There is something to be said about the sprawling narrative arcs, feelings of freedom and open endedness, high resolution graphics, surround sound orchestral scores, and other advances in modern video games, but there is also something to be said about the simplicity and quaintness of a game like Bubble Bobble.

The Wii’s Virtual Console makes available another classic of the NES era, and it is surely one to be purchased for the 500 Wii points that is asked. It combines an easy to learn, hard to master battle system, cutesy animation, enough level variation, and considerable length to make it an overall must have. It is like Super Mario Bros., Donkey Kong, and Pac-man all mixed into one game.

Bubble Bobble is a 2 dimensional action platformer featuring 99 levels of fun filled mayhem. The game follows a couple of dragons, or at least some sort of large lizard, Bubble and Bobble, on their quest to rescue their girlfriends from unknown depths.

You control one of the cutesy mythological beasts, while a buddy can play as the other in 2 player mode, on your descent through increasingly challenging levels, which are single screen sized rooms of varying design. The dragons spit bubbles instead of flames, which works by encapsulating the myriad enemies they encounter.

Once an enemy is wrapped up in a bubble, they begin their ascent toward the ceiling, where they lazily float until popped, yielding delicious power ups and bonus items, like fruits and vegetables, jewelry and other valuables. The more bubble encased enemies you can kill in a single jump, the more plentiful the power ups and bonus items.

This game is all about efficiency, like if you take too much time, an invincible white enemy appears and chases you around. When all the enemies in a level have been dispatched, the screen moves down revealing the next level, and so on until the end of the game.

The level design really keeps things interesting. Each level has its own look and theme, and the platforms, barriers, and walls are arranged in new and exciting patterns throughout the game. The art is cute, which fits the game just fine. The audio is similarly chipper, with its singular melody repeating for the entirety of the game, which, I suppose, could potentially get a little grating, though, it is all in good ‘ol 8 bit fun.

Where the game truly shines is its addictive game play. The constant challenge to destroy enemies with optimal efficiency, to collect more power ups and bonus items while chasing bigger and bigger scores, creates an endless competition with yourself.

There is a pluzzler like feel to this action game, an instinctual need to solve each level in the least amount of moves possible, which adds a bit of weight to the play.
All in all, Bubble Bobble is a top tier video game that has proven itself through an absurd number of ports, and this Wii’s emulation is no different.