Bubble Bobble 4 Friends Reviews

Bubble Bobble 4 Friends is ranked in the 40th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
7.5 / 10.0
Mar 24, 2020

For veterans of the Bubble Bobble series, this is a worthy follow up to the classics. For newcomers, the accessibility options, like the lack of a serious penalty for dying, make this one of the easiest places in the series to jump in. If you don't mind the light amount of content, Bubble Bobble 4 Friends is an excellent pickup.

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10 / 10.0
Dec 17, 2019

It's a fine line when creating a sequel to such a classic game. Go too modern and you alienate your classic player base, but go too retro and it doesn't appeal to the new generation of gamers. Taito has got the balance spot on here though, and created a Bubble Bobble for 2019 that feels completely right, but without being mere fanservice. It's a brilliant game that all Switch owners ought to get in my opinion.

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Drew Hurley
Top Critic
5 / 10
Nov 26, 2019

Nostalgia and an 8-bit classic simply aren't worth the price of admission

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6.5 / 10.0
Nov 19, 2019

A really good take on a classic gameplay but there's little to no replayability, and the price is too high.

Review in Slovak | Read full review

GameSpew
Top Critic
7 / 10.0
Nov 14, 2019

Its modern facelift looks great, but it is little more than an old classic in disguise.

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7.8 / 10.0
Mar 26, 2020

Playing Bubble Bobble 4 Friends will make you appreciate just how well certain classic gameplay formulas have held up over the decades. From its charming presentation to its enjoyable multiplayer implementation, retro and modern gamers will find a lot to love here.

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4.5 / 10.0
Dec 4, 2019

Bubble Bobble 4 Friends tries to capture the magic from the original, but it fails in the end. The gameplay is enjoyable, but it becomes stale really quick, there is no challenge to speak of and the price is too high for what you're getting.

Review in Dutch | Read full review

60 / 100
Mar 28, 2020

The retail price may not justify the amount of gameplay time that will satisfy the experience to the fullest but Bubble Bobble 4 Friends features a series first, 4 player simultaneous multiplayer. The Bubble Bobble franchis has had a national impact in the heart of gamers who lived through the Korean arcade culture. Those gamers will welcome the bonus feature of the original first iteration of the franchise. Another great family fun game great for parties and gatherings.

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8 / 10.0
Nov 29, 2020

It’s a simple game, you run around each level, firing bubbles to trap enemies and then bursting those bubbles to destroy them collecting fruit for points along the way. Easy, right?

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Jun 3, 2020

Bubble Bobble 4 Friends revisits many of Bubble Bobble's ideas with a few twists of its own. While it can feel too easy and uneven at times, the whimsical visuals and new skills can provide an entertaining time nonetheless.

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Unscored
Nov 18, 2019

Taito's popular little dragons return in a new adventure full of fun and with a multiplayer option. Do not miss it!

Review in Spanish | Read full review

4.5 / 5.0
Apr 18, 2020

From its classic music to its gameplay, Bubble Bobble 4 Friends captures the delightful essence of the original. Despite a rehashing of levels and a curious lack of online play, the Bubble Dragons are back in a big way, and they are a perfect fit for the Nintendo Switch. At the end of the day, you’ll be humming the Bubble Bobble theme before you know it.

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3.5 / 5.0
Mar 29, 2020

The game’s brevity aside, Bubble Bobble 4 Friends is a blast while it lasts. I love the new upgradable skills, which add an extra layer of depth to the arcade antics without trying to reinvent the wheel. And the ability to participate in multiplayer mayhem with four players makes Taito’s latest offering one of the most enjoyable party games to find its way to the Switch to date.

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8 / 10.0
Apr 13, 2020

Bubble Bobble 4 Friends is spectacular and it does have a lot to offer those willing to jump in and give it a whirl. But speaking of giving it a chance: Let’s talk about performance for just a second. Just remember to try out the new various bubble abilities you will get as you play. Our favorite? The lightning bubble that shocks a single row and takes out any enemies it can with an electrical shock.

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70 / 100
Apr 9, 2020

Bubble Bobble 4 Friends is the new part of this long-running Taito franchise. With a cooperative game oriented approach, and new mechanics and skills, the game guarantees us simple and direct fun, although it is true that it can be short, and easy, at least the first round, although ININ Games has taken into account the customers feedback and is preparing a free expansion with more levels and the return of Baron von Blubba, a classic, and a good move by the studio.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

3.5 / 5.0
Mar 26, 2020

Bubble Bobble 4 Friends is a simple and comfortable arcade platformer that is quite fun for its short runtime.

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6 / 10
Mar 25, 2020

WORTH CONSIDERING - This is a game that everybody should get some enjoyment out of, but odds are you’ll spend much more time playing the included arcade port. One day I hope to see the quality sequel diehard fans deserve, but for now I am happy to be able to get my Bubble Bobble fix on the Switch. I still had a good time playing through it, and was satisfied completing it, but the original is still light years ahead of this.

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7 / 10
Mar 24, 2020

Bubble Bobble 4 Friends is a pleasant callback to yesteryear, with just enough changed to keep it from simply retreading old ground. It is a little short if one charges through, points be damned, but it’s still several hours long at least.

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5 / 10.0
Mar 24, 2020

In the end, Bubble Bobble 4 Friends is a mediocre platforming experience. Inconsistent level design and restrictive ability access holds this game back from being a truly enjoyable experience. I will continue to remember Bub and Bob fondly from my youth, but this outing does little to build upon the legacy.

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7 / 10.0
Mar 24, 2020

Bubble Bobble 4 Friends is the kind of the game that doesn’t break any boundaries, as it didn’t need to. All Taito needed to do is bring one of its most famous franchises of all time back to the spotlight and make it accessible to a brand new generation of gamers. By doing so on a console that is perfect for a little and cutesy multiplayer game like this, they succeeded.

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