Lost In Translation/Bubble Bobble II

About The Game
Eight years since the introduction of the renowned puzzle maze game comes this upgraded reincarnation with more excitement.

The first direct sequel to Taito's 1986 classic, "Bubble Bobble" - the first ACTUAL sequel was 1987's 'Rainbow Islands', which played very differently to Bubble Bobble - in which one or two players take on the role of the infamous bubble-blowing dinosaurs (selected from the four available; Bubblun, Bobblun, Cururun, and Cororon), each of which possesses its own individual game-play attributes; such as faster bubbles or larger bubbles etc.). The players must once again fight their way through a large number of single-screen platform-based levels, trapping monsters with their bubbles before bursting them to destroy the trapped enemies. Bubble Bobble II's game play is identical to that of the original game, although new bonuses and weapons have been introduced to breath new life into this timeless game. One new addition to the game-play is the introduction of 'Multiple Bubbles'; if the player holds the button down for a few seconds before releasing; up to three bubbles are produced at once.

The game's graphics are, of course, a vast improvement over the original; with lush, colorfully rendered backgrounds and detailed, smoothly animated sprites doing full justice to the legendary video game characters. Bubble Bobble II features cameo appearances by a number of characters from many other Taito games. The game also features multiple endings, depending on the skill of the player and on secrets found.

Additional Technical Information
Players : 2

Control : 8-way joystick

Buttons : 2

= > [1] Bubble, [2] Jump

Trivia
Released in October 1994.

This game is also known as "Bubble Symphony". Though the game was sold for home systems as "Bubble Bobble II", Bubble Symphony is unofficially Bubble Bobble 4, since three earlier arcade games featuring the same characters exist (more if the 'Puzzle Bobble' series is included). It could even be called 'Bubble Bobble V', since a cartridge for the NES/Famicom exists called 'Bubble Bobble 2'.

In the attract mode title sequence, Bubblun appears in front of a closed red curtain (which will turn blue if the 'Game Mode Select' code is entered) announcing, 'Ladies and Gentlemen, this is... Bubble Bobble II!' The curtain then opens on the cast of enemies as follows :
 * Bottom row (left to right) : Flhoop, Uni Bo, Drunk, Banebou, Invader, Zen-Chan, Mighta, Rappappa, Catch Maru, Roboj, Hattonton
 * 2nd row from bottom (left to right) : Monsta, Komso, Kabukky, Mya-Ta, Heita-Kun, Warurin, Hidegonsu, No-No, Upper, Ame Da-Ma, PulPul
 * 2nd row from top (left to right) : Robol, Rocketl, Yuki-Bombo, Mummy, Chu-Chu Man, Jiji Poppo, Kiri Kabu Kun, Bolt Man, Strong Shell
 * Top row (left to right) : Dorabo, Ouji Sama, Knightron, Dranko, Magician, Denkyu-Kun, Ankororin
 * Not pictured : Puka Puka, Bake Couchin, Killer Hijia, Ti Ta Ma, Kasabe, Kon-Chan, Mimic, Skel-Monsta, Nyororin, Rascal, Yu Bo, Unicoron, Cerberorin, Kabu-Chan, YZK-Takami, Golem

In the closing credits, PulPul's name is listed as 'Puru Puru'.

The enemy known as 'Catch Maru' can be seen in two different color schemes : one with a blue robe and purple shoes (as seen in the attract mode title sequence), and one with a green robe and blue shoes.

The game forbids the initials 'SEX' on the high score table. If you try, it gets changed to 'H !'.

There are a grand total of 164 rooms in the game, including 18 boss rooms.

Updates
In 'Super' mode, accessible after entering the 'Game mode select' code (see 'Tips and Tricks' below), enemies are switched around, as follows (Legend : 'Normal' mode monster --> 'Super' mode monster) :
 * Zen-Chan --> Warurin (and vice-versa)
 * Mighta --> Dranko (and vice-versa)
 * Monsta --> Yu Bo
 * PulPul --> Strong Shell (and vice-versa)
 * Banebou --> Kasabe (and vice-versa)
 * Hidegonsu --> Hattonton
 * Drunk --> Chu-Chu Man
 * Invader --> Flhoop
 * Flhoop --> Bolt Man
 * Yuki-Bombo --> Drunk
 * Mya-Ta --> Yuki Bombo
 * Chu-Chu Man --> Hidegonsu
 * Magician --> Knightron (and vice-versa)
 * Komso --> Cerberorin (and vice-versa)
 * Catch Maru (in blue robe and purple shoes) --> No-No
 * Catch Maru (in green robe and blue shoes) --> Kabu-Chan
 * Mummy --> Unicoron
 * Puka Puka --> Bake Couchin
 * Ame Da-Ma --> Nyororin
 * Upper --> Kiri Kabu Kun (and vice-versa)
 * Bake Couchin --> Ame Da-Ma
 * Hattonton --> Roboj
 * Ti Ta Ma --> Robol (and vice-versa)
 * Heita-Kun --> Jiji Poppo
 * Kabukky --> Uni Bo (and vice-versa)
 * Nyororin --> Puka Puka
 * Ouji Sama --> Mummy
 * Yu Bo --> Golem
 * Rappappa --> Ouji Sama
 * Golem --> Monsta
 * Roboj --> Mya-Ta
 * Unicoron --> Rappappa
 * Kabu-Chan --> Heita-Kun
 * Bolt Man --> Invader
 * Jiji Poppo --> Catch Maru (in blue robe and purple shoes)
 * No-No --> Catch Maru (in green robe and blue shoes)

Monsters not listed remain the same.

Always Access Secret Rooms
Before inserting your coin, at the intro screen with the curtain, press Jump, Bubble, Jump, Bubble, Jump, Bubble, Left, Start. A tone will sound.

Black Background And Classic Music
Before inserting your coin, at the intro screen with the curtain, press Bubble, Jump, Bubble, Jump, Bubble, Jump, Right, Start. A tone will sound. The background of each room will be black and the original Bubble Bobble theme will play instead of the usual music.


 * Alternative Codes
 * 1) Left, Jump, Left, Start, Left, Bubble, Left, Start.
 * 2) Start, Jump, Bubble, Left, Right, Jump, Start, Right.

Game Mode Select
Before inserting your coin, at the intro screen with the curtain, press Up, Start, Right, Jump, Bubble, Left, Start, Down. The curtain will turn blue. You can now choose between 'normal game' and 'super game'. In 'Super' mode, platforms appear in different colors, and most of the monsters are switched around (see 'Updates' above).

Unlock Human Characters
Before inserting your coin, at the intro screen with the curtain, press Left, Down, Up, Jump, Right, Start, Bubble, Right. A tone will sound. You can now choose from 4 human characters.

Fastest And Max Bubble
Down, Bubble, Jump, Start, Left, Right, Left, Start.

Series

 * 1) Bubble Bobble (1986)
 * 2) Rainbow Islands - The Story of Bubble Bobble 2 (1987)
 * 3) Final Bubble Bobble (1988, Sega Master System)
 * 4) Parasol Stars - The Story of Bubble Bobble III (1991, NEC PC-Engine)
 * 5) Bubble Bobble Part 2 (1993, Nintendo Famicom)
 * 6) Bubble Bobble II (1994)
 * 7) Bubble Memories - The Story of Bubble Bobble III (1995)
 * 8) Rainbow Islands - Putty's Party (2000, Bandai Wonderswan)
 * 9) Bubble Bobble Revolution (2005, Nintendo DS)
 * 10) New Rainbow Islands (2005, Nintendo DS)
 * 11) Bubble Bobble Evolution (2006, Sony PSP)
 * 12) Bubble Bobble Double Shot (2007, Nintendo DS)

Staff

 * Project Leader:
 * Keppel Maekawa


 * Game Planners:
 * Yoshitake Shirei
 * Keppel Maekawa


 * Software Designers:
 * Harumi. K
 * Meltycat!
 * Kunio Kuzukawa
 * Takahiro Natani (Helper Natani)


 * Map Creators:
 * Taka. Furukawa
 * Yoshitake Shirei


 * Character Designers:
 * Turtle Mizukami
 * T. Ozaki
 * Koji?!
 * Yourychan


 * Dot Design Works:
 * Akiyoshi Takada
 * Mari Fukusaki
 * Mochi Mochi Natsuko
 * Shigeki Yamamoto
 * Ken
 * Yourychan
 * Lin Chinkai (Indy Chinkai)


 * All Music & Sound Composed By:
 * Yasuko Yamada (Zuntata)


 * Sound Effects:
 * Ishikawa Babio (BABI) (Zuntata)


 * Music Adviser:
 * Tamayo Kawamoto (Zuntata)


 * Instruction Designers:
 * Mihoko Sudoh
 * Rintaroh Doi


 * Hardware Works:
 * Katsumi Kaneoka
 * Hironobu Suzuki
 * Jun Sawaki

Ports

 * Consoles :
 * Sega Saturn (1997)
 * Microsoft XBOX (2006, "Taito Legends 2" as "Bubble Symphony")
 * Sony PlayStation 2 (2006, "Taito Legends 2" as "Bubble Symphony")


 * Computers :
 * PC [CD-ROM] (2006, "Taito Legends 2" as "Bubble Symphony")