Bubble Bobble 4 Friends is certainly not a new release however it is certainly on a new platform this time around and it is bringing the big guns with it. Bubble Bobble 4 Friends: The Baron is Back! is now out on PS4 and it is a much more expanded release of the original title with some new content added to increase the length of the title. ININ Games and Taito have done a splendid job on the new Bubble Bobble game and the new release makes it even better. This is our review of Bubble Bobble 4 Friends: The Baron is Back! on the PS4 where we shoot some bubbles and eat some fruit.
On the PS4, Bubble Bobble 4 Friends: The Baron is Back! brings the same classic and nostalgic bubble popping action to modern consoles. The tiny dragon duo Bub and Bob return along with two new dragons for insane 4-player co-op bobble popping action. The core gameplay remains pretty much the same where you must shoot bubbles at your enemies to trap them in bubbles and then you pop the bubbles to kill them and then collect the bubbles at the end to score as many points as possible in the game. While the initial debut on Nintendo Switch was pretty decent however it was pretty small in terms of content however ININ Games and Taito have now fixed that problem with the new Bubble Bobble 4 Friends: The Baron is Back!
The biggest highlight of the PS4 version of Bubble Bobble 4 Friends: The Baron is Back! is the addition of new levels to the game. While the base version of the game gets 50 new levels for you to try out, the new The Baron is Back variant of the classic arcade machines brings an entirely new mode for you to play which comes with a non-stop tower of 100 levels for you to conquer. These tighter levels require more accuracy and speedy gameplay because, in these levels, you will need to avoid Baron as well who is continuously prowling each stage of his mode. What makes things challenging is that Baron cannot be killed in the level and in certain stages, there are more than just 1 Baron roaming around.
You can only avoid Baron and while collecting Text bubbles along with fruits and taking out regular enemies. Couple that with tighter gameplay mechanics and multiple traps and you get levels that are incredibly challenging and definitely not suited for players who like a more casual gameplay experience. These levels are in the form of a tower and you have 100 levels to complete. Another major difference from the normal mode is that you only have a limited number of lives here and there is no continue like the normal mode as well which makes it even more challenging. Apart from this, you also have the classic Bubble Bobble in the game with the ‘Arcade of Memories’ where you will find new levels as well.
The only problem I faced while playing the game on a PS4 was that the controls of the game felt a little loose. I would turn left and then leave the joystick and the character would turn the other way around. Similarly, I would be running left and even with my joystick facing left or right, the dino would start crawling. The inputs are a little loose and it would make platforming a little bit uncomfortable and this is the only area where the PS4 version of the game falls behind the Nintendo Switch version. I reviewed the Switch version with the normal JoyCons and the Lite version and the controls felt tighter and crispier rather than the PS4 version where they feel loose and make moving around a little bit of a mess.
In short, Bubble Bobble 4 Friends: The Baron is Back! is a nostalgic return of the franchise. After its debut on Nintendo Switch, the PS4 version brings more content and even better visuals for you to experience the game. The Baron is Back! really puts a twist to the whole title as the new stages are difficult to master and really give you a chance to really test your mettle with your bubble blasting skills. While the Nintendo Switch debut was pretty solid, if you have a PS4, I will highly recommend that you try out the PS4 version of the game because it just looks and plays so much better on the console. For more details on the Nintendo Switch version of the title, make sure that you check out our review of the Nintendo Switch version of Bubble Bobble 4 Friends.
Final Verdict:
Bubble Bobble 4 Friends: The Baron is Back! Expands on a great title and fixes everything that was wrong with the original release. I do not mean this in any bad way. The only problem I had with the first game was its short length and The Baron is Back! fixes just that. With tons of new levels and brand-new ways to play the game, Bubble Bobble 4 Friends: The Baron is Back! is the definitive modern Bubble Bobble experience for players old and young. Whether you are a veteran who is returning to the franchise for nostalgia or you are a younger player jumping in the franchise for the first time, Bubble Bobble 4 Friends: The Baron is Back! has plenty to offer you and brings back the Bubble Bobble franchise in a perfect mix of classic and modern. The PS4 version really brings the best out of the title and should be on your list of must-play titles if you love platforming games.
Final Score: 8.5/10
