The direct sequel brings new enemies and even more inventive levels. Slightly more difficult than the first. For Bub and Bob die-hards looking for more content.
Your verdict
Category
Platformer1 player3+
Co-op
Description
Sequel to Bubble Bobble featuring new levels, enemies and more imposing bosses. Published by Taito, released in Japan in 1993. Bub and Bob in new adventures with more varied enemies and fruits to collect. Second Bubble Bobble on Famicom.
Bubble Bobble 2 review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
4/5
Music
★★★★★
"Excellent"
1/5
Story
★★★★★
"Anecdotal"
The sequel keeps the two round dragons but enriches the screens: new enemies with more varied silhouettes, scenery elements that interfere with the bubbles, palettes differentiated by group of levels. The fixed-screen principle is maintained, keeping readability intact despite the added elements.
The single refrain of the first instalment gives way to several themes taking turns by group of levels, a choice that lightens the repetition without disowning the original spirit. The melodies stay simple and skipping, and the item and screen-clear jingles keep their characteristic brevity.
Gameplay
"Excellent"
Fun
"From the very first seconds"
The little dragons return in an adventure with more varied scenery and finer-tuned mechanics: trapping then popping keeps its punch, the pace gains pep. Hunting hidden bonuses and chasing the best chain makes you want to start over again and again. Tender, colourful and peppy, a sequel that extends the fun without watering it down.
Addictiveness
"Obsessive"
Rediscovering the bubble principle in reworked settings with more varied enemies rekindles curiosity from the very first screens. Hunting down hidden passages and chasing a better score sustain a gentle but steady progression. The difficulty sometimes spikes sharply and the formula stays very close to its elder, but the colorful spirit keeps all its pull.
A Famicom Japanese release distinct from the US 'Bubble Bobble Part 2' and notably contested. The Famicom run for this sequel was meaningfully smaller than the first entry, and a complete cart with cardboard sleeve and Japanese manual has become a frequent target for completionist Taito Famicom collectors. The cote climbs more sharply than the original's.
Is Bubble Bobble 2 still worth playing in 2026?
Bubble Bobble Part 2 brings new enemies, even more inventive levels and a slightly higher difficulty. The title keeps the first's grammar, even though the original magic remains tied to its co-op. Released late on NES, the cart is rare and pricey. For Bub and Bob devotees hungry for more content, it is a genuinely satisfying sequel, provided you accept that it does not match the original's shine. For Taito classic fans and bubble platformer lovers, a defensible detour today.
