Bub and Bob from the arcade classic Bubble Bobble take their bubble-bursting action to a new game with Bust-A-Move, the 1994 puzzle game from Taito that kicked off a successful series.
Bust-A-Move actually debuted earlier in Japan as Puzzle Bobble (a title that actually makes a lot more sense), but when it hit US arcades as a Neo-Geo title, it sported a new title and the requisite “Winners Don’t Use Drugs” message. The game play is simple: Bub and Bob are at the bottom of a playfield full of colored bubbles with a cannon that shoots, you guessed it, bubbles! Your goal is to clear the playfield by strategically shooting bubbles to match colors. Attach three or more colored bubbles and they’ll pop, taking all of the bubbles hanging from them along. As the level progresses, the ceiling lowers, heightening the pressure to make the right shots. Let the playfield overfill with bubbles and it’s game over! Don’t think for too long, either – the game will automatically shoot the next bubble if you don’t make a decision quickly enough.
Once you’ve got the basic bubble bursting down, get creative and try to clear more bubbles by dropping, not popping. Dropped bubbles (the ones that fall down along with matching popped bubbles) are worth more points, and try to beat a level in 5 seconds or less for the maximum time bonus! Of course, you can play a competitive 2-player game as well. Clear a large group of bubbles and you’ll send more to your opponent’s screen, making it even tougher for them to win!
Bust-A-Move’s addictive gameplay led to several sequels and spin-offs, and you can certainly see its influence in modern hits like Peggle. The arcade cabinet’s artwork also proudly advertises the imminent Super Nintendo and Game Gear ports, unsurprising considering console gaming was coming on strong as near arcade-perfect ports were possible in the 16-bit era. Fortunately, the charm of playing a classic game in its original form still holds true to this day, so don’t just stand there – Bust-A-Move!