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Bubble Bobble 4 Friends: The Baron's Workshop

Bubble Bobble 4 Friends: The Baron's Workshop Game Cover
59%Game Brain Score
graphics, optimization
gameplay, replayability
59% User Score Based on 54 reviews

Platforms

PCWindows
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Bubble Bobble 4 Friends: The Baron's Workshop Game Cover

About

Bubble Bobble 4 Friends: The Baron's Workshop is a single player and multiplayer action game. It was developed by TAITO CORP. and was released on September 30, 2021. It received neutral reviews from players.

"Bubble Bobble 4 Friends: The Baron's Workshop" is a fun and energetic action-puzzle game where players control Bub, Bob, Peb or Pab to blow bubbles and defeat bullies across hundreds of stages. The game offers a Story Mode for up to four players and an Arcade of Memories mode that faithfully recreates the original 1986 Bubble Bobble arcade game. Players can also create and share their own stages in the workshop.

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
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59%
Audience ScoreBased on 54 reviews
graphics5 positive mentions
replayability3 negative mentions
  • The game offers a nostalgic experience with the inclusion of the original Bubble Bobble, which is a solid port.
  • The new remake features beautiful HD graphics and fun, puzzle-like stages that enhance the gameplay experience.
  • Playing with friends in local co-op is enjoyable, and the game includes a level editor that adds replayability.
  • The game suffers from poor controller support and unintuitive menu navigation, making it frustrating to play.
  • Many players feel the game is overpriced for the amount of content it offers, especially given the short campaign length.
  • Technical issues, such as the arcade version running too fast on certain monitors and lack of online multiplayer, detract from the overall experience.
  • graphics
    13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of "Bubble Bobble 4 Friends: The Baron's Workshop" feature a mix of modern HD visuals and a nostalgic arcade aesthetic, with some users appreciating the vibrant designs while others find the new block-like, Lego-inspired graphics to be somewhat cheap and plain. While the remade levels showcase bright and vivid graphics, the original arcade version retains its simplicity, which some feel has aged well. Overall, the graphics are generally considered good, though there are minor performance issues and limitations on certain platforms.

    • “Levels have been remade with HD bright, vivid, beautiful graphics.”
    • “The new mechanics are really fun (riding on bubbles) and the graphics are really cute.”
    • “I liked the game a lot and enjoyed playing the first game; good graphics, easy controls on a pad, replayability.”
    • “The interface and the new Bubble Bobble have modern graphics, but the arcade version is simply the original. In my mind, it did age quite well, but it is simple on the graphics side.”
    • “As far as the Lego graphics go, personally I'm not the biggest fan of them as they look a bit cheap and plain for 3D games with arcade origins. However, it is done with effort and care when you look at some of the stage designs.”
    • “I also find the graphics to be slightly ugly, although the PC version does make it look better without the veil of the Switch's technical limitations.”
  • gameplay
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay retains the core mechanics of the original Bubble Bobble while introducing new features such as crawling, evading projectiles, and five unlockable abilities that can be upgraded. Although the gameplay variation is appreciated, some players feel that the four characters lack distinct strengths, which could enhance the experience. Additionally, while the new mechanics and graphics are enjoyable, the level design has been criticized for being overly simplistic compared to the original's challenge.

    • “Now getting into the actual gameplay, it remains largely the same as the original Bubble Bobble, although it does feature new mechanics such as the ability to crawl through narrow spaces and evade projectiles or accidentally bursting bubbles in tight corridors. It should be noted that you can't shoot bubbles while ducking. Additionally, there are five new abilities that can be unlocked after defeating the boss at the end of a level's 10 stages. This includes 'bomb' bubbles that explode when the timer runs out or upon contact, and the ability to dash on the ground or mid-flight for speedy players. These abilities can also be upgraded to allow for larger amounts, as their usage is limited and can only be restored through fruit collected.”
    • “Although not anything to get truly excited about, it does vary up the gameplay a fair bit. I do wish the same could be said for the four playable characters. I believe it would further improve the gameplay if each of the four had their own unique strengths (e.g., Bob jumping higher but moving slower, Peb having faster movement but lower bubble power, Pab boasting more bubble push with lower jumping abilities, and Bub being the typical 'balanced' type). When done in moderation, these differences can offer something for those looking for a challenge or to achieve a top rank on the online scoreboard.”
    • “The new mechanics are really fun (like riding on bubbles) and the graphics are really cute.”
    • “Although not anything to get truly excited about, it does vary up the gameplay a fair bit. However, I do wish the same could be said for the four playable characters, as I believe it would further improve the gameplay if each of the four had their own unique strengths. For example, Bob could jump higher but move slower, Peb could have faster movement but lower bubble power, Pab could boast more bubble push with lower jumping abilities, and Bub could be the typical 'balanced' type. This could offer something for those looking for a challenge or to get a top rank on the online scoreboard.”
    • “I'm mostly upset because I expected the kind of difficulty and gameplay the original games envisioned, but the level design feels far too 'hand-hold-y' than it should have been.”
    • “It clearly deviates from the original arcade gameplay, but it's probably to its benefit here as it's more of a home-based experience than anything.”
  • replayability
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, "Bubble Bobble 4 Friends" offers some replayability through its enjoyable gameplay and graphics, but many users feel that the lack of new content, updates, and online multiplayer significantly limits its long-term appeal. While some players appreciate the nostalgic elements, the game's high price point and perceived lack of depth make it hard to justify for extended play.

    • “I liked the game a lot and enjoyed playing the first game; good graphics, easy controls on a pad, and replayability.”
    • “To finish up this review, Bubble Bobble 4 Friends is an adequate modern take on the classic arcade original, but the asking price is simply too high for a game that doesn't bring enough new and polished content to justify purchasing it. There is a general lack of care for updates and no signs of any online multiplayer, which would have easily given this game some much-needed replayability and helped it stand out from other flawed ports.”
    • “While this does give the game lots of replay value now, it's unfortunately barebones for me at least.”
    • “Despite the content and replay value, the value of the game itself is just overpriced and not worth it.”
  • story
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story mode of the game has been criticized for its lack of visual charm compared to the original, with only 50 levels that feel insufficient, especially since the remixed hard mode levels should have been new content. Additionally, the workshop mode is seen as cumbersome and disappointing for veterans, lacking essential features and requiring completion of the story mode to unlock its full potential. Overall, the narrative experience is marred by broken controls and a sense of missed opportunities.

    • “While it no longer has any game-breaking issues, the main story levels still lack the visual charm of the original Bubble Bobble, especially in regards to enemy designs and block skins; proving that new doesn't always equal better.”
    • “While it no longer has any game-breaking issues, the main story levels still lack the visual charm of the original Bubble Bobble, particularly in regards to enemy designs and block skins; proving that new doesn't always equal better.”
    • “The main story mode has only 50 levels (100 if you count the remixed hard mode levels, but honestly these should've been entirely new levels).”
    • “Controls are broken in the story mode campaign.”
  • music
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is widely praised, with users highlighting its fun and fantastic quality. Additionally, the score influences gameplay by unlocking achievements, music, and editor parts, enhancing the overall experience.

    • “It's fun and has some good music too.”
    • “Is the score high enough, you become rated with stars. Depending on the rating, you unlock achievements, music, and editor parts.”
    • “The music is fantastic!”
    • “The music feels repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged.”
    • “I found the soundtrack to be uninspired and forgettable, which detracts from the overall experience.”
    • “The audio quality is subpar, and the mixing makes it difficult to appreciate the music fully.”
  • optimization
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's simple graphics contribute to excellent performance, allowing it to run smoothly on a wide range of hardware.

    • “The simple graphics, however, provide the game with excellent performance on almost any machine.”
    • “The optimization is impressive, allowing for smooth gameplay even on lower-end devices.”
    • “I appreciate how the developers focused on optimization, making the game accessible to a wider audience.”
  • character development
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development is criticized for its lack of depth, with users noting that the character designs appear bland and unoriginal, which detracts from the overall engagement with the characters.

    • “But the character designs look rather bland.”
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Bubble Bobble 4 Friends: The Baron's Workshop is a action game.

Bubble Bobble 4 Friends: The Baron's Workshop is available on PC and Windows.

Bubble Bobble 4 Friends: The Baron's Workshop was released on September 30, 2021.

Bubble Bobble 4 Friends: The Baron's Workshop was developed by TAITO CORP..

Bubble Bobble 4 Friends: The Baron's Workshop has received neutral reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its graphics but disliked it for its gameplay.

Bubble Bobble 4 Friends: The Baron's Workshop is a single player game with multiplayer and local co-op support.

Similar games include Geometry Wars 3: Dimensions Evolved, 30XX, N, Pac-Man Championship Edition 2, DG2: Defense Grid 2 and others.