![[Panel 1] A puzzle from the original Puzzle Bobble. [Panel 2] Bub bursts a bubble cluster on a tropical beach in Puzzle Bobble 3D.](http://static1.thegamerimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Puzzle-Bobble-List-TG-Feature-Image.jpg)
As far as puzzle games go, the 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Puzzle Bobble series (known as Bust A Move in the West) is one of the most influential. These games introduced a new genre of puzzlers universally understood among casual and seasoned gamers alike: the bubble shooter.
After more than twenty-five years, the series is still going and launched its first VR title. So, we thought it would be fun to look back at our favorite games in the series. While we could not cover every Puzzle Bobble, we did manage to rank the series' mainline console releases from best to worst.
We purposefully skipped over mobile and handheld console versions of Puzzle Bobble for brevity. However, one console port we could not get our hands on was the rare Xbox port, Ultra Puzzle Bobble. Ther൩efore, we could not evaluate this title ꦛfor our list.
10 🎉 Puzzle Bobble Bash! 🍌
Puzzle Bobble Bash! was launched on the Wii when the series was struggling to innovate itself, and it shows. Incorporating motion controls into a bubble shooting game makes sense on paper. But unfortunately, this game's execution of this mechanic was flawed.
Even when played without motion controls, Puzzle Bobble Bash feels like a Puzzle Bobble knock-off. For instance, the bubbles' new design deviated from the Bubble Bobble-inspired orbs that the game is known for, opting for a blander look. Furthermore, the bubble shooter has a limited range of motion, making aiming feel like a chore. In short, this game was a misstep for the series.
9 �🍰� Puzzle Bobble
Puzzle Bobble was the game that started it all. Well, Bubble Bobble was the game that started it all. After all, the series is a spin-off from Taito's Bubble Bobble. However, Puzzle Bobble is the first bubble-shooting puzzle game of its kind. Furthermore, its arcade cabinet 🤡was the second-highest-grossing𒉰 in Japan upon its launch.
Still, Bub and Bob had a long way to go before the series reached its height of innovation. For instance, specific mechanics that fans are familiar with were not present in the first Puzzle Bobble. One example is the ability to rebound bubbles off the top of the playfield. In the original Puzzle Bobble, bubbles that reached the top of the playfield's frame would stick.
8 🥃 Puzzle Bobble 2
Puzzle Bobble 2 expanded plenty upon the inventions of its predecessor. For example, Puzzle Bobble introduced the iconic star bubble and metal bubble into the mix. Furthermore, Puzzle Bobble 2 offered a VS CPU campaign and a branching puzzle mode with different endings.
However, Puzzle Bobble 2 also had plenty of localization issues. The North American and Japanese arcade versions were dramatically different, with the♏ NA version cutting down many of the stylistic touches that connected the 𓆉series to Bubble Bobble in the first place.
7 Puzzle Bobble Plus!/Live! ꦦ
As we mentioned earlier, Puzzle Bobble experienced a rough drought in the late 2000s into the 2010s. However, while Puzzle Bobble Bash was a flop on the Wii, the console's second Puzzle Bobble entry, Plus, was considerably better. The game also got ported on Xbox360 under the title Puzzle Bobble Live.
Puzzle Bobble Plus was not a revolutionary title. Still, it was a needed return to form for the series. This game hit all the familiar notes with a one-player mode and battle mode that ran by the books. In addition, it was a wel꧃c🌸ome piece of puzzle game comfort for fans who did not get much Puzzle Bobble during that console generation.
6 Puzzle Bobb𝔉le 3D: Vacation Odyssey😼
Puzzle Bobble 3D: Vacation Odyssey is the latest edition of Puzzle Bobble. It's also the first title in the series to jump to virtual reality. Developed by VR veteran studio Survios, this title has players slingshot bubbles into floating bubble clusters in a race to their core.
Puzzle Bobble 3D makes a lot of significant changes to the series' core gameplay. In VR, these changes work well. Unfortunately, the mechanics do not translate as well to traditional console gameplay, especially on the PS4, with Dualshock4 controllers that do not have haptic feedback. Still, the 💛efforts made ꦜto reboot the series are greatly appreciated.
5 Puzzle Bobble 3 💃
Puzzle Bobble 3 helped shape the series as we know it today. For instance, this iteration introduced the nodes that attach clusters of bubbles and the ability to rebound bubbles off the top of the screen. Furthermore, Puzzle Bobble 3 was the first game to include endurance levels, where players had t🍬o complete a scrolling playfield of bubbles.
Another quirky feature of Puzzle Bobble 3 is its concept. This title expanded the Puzzle Bobble universe beyond Bubble Bobble, having Bub and Bob interact with characters from various arcade cabinets. In turn, Puzzle Bobble 3 was the first game in the series that allowed players to choose a character.
4 Touhou Spell Bubble 🔜
There are various Puzzle Bobble spin-offs that Taito developed for other IPs. For instance, Touhou Spell Bubble features a storyline and characters from the shoot-em-up video game series of the same game. However, this game's significant change to the Puzzle Bobble formula earned Touhou Spell Bubble a position on this list.
Touhou Spell Bubble is unique from other Puzzle Bobble games because it combines puzzle and music/rhythm game mechanics. After popping large clusters of bubbles, the player must enter inputs in time with a song to develop devastating combos. This music-fueled combo system makes Touho💎u Spell Bubble an equally satisfying and competitive experience.
3 Super Puzzle Bobble 💦 ♑
The Super Puzzle Bobble sub-series include two of the most inventive titles in the series. Super Puzzle Bobble introduced many new mechanics, including conveyor belt walls, giant chak'n bubbles, mini bubbles, and unconventional playfield shapes. These chan🐻ges made the series gameplay feel fresh and updated for the Playstation 2 generaꦛtion.
On top of gameplay improvements, Super Puzzle Bobble also introduced a quirky new cast of characters conveyed in a trippy, playful art style. While the story was not Super Puzzle Bobble's strong suit, the fresh new direction in art style helped the Super Puzzle Bobble games stand out from their predecessors.
2 𓃲 Super Puzzle Bobble 2
We wouldn't say Super Puzzle Bobble 2 is the better entry of the Super Puzzle Bobble sub-series. However, from an explanatory perspective, it made more sense to introduce Super Puzzle Bobble first. Otherwise, Super Puzzle Bobble 2 is a lot of the same with new levels, characters, and modes.
If you do get a chance to pick up a copy of this gem, do play the story mode. The stilted voice acting and bland dialogue are something to behold. It's not quite up to The Room or Troll 2 in terms of being "so bad, it's good," but it will give you a chuckle the first time around.
1 Puzzle Bobble 4 ౠ
Of all the classic-era Puzzle Bobble games, and even among more recent entries, Puzzle Bobble 4 is the best. Two of its most influential contributions to the series are pulley system puzzles and the chain reaction combo system. Both proved so vital that they would return in future titles. Additionally, its console ports are the most feature-rich, with seven different play modes.
However, Puzzle Bobble 4 stands out the most for its beautiful art style and well-developed characters. One can follow the game's cast in both a VS and single-player story mode. Plus, the game features a poignant theme centered around arcana, including a bonus Tarot Card mode that can read your fortune.