Puzzle Bobble 4
| Puzzle Bobble 4 | |
|---|---|
|
Japanese Dreamcast cover art | |
| Developer(s) | Cyber Front |
| Publisher(s) |
Taito Natsume (US PS1 release) Acclaim Entertainment (European PS1 and GBC release) Club Acclaim (North American and European Dreamcast Release) |
| Platform(s) | Arcade, PlayStation, Game Boy Color, Microsoft Windows, Dreamcast |
| Release date(s) |
Arcade
PlayStation
Game Boy Color
Microsoft Windows
Dreamcast
|
| Genre(s) | Puzzle game |
| Arcade system | Taito F3 System |
Puzzle Bobble 4 (also known as Bust-a-Move 4 in North America and Europe) is the third sequel to the video game Puzzle Bobble and is the final appearance of the series on the Arcade, PlayStation and Dreamcast. The game is also the final title to be recognizably similar in presentation to the original.
Building upon the success of Puzzle Bobble 3, the game adds a pulley system that requires two sets of bubbles, attached to either side of a rope hanging across two pulleys. The game contains a story mode for single player play.
In total, the game features 640 levels. The console version features a level editor to either create and save a level, set a succession of levels, or to create an unlimited amount of extra levels and stages. It also has an alternative "story mode".
Story
On the planet Bubbleluna live the twins Bub and Bob. One day, the sun fails to rise because the Fairy of the Night, Cleon, has stolen the light source known as the Rainbow for Full-Moon Madame Luna. She splits this rainbow into 7 light bubbles. Bub and Bob then set off to retrieve these bubbles and restore the light and peace to their planet.
Gameplay changes
This installment of the series introduces two new features: the pulley system and chain reactions. The pulley system consists of two groups of bubbles attached to either side of a pulley. Popping some on one side will cause that side to be "lighter" and therefore rise. The other side lowers in response. If a pulley is shaking and a bubble is attached, the resulting heavier side will lower. This requires added strategy to prevent one side moving too far and therefore losing the game. One possible strategy is to form a bubble cluster between two pulleys to prevent them from lowering or rising at all. Then the player can triangulate until acquiring the necessary bubbles to clear both anchor bubbles, while still keeping both ends of the pulley clustered together.
Chain reactions occur only on the two player (or player and CPU) modes. When a bubble is dropped, it can move to another place on the board if this causes more bubbles to pop. If this in turn causes more bubbles to drop, then the chain reaction can continue.
Play Modes
Puzzle Mode - Consists of a field of stages labelled A-Z, in a triangle. To proceed to either the stages B or C, you must complete A. This continues, meaning there are many possible routes to completing the puzzle mode.
Story Puzzle - Consists of a backdrop with multiple tarot cards superimposed on it. The aim is to complete each of the tarot card stages, gaining that tarot card once its group of rounds are completed. New tarot cards are revealed when each of the stages currently shown are completed.
Story Versus - Follows the players chosen character in his/her adventure to regain the seven light bubbles and do whatever it was that character planned with them. He/she must face each character of the main characters (below) and defeat them to move on (in the case of the character not being Bub or Bob, they also must face a clone of himself/herself), in a linear fashion. Eventually, he/she will reach Madame Luna and upon her defeat she will be revealed to be Dreg, the main antagonist in the series. Any character can be chosen for this mode except the unlockable characters.
Win Contest - A simple tournament where you must fight and defeat as many opponents as possible. The more you defeat before losing, the more of a picture of your character you reveal. In this mode, is it possible to meet new characters who do not appear in the other modes; once defeated, they can be used in other modes.
Player Vs Player - Is a multiplayer mode.
Challenge Mode - Will rank you on your skill. The ranks are 10th Class, 1st Class, 1st Honor and Expert.
Edit Mode - Allows you to create your own maps. Up to 25 can be made and played. Once all the maps created have been completed, an ending is displayed.[1]
References
- ↑ TAITO (1999). Bust-a-Move 4 Instruction Manual. pp. 4–16.