Bubble Bobble 4 Friends: The Baron's Workshop

I only bought this for the arcade version, which is a masterpiece of a game. I'm glad this implementation is at least playable, but it doesn't save high scores, and can't even play over the network. you're better off just downloading a NES emulator and playing it there (where you can also save your progress, get level codes, etc.) The game BB4 itself is really quite bad. maybe it's for very, very young children? I think for children under 5 years old, BB4 might be playable. the graphics are ok, but it's boring and repetitive. a real cash-grab where they just skinned a few easy puzzles and added some 3D fluff between levels. overall, this is a huge disappointment, and i bought it discounted for like $11. I think it's like $20 full-priced, which seems like an abomination.

i did NOT play through 95/100 levels of the og arcade bubble bobble just to get softlocked -10000/10

Bubble Bobble 4 Friends: The Baron's Workshop successfully demonstrates how a legendary arcade franchise can be refreshed for modern audiences without sacrificing the straightforward gameplay that made it a classic. Developed and published by TAITO CORP., the game preserves the familiar bubble-trapping mechanics while expanding the experience with additional content, cooperative features, and creative tools that make this version far more substantial than a simple remake. It strikes a satisfying balance between nostalgia and innovation, making it accessible for newcomers while rewarding longtime fans who have followed the series for decades. The gameplay revolves around a deceptively simple objective: trap enemies inside bubbles before popping them to clear each stage. While easy to learn, the mechanics quickly reveal surprising depth as players must account for enemy movement, environmental hazards, and the strategic use of bubbles as temporary platforms. Every level introduces new layouts, obstacles, and enemy behaviors that encourage experimentation rather than repetitive play. Precision, timing, and quick decision-making become increasingly important as the challenge escalates…

> TL;DR: Amazing game, but it's XInput controllers or bust! Where do I even begin? It's my favorite Bubble Bobble game now. I decided to give this a chance while I wait for the Sugar Dungeons Boosted update. If you played Sugar Dungeons, many mechanics will be very familiar to you. The different power sets, the moveset, the bosses, the enemies are just straight up the same! Ok, but what if you haven't played Sugar Dungeons? Well, this is an amazing game, especially with a friend. 50 main levels with the right amount of challenge, and arcade mechanics adapted for modern play astonishingly well! If you want more, 50 "new game +" levels are unlocked right after, with an additional 100 challenge stages in the Arcade of the Future! And if you want something even MORE challenging, the Arcade of Memories has the original Bubble Bobble arcade game. And, even with all of that, do you want even more? Make your own levels, download community made levels from the workshop, the world is your oyster! Sounds like a sweet deal, doesn't it? Well, consider these three cons. For one, this game goes for 40 bucks normally. I do NOT advise you to get it at full price, instead, cop it at a discount. …

I'll address some of the the negative reviews. Firstly, in my experience, Xbox controllers work fine, as long as you disable Steam Input for this game (Google it). Secondly, if you are having trouble with the game speeding up on high refresh rate monitors, just turn your refresh rate down to 60hz while you play this game. If you don't know how to do that... Google it. The price? Yeah it's a bit steep but you can pick it up on sale or even find a cheap Steam key somewhere. If you're not sure where to buy Steam keys, guess what? Yup, Google it! Frankly, it's worth the £10 I paid on sale just for the original game, which I've played and I love it (it works just fine and I don't have to wait for it to load up on my old C64 this way... or get my old C64 out of the loft first). The button configuration seems pretty intuitive to me, so I don't know what that other guy's on about and the new gameplay seems ok, as long as you got it cheap. Looking forward to playing couch coop with my kids.

absolute PEAKKKKKKKKK