Bubble Bobble

Bubble Bobble is a platform game developed and published by Taito, originally released in arcades in 1986.

In Bubble Bobble, you control either Bub or Bob, two small dragons tasked with rescuing their girlfriends from the wicked Baron von Blubba. Your primary way of interacting with the game world is through blowing bubbles. You can trap enemies inside these bubbles by blowing them directly at them. Once an enemy is trapped, you must then pop the bubble. This can be done by walking into the bubble or jumping on it. Popping a bubble defeats the enemy, turning them into points or a special item. You move through each level by running and jumping across platforms, avoiding hazards and enemies.

The game features many distinct screen layouts and enemy patterns that change as you progress through its many stages. Enemies like the Grunges, Monsta, and Hidegons require different approaches; some are slow, others jump erratically. Power-ups appear frequently, such as fruits and drinks that grant points, or special items like shoes that increase your movement speed, or elemental attacks like fire, water, or lightning bubbles that have different effects on enemies. The goal is to clear all enemies on screen to advance to the next of the 100 levels, each presenting a unique challenge.

Bubble Bobble also supports two-player cooperative play, where players can work together to overcome the challenges.