However, dropped bubbles (that is, bubbles that were hanging from popped bubbles), are worth far more: one dropped bubble scores 20 points two score 40 three score 80. 'Popped' bubbles (that is, bubbles of the same colour which disappear) are worth 10 points each. Puzzle Bobble caters to this interest very well, featuring an exponential scoring system which allows extremely high scores to be achieved.

After clearing the arena, the next round begins with a new pattern of bubbles to clear.Īs with many popular arcade games, experienced players (who can complete the game relatively easily) become much more interested in the secondary challenge of obtaining a high score (which involves a lot more skill and strategy). Bubbles will fire automatically if the player remains idle. The objective of the game is to clear all the bubbles from the arena without dying. The closer the bubbles get to the bottom of the screen, the faster the music plays and if they cross the line at the bottom then the player dies and the game is over. The number of shots between each drop of the ceiling is influenced by the number of bubble colours remaining. If a bubble touches identically-coloured bubbles, forming a group of three or more, those bubbles-as well as any bubbles hanging from them-are removed from the field of play, and points are awarded.Īfter every few shots, the 'ceiling' of the playing arena drops downwards slightly, along with all the bubbles stuck to it. The fired bubbles travel in straight lines (possibly bouncing off the side walls of the arena), stopping when they touch other bubbles or reach the top of the arena. The colour of bubbles fired is randomly generated and chosen from the colours of bubbles still left on the screen. (These are actually referred to in the translation as 'balls' however, they were clearly intended to be bubbles, since they pop, and are taken from Bubble Bobble.) At the bottom of the screen, the player controls a device called a 'pointer', which aims and fires bubbles up the screen. This mode also featured anti-drugs and anti-littering messages in the title sequence.Īt the start of each round, the rectangular playing arena contains a prearranged pattern of coloured 'bubbles'. The Neo Geo version could be set to display the alternative title 'Bust a Move', which was used in United States, Canada, and sometimes in Europe. It was almost identical aside from being in stereo and having some different sound effects and translated text. Then, 6 months later in December, the international Neo Geo version of Puzzle Bobble was released. Puzzle Bobble was originally released in Japan only in June 1994 by Taito Corporation, running on Taito's B System hardware (with the preliminary title 'Bubble Buster'). Two different versions of the original game were released.

Puzzle bubble bobble