Playstation paddle controller. Could be amazing!
-ud

[antron]

Turrican, on the DS is Space Bust a Move the only one with paddle support? Very interesting.

[Turrican]

Turrican, on the DS is Space Bust a Move the only one with paddle support? Very interesting.

as far as I know, yes. (it makes sense since the previous ones were released before the paddle)

[CIT]

Puzzle Bobble 3 is the most fun, but don't get the PS1 version, the loading times will kill you.

[antron]

Puzzle Bobble 3 is the most fun, but don't get the PS1 version, the loading times will kill you.

how about the saturn port?

and how about the porn laced Bubble 2000, anyone?

[CIT]

Puzzle Bobble 3 is the most fun, but don't get the PS1 version, the loading times will kill you.

how about the saturn port?

That's the one I have, I think it's great!

[EmperorIng]

I've actually considered picking up the Saturn port of Bust-a-Move 3 myself, if only for the sprite-work.

I still plan one day to try and snag a cheap Arkanoid DS paddle, so it's good to know that the DS Space Bust-a-Move works with it.

[Marc]

Nothing, but nothing comes close to the puzzle mode on 2.