Bubble Bobble.The game that took me over a decade to beat. I'm sure you could say that about most of my achievements, but this one really felt like it took that long. I think everyone has heard of it at some point during their lives, or possibly the many, many sequels it had. But something about the original keeps it up there as one of the best (at least for the NES) puzzle-games of all time. The success of Bubble Bobble could probably be debated about for years, however the conclusion would probably state that it holds a special place in all gamers for a different reason. Some like the story, some like the whole mood, others like the simplicity of the graphics, yet complexity of the level architecture. Whatever the reason, everyone loves Bubble Bobble.

The story, which I of course know by heart, is similar to Kung Fu and SMB. Your characters, blue and green dinosaurs named Bub and Bob, must fight through 100 levels of puzzles and traps, while fighting countless baddies, to save their two girlfriends from the clutches of evil. Those clutches of course belong to a devastatingly adorable giant-wizard.

Not only are there 100 levels, but you must complete the game a particular way to receive what is commonly noted as 'the good ending'. This takes many more levels of mayhem to do, however, upon its completion, the sweet fruits of your labors are produced. A different version of Bubble Bobble called Super Bubble Bobble is unlocked to you.

Although it is a long trip through Bubble Bobble, luckily there is a password system which is in fact a godsend. I'm still not certain if the password system was used in the Famicom Bubble Bobble, although I have never seen a FDS disc for Bubble Bobble so it is quite the mystery. The controls of Bubble Bobble are also a definite edge to the gameplay, there is a lot of leverage allowing you to do things which are not normally done. In some levels that leverage must be used or else the level will never be finished, I call it WBUM, Winning By Unconventional Means. Hahahaha.

Adorably cute graphics, a catchy tune, a genuine plotline, excellent controls and genius level designs pull it all together for this multiple ending puzzle masterpiece. Wow, what a mouthful!