Rainbow Islands: Bubble Bobble 2 (1991). Play online

Summary

When I slipped the European Ocean‑made cartridge of Rainbow Islands (often just called Rainbow Islands) into my NES, it felt like the arcade had finally got its way onto the console. Unlike the North American and Japanese NES releases, which swapped out levels and intermissions, the EU/AUS version keeps the arcade’s stage layouts and the original rain‑bow‑shooting vibe.

The game trades Bubble Bobble’s bubble‑blasting for rainbow‑launching – rainbows double as projectiles, temporary bridges and item magnets. Play as Bubby in a green shirt or Bobby in blue, taking turns in two‑player mode, and watch the water creep up if you linger too long; it’ll swallow you the moment it tops your head. Power‑ups speed you up, speed the rainbows, and even let you fire more at once.

Beyond the platforming action are multiple endings, hidden diamond hunts, and score‑boosting tricks that let the best hunters rack up massive points. The secret rooms that unlock when you collect the tiny colored diamonds add a lasting hook for anyone chasing the game’s ultimate upgrades.

Storyline

Rainbow Islands: Bubble Bobble 2 follows the adventure of the bubble‑blowing brothers Bubby and Bobby after the events of Bubble Bobble. The duo learns that the peaceful inhabitants of the Rainbow Islands have been transformed into hostile Bubble Dragons by the evil Boss of Shadow, also known as Dark Shadow. Determined to set things right, they set out across the ten colorful islands. To reverse the curse they must gather the large gems and reflective mirrors hidden on each island, using them to open the path toward the final showdown. Once they defeat the Boss of Shadow, the spell is broken and the islanders return to their normal forms, restoring peace to the Rainbow Islands.