Bubble Bobble on Game Gear: an arcade classic with Bub and Bob trapping enemies in bubbles. Still as addictive and fun on portable. Timeless.
Your verdict
Category
Platformer2 players3+
Co-op
Description
Bub and Bob trap enemies in bubbles and pop them in this Game Gear version of Taito's cult platformer. Published by Taito, released in the United States in 1996. 2D platformer with bubble-blowing to capture enemies, fixed-screen levels, two-player co-operation. US edition.
Bubble Bobble review
3/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Polished"
4/5
Music
★★★★★
"Excellent"
1/5
Story
★★★★★
"Anecdotal"
Gameplay
"Excellent"
Fun
"From the very first seconds"
Trapping enemies in bubbles then popping them with a jump: the move is cute, addictive and more tactical than it looks. With two players, teamwork quickly turns to laughter, especially when bonuses rain across the screen. Brought to the Game Gear in colour, this Taito classic keeps all its good-natured charm and pull to start again.
Addictiveness
"Obsessive"
Trapping enemies in a bubble, bursting it and scooping up the fruit that rains down: the mechanic clicks in a single screen and makes you want to swallow the next board. The hundred levels reveal secrets and bonuses that reward curiosity, and the two-dragon mode multiplies the urge to come back. The handheld version shrinks the action a little, but the catchy charm still works.
A late 1996 American edition from Taito of an arcade pillar. Bub and Bob reach the Game Gear just as the console was running out of breath in the United States, which explains a tight NTSC run and a sealed price that climbs high. The pairing of a timeless license with a true end-of-life release places this printing among the most coveted arcade ports in the library, demand driven by the prestige of the Bubble Bobble name.
Is Bubble Bobble still worth playing in 2026?
A portable version of Taito's classic, Bubble Bobble has the dinosaurs Bub and Bob blow bubbles to trap enemies and pop them. The concept clicks in seconds but reveals real scoring and co op depth, even if the Game Gear offers only single player. The good natured spirit and the progressive difficulty stay intact. For a fan of retro arcade or someone nostalgic for the duo, the title keeps an immediate charm, despite the absence of the two player play that is its essence.
