Rainbow Islands
1987 · Platform · Arcade
Overview
Rainbow Islands (1987) is Taito's sequel to Bubble Bobble, in which Bubby and Bobby climb ten islands using rainbows as weapons and platforms while the sea rises below them.
Deep Dive
Bubby and Bobby set out to save the Rainbow Islands from the Dark Shadow. Each of the ten islands has its own theme and four rounds, and the heroes must climb to the top before the rising water catches them. Rainbows serve as weapons, platforms and a way to collect items, and jumping on one drops it onto the enemies below. Collecting seven small diamonds of different colours in a round earns a big diamond, and taking them in the right order opens a secret room.
Developer Story
Fukio Mitsuji designed it, with music by Hisayoshi Ogura. Taito released it in Japanese arcades in October 1987. Graftgold converted it to the Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC, Amiga and Atari ST for Ocean in 1989 and 1990, and the Spectrum version topped the UK charts in 1990.
Did You Know?
- The NES version replaced the main theme because it resembled "Over the Rainbow".
- Amiga Power ranked it the best game of all time in its 1991 and 1992 top 100 lists.
Sources & further reading
- Rainbow Islands — Wikipedia
