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
Pinball game for Game Gear.
Buster Ball 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 Japan-only futuristic sport, published by Riot in late 1992, that never existed outside the archipelago. Its collecting appeal comes from a twofold trait: an original arena-ball concept found nowhere else on the machine and the complete absence of any Western printing, making it a pure import piece. The high complete price reflects the publisher's obscurity and the scarcity of surviving Japanese boxes, prized by enthusiasts of Japanese Game Gear curiosities.
Is Buster Ball 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.
