Bubble Bobble 4 Friends:The Baron Is Back! Review (PlayStation 4)

by Jim Smale · December 7, 2020

The popular dragon’s Bub and Bob are back! Bubble Bobble 4 Friends is the latest game in the legendary Bubble Bobble series from Taito.

Pros:

Nice graphics.
1.14GB download size.
Platinum trophy.
Two control layouts.
Simple controls.
Gameplay-trap enemies in bubbles then pop them to eliminate them.
How to play pop up and section.
Classic soundtrack.
Four-player local support.
Memory album-watch unlocked cutscenes and intros.
Power ups-earn and assign before playing. It can be things like speed bubbles or timed bomb bubbles.
Customisation-earn/wear new costumes.
Each area on the map is 10 levels and a boss fight.
Big boss encounters.
Combo “chain” counter.
Unlimited continues/level restarts.
Invincibility-get game over 3 times on the one level to get a choice to turn invincibility on.
Bubbles-bounce on, pop by jumping down.
Puzzle elements throughout.
Easy to learn.
It contains the original Bubble Bobble 8 bit version.
Collect EXTEND across the levels for new powerups and earn 1-3 stars for the levels.
Fun to play.
Solid gameplay.
Levels contain special effect bubbles and interactions.

Cons:

One hit deaths.
Some bad level designs.
Can’t save progress mid-level.
No online leaderboards.
On bigger levels, the camera pans right out and makes it really hard to see.

8/10

Graphics - 8/10
7/10

Sound - 7/10
7/10

Accessibility - 7/10
7/10

Length - 7/10
8/10

Fun Factor - 8/10

7.4/10

Summary

Bubble Bobble is back but not as you know it! So it keeps the core gameplay of catching enemies in bubbles then popping them for a score, but they add in special power bubbles like bombs and the like. It makes the gameplay a little more differently with an almost puzzle overtone to it. Levels grow in size and skill as you progress and boss fights are a nice addition if a bit infuriating. For the lesser skilled player, the invincibility perk is nice and you have no repercussions from using it. In what feels like a bargaining chip of sorts, you do have the original Bubble Bobble in all its 8-bit glory available from the off. Multiplayer adds a bit more life to the game but with no way to save progress mid-level and the generally slow pace of it all, Bubble Bobble is indeed back but just not how you remember it at all.