Single-screen Platformers

I'm not sure how to define a Single Screen Platformer(SSP) since so many platformers, especially early '80s stuff like Nintendo's Donkey Kong and Mario Bros. are single-screen, i.e. lacking a scrolling screen. I'm going to use a more narrow definition and only talk about the type of games inspired by Taito's Bubble Bobble. When people talk about SSPs, they are usually talking about Bubble Bobble-style games.

The Bubble Bobble series originated in the arcades in 1986 although it should be noted that its look and feel is a continuation of of the style of Taito's 1983 arcade game Chack 'n Pop.
http://images.webmagic.com/klov.com/...1054487455.jpg
Chack was ported to the SG-1000, Famicom and MSX.

A couple other Taito SSPs also predate Bubble Bobble. Ben Bero Beh and The Fairyland Story were arcade games from 1984 and 1985.

I haven't played Ben Bero Beh so I don't know how similar it is to other SSPs.
http://images.webmagic.com/klov.com/...1053243531.jpg

The Fairyland Story
Even though Bubble Bobble was a sequel of sorts to Chack 'n Pop, The Fairyland Story was the ancestor that most closely resembled it. Like in Bubble Bobble, the object of the game was to clear the screen of enemies. Instead of trapping enemies in bubbles, Fairyland had you magically turn them into cupcakes. Fairyland was certainly likeable with its colourful graphics and smooth animation. A Famicom version was planned but never came out.
http://images.webmagic.com/klov.com/...Story,_The.png

Bubble Bobble became a huge hit and popularized this style of SSP. Like with Sega's Daytona USA, it had annoying yet addictive music that stays stuck in your head.
http://images.webmagic.com/klov.com/...ble_Bobble.png

Bubble Bobble was ported to countless home formats and had a few sequels. Its characters Bub and Bob have appeared in other Taito games like Puzzle Bobble.

Here are the other games in the Bubble Bobble series:

Rainbow Islands: The Story of Bubble Bobble 2(1987)
Rainbow wasn't technically an SSP since the screen scrolled vertically. The goal was to make it to the top of the screen. You did this by jumping and creating mini rainbows which could be used to climb up or attack enemies. It was quite the departure from Bubble Bobble but still had that classic Taito charm and has aged surprisingly well.
http://images.webmagic.com/klov.com/...e_Bobble_2.png

Taito's NES version was loosely based on it. Ocean ported it to computers.

Parasol Stars: The Story of Bubble Bobble III continued the story of Rainbow Islands yet the gameplay was a throw-back to single-screen gameplay Bubble Bobble. I don't know if I like it more than Rainbow Islands but it's still a top-notch game. The arcade version never came out but it was released on the PC Engine and Game Boy by Taito. Working Designs localized the TurboGrafx version and Ocean ported it to computers. Ocean's versions were called Parasol Stars: The Story of Rainbow Islands II, omitting the Bubble Bobble name.
http://www.emudek.org/pcengine/parasol.jpg

Bubble Bobble 2(1993) Like most late NES games, it wasn't produced in large quantities. This is one of the best-looking games on the system and it plays great too.
http://www10.xdsl.ne.jp/~yoshi225/fa...93/babbob2.gif

Bubble Symphony(1994)
http://images.webmagic.com/klov.com/...e_Symphony.png

Bubble Memories: The Story of Bubble Bobble III(1995)
http://images.webmagic.com/klov.com/...Bobble_III.png

Originating in the arcades and ported to Saturn, Symphony and Memories were in the style of the original Bubble Bobble.

As all these games show, Taito has no clue about their series numbering system. Both Rainbow Islands and the second NES game are called Bubble Bobble 2. Parasol Stars is called Bubble Bobble 3. Memories is also called Bubble Bobble 3, completely discounting the NES game, Rainbow Islands and Parasol Stars.

Also from Taito was the arcade SSP Don Doko Don in 1989.
DDD is possibly the best SSP ever made. The artwork was excellent and the mallot-smacking gameplay was awesome.
http://images.webmagic.com/klov.com/...n_Doko_Don.png
It was ported to PC Engine and Famicom.

A side-scrolling sequel was also made for the Famicom in 1992. It didn't compare to the original game but it's still well worth checking out for platform fans.
http://www10.xdsl.ne.jp/~yoshi225/fa...1/dondoko2.gif

Some non-Taito SSPs:

Rodland(Jaleco, 1990)
This was one of Jaleco's better arcade games. They ported it to the Famicom and Game Boy. The Sales Curve ported it to several computers. As was mentioned in the Headlines forum, it will soon be re-released in a Jaleco Famicom games compilation.
http://images.webmagic.com/klov.com/.../wRod-Land.png

Snow Bros.: Nick and Tom(Toaplan, 1990)
You gotta love turning enemies into snowballs and kicking them away.
http://images.webmagic.com/klov.com/...Nick_&_Tom.png
Capcom ported it to the NES and Toaplan ported it to the Mega Drive.

Snow Bros. 2: With New Elves was released in arcades in 1994 by a company called Hanafram. I'm not sure if Toaplan developed it. I haven't played it but it looks sweet.
http://images.webmagic.com/klov.com/..._New_Elves.png

I think there was also a Snow Bros. 3 but I can't remember if it actually came out or not.

Tumple Pop(Data East, 1991)
Vacuum up your enemies. Cool shit.
http://images.webmagic.com/klov.com/...xTumblepop.png

Saboten Bombers(NMK/Tecmo, 1992)
In this arcade game you control a cactus. And like all cacti, naturally, you throw bombs. I liked Saboten quite a bit.
http://images.webmagic.com/klov.com/...en_Bombers.jpg

Quak(Team 17, 1993)
This Amiga SSP was later packaged with Alien Breed when released on CD32.
http://www.team17.co.uk/images/scree.../qwak_03bg.jpg

Chip-chan Kick!(Cybertech Custom/NEC, 1996)
This PC-FX game had anime cinemas to go along with the platform action.
http://www.pcenginefx.com/PC-FX/chipreview2.jpg
http://www.pcenginefx.com/PC-FX/chipreview.jpg

Nightmare in the Dark(Eleven/Gavaking, 2000)
One credit was enough for me never to play this game again. I don't think there was anything particularly wrong with it but it bored me.
http://images.webmagic.com/klov.com/...1056119723.jpg

A-Blast(Subsino, 2000)
An obscure arcade release by Taiwanese developer Subsino.
http://www.subsino.com.tw/products/amuse/

Zupapa(SNK, 2001)
This Neo Geo SSP is considered better than NiTD but I haven't played it. It was actually made in 1994 but never released until 2001.
http://images.webmagic.com/klov.com/...1053340730.jpg

Super Panda(Daigom, 2003)
An SSP from Mexican arcade company Daigom.
http://www.videojuegosamazing.com/20...a/dsc01418.jpg

I'm not 100% sure Daigom developed this game since one of their other games Simpson Junior is a re-release of Athena's J.J. Squawkers. It makes me wonder if Super Panda is also a re-release.

Super Bubble 2003(Limenko, 2003)
I have never seen it in any arcades but I have seen other Limenko games so I know not all of their games are trapped in Korea. http://www.limenko.co.kr/viewproduct_8_e.html

What are your thoughts on the sub-genre? I must have missed some Bubble Bobble-style SSPs you please add them to the thread.

Yay for Bubble Bobble.

Oh, and what about the Lode Runner games? Would they count? They're probably some of my favorite 'platformers'.

Lode Runner is an SSP, it's just not a Taito-inspired one. If people want to talk about other types of SSPs, that's cool. I just kept it simple because there's no way I can keep track of every Donkey Klone and Lode Runner type game and hope to fit them all in one thread.

what about mario bros. and mr. Do's castle?

Mr. Do's Castle was pretty cool. It was sort of similar to Universal's earlier game Space Panic. If we're talking about all SSPs in general, Space Panic is where it all started.

How about Mappy? Super Pang? Burger Time? Joust? You can add about 100 more games to your list....

Bubble Bobble and Snow Bros. are both awsome games. I would still play them now actually if I had them on one of my game systems.

This is one sexy as hell thread. Thank you so much Mr. NeoZeedeater. I desperatly want to play Don Doko Don some day. It just looks fun, and I do love me some good SSP action.

I don't really enjoy this genre at all. As for Lode Runner, I wouldnt call it a platformer perse, since you don't actually jump.

Does capcoms buster bros. count?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Captain Canuck

Does capcoms buster bros. count?

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Word, that game rocks the house hardcore. Theres an arcade near my old house that still has the unit. I used to drop many-a-quarter in that thing. I need to find the Playstation Collection for myself. That game is always worth a go.

"DDD is possibly the best SSP ever made. The artwork was excellent and the mallot-smacking gameplay was awesome."

Thats what I like to hear. DDD is my favourite game ever. I bet no one knew that.

Cool thread. You forgot Wani Wani World for the genesis.

I love Wani Wani World. Kaneko kicked ass in the 16-bit era.

And Gals Panic also r0x0rZ.

Nice article Neo. I only own Don Doko Don out of all of those, but it IS fantastic. Damn hard though. (not that there's anything wrong with that) padman is the DDD master.

I'd like to play Rainbow Islands, Parasol Stars, Chip Chan Kick, Saboten Bombers, Tumble Pop, Snow. Bros. and Zupapa! someday. I have quite a bit of delving to do in this genre.

Don't forget Diet Go Go, Funky Jet, and Joe & Mac Returns.

How does the Mega Drive version of Snow Bros. play? Is it worth tracking down?

I've played Ben Bero Beh- it's sort of a Donkey Kong type SSP, except you start at the top and work your way down hosing out fires as you go. Reach the girl at the bottom and get the bonus, then you go on to the next screen (there's at least 3, after the 3rd one it loops). You also have to watch out for falling debris, holes in floors (jump!), and an occasional monster.

Bubble Symphony and Memories are great games, IMO. Parasol Stars has a little scrolling in some areas- there are a few levels that are bigger than one screen.

Supposedly there was an arcade version of Parasol Stars ( http://Taito.overclocked.org has that in their PS section ). The screen shot is unfortunately a tad fuzzy. I've heard that this version did not go into wide release.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Melf

How does the Mega Drive version of Snow Bros. play? Is it worth tracking down?

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It's a good port, however it runs $175-250.


A fav of mine is Pop N Magic for the PC Engine Super CD. It's by Riot and one of the better looking PCE games out there. *-neo

Cirus Lido
Cyraid

Ah shit, I know I could think of more. If you're on the fence about which is better (Parasol Stars or Rainbow Islands) I'll give you a push... Parasol Stars is better :D

I don't think Bubble Memories got a saturn port

Quote:

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Originally Posted by neoalphazero

It's a good port, however it runs $175-250.


A fav of mine is Pop N Magic for the PC Engine Super CD. It's by Riot and one of the better looking PCE games out there. *-neo

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Yea, Pop'N Magic is pretty fun.

I think the best SSP is Chip Chan Kick for the PC FX. The system is is worth owning for that game alone.

Shit dawg, I just bought some tg-16 games from you!

$200-$300 for chip chan kick? You could have a giant slice of taito for that.

I was all set to yell at you for leaving out Don Doko Don and you had to go and include it. Best game ever to include a gnome.

Anyone wanna sell me a complete DDD? emu-play isn't the same :(

Bubble Bobble is still the lord and master of SSP.

I've got a port of Bubble Bobble on my Siemens S55 phone. Anyone with a Siemens phone, it's free to download and is a very good (although unofficial) port with music still intact (not sure whether that's a good or bad thing though). Do an online search for "Jubble Bobble"

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Captain Canuck

Does capcoms buster bros. count?

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I loved that game on the Duo. I can't remember if you could jump though.