Obscure Arcade Games Ep. 3

Channel:

Esoteric Arcade

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3,310

Published on June 18, 2015 8:38:26 PM ● Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jRt3Bx1bng

Game:

Bubble Bobble (1986)

Duration: 31:42

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36

What makes this next batch of games obscure? Well you have probably never seen them in all their glory on a home console. Caveman Ninja came to the SNES as Joe & Mac. Joe & Mac is a somewhat well-known SNES platformer but much was lost from the impressive arcade version. Similarly, Burning Force had a home port on the Genesis but it didn't sell very well, had scaled down graphics and took a major hit in the sound department. The arcade soundtrack to this game is fantastic! In 1995, Bubble Bobble 3 hit the arcades right before arcades everywhere started closing their doors. It saw a 2007 release on the PS2 in Japan only so unless you imported that or played the arcade game in 1996 you probably haven't seen this awesome sequel in the otherwise popular series. Cadillacs and Dinosaurs was released in 1993 and faded into obscurity once arcades began closing down. It never saw a home release until the 2006 Capcom Classics Collection Vol 2 for PS2.

Bubble Memories: The Story of Bubble Bobble III by Taito (1995)
While the title says this is Bubble Bobble 3, it's actually Bubble Bobble 5. The graphics are bright, vibrant and colorful and the game has an engaging soundtrack that matches the playful look of the game. Gameplay is similar to classic Bubble Bobble but you can now charge up and blow a gigantic bubble which can trap multiple enemies for extra points. Controls are very responsive and I liked the boss fight even though you can see me struggling with it. Nice job Taito.

Burning Force by Namco (1989)
Unlike most of the games I showcase in these videos, it took me some practice with this title before I was good enough to get some lengthy footage of it. A challenging game indeed. I really love the soundtrack of this game and how it energizes you and keeps you engaged. Check out how the backgrounds change for each level (unlike the home port) and admire how smooth the water looks. There does seem to be a bug I encountered after stage 2 where a line of water appears in the sky depending on your position. It could be something caused by MAME but if not then that's a pretty glaring bug they missed. When all is said and done, this is a fun, challenging shooter that you'll want to turn up the volume on before playing.

Cadillacs and Dinosaurs by Capcom (1993)
If you even remotely enjoy beat-em-ups, you're going to love Cadillacs and Dinosaurs. When I play a beat-em-up I look for things that keep me interested in progressing. When you're fighting enemy after enemy with a somewhat limited number of attacks, you want a good variety of enemies, surprise events, weapons and stuff to throw. This game provides plenty of all that. Do the dinosaurs feel out-of-place? Of course! They are a great way to add variety to the enemies and you feel bad for them when they're mistreated by the enemies. I felt like although my move set was limited I still had a range of attacks accentuated by all the weapons the enemies dropped. I also loved the attitude of my character and punching the taunting boss in the face after selecting to continue was incredible.

Caveman Ninja by Data East (1991)
Of all the games I'm featuring, this one was the funniest. While the animation is a little on the slow side, I loved the overall attention to detail in the game's graphics. Aiming your shots is pretty effortless and charging your shot pays off in a big way, especially with bosses. I love how every enemy has multiple expressions; it really adds life to the game. The baby dinosaurs you encounter take a little too many hits and are not easy to dodge. Bosses are really well-animated and would definitely eat up my quarters had I been playing this in the arcade. This is the definitive version of the game for all these reasons and fans of Joe & Mac or platformers in general should really give this one a play.

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