That should be on XBLA: Bubble Bobble
One of the absolute best features of the Xbox 360 is undoubtedly the Xbox Live Arcade. We've already seen some great games for the service, some originals (Cloning Clyde) and some retro classics (Street Fighter II). Naturally, we're all over original content. Castle Crashers just may be the most anticipated title at X360F (according to Chris Grant after it was announced, "I mean, Castle Crashers? How f*cking cool is that?" So, yes, XBLA will surely be a font of great original content, but there are still those among us who pine for more companies to sell us our youth. As such, we've decided to pick a game that's ripe for XBLA: Bubble Bobble. For those unfamiliar with the game, Bubble Bobble puts you in the shoes of two boys (named Bub and Bob, natch) who've had their ladies stolen away. As if that weren't enough, the boys are subsequently turned into dragons, and not kick ass fire breathing dragons either. Nope, these dragons blow bubbles. These bubbles, as you might imagine, are the primary gameplay mechanic. They're used to trap and kill enemies, and also as platforms. The game has a very strong puzzle dynamic and gets insanely difficult as you progress through the 100+ levels. And, of course, like all great games, Bubble Bobble features cooperative play -- and the most annoyingly catchy music ever to grace a videogame.
In short, it's a simple, fun game that's easy for anyone to pick up and play. Make sure it has local and Live multiplayer, add leaderboards and some sweet achievements, and you've got the perfect candidate for XBLA. Do you, our loyal readers, agree? What other great games would you like to see on XBLA? Give us some ideas in the comments and we'll post a new candidate every week or so. Try and keep them realistic, obviously we won't be seeing any Mario on XBLA. Believe or not, companies do read our blog and they keep track of what people are saying. So, join us and we might even influence a little Live Arcade history.









Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Rogue Soul @ Aug 30th 2006 9:52AM
I'd love to see the game 'Defcon' by Introversion Software on XBLA. In a nutshell its a game about WW3.... think of the film 'War Games' and you're halfway there.
http://www.everybody-dies.com/
BklynKid @ Aug 30th 2006 10:06AM
OMG Bubble Bobble was the shit!!
Oh and we still need Load Runner with updated graphics.
FIlip @ Aug 30th 2006 10:06AM
definetly ! ..Bubble Bobble is a must for XBL. I remember mate and me playing this on his 486 until we reach 100th level ..the end of the game. A brilliant game and lots of fun co-op.
Cowdisease @ Aug 30th 2006 10:09AM
Bubble Bobble would actually be a good candidate due to co-op online play. However, the two titles I would like to see on XBLA are Super Puzzle Fighter 2 Turbo and Chu Chu Rocket. Both are fantastic multiplayer games.
I really want to see Chu Chu Rocket on XBLA because I was disappointed at how slow its online play was over the Dreamcast modem. Sega successfully ported it to the GBA (and added about 2,500 user-created puzzles), so this game should be able to fit that 50MB limit Microsoft has for XBLA games.
jc @ Aug 30th 2006 10:10AM
1942 (or even 1943: Battle of Midway)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1942_%28arcade_game%29
Pinball
Gorf
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gorf
Rescue Raiders
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rescue_Raiders
jc @ Aug 30th 2006 10:10AM
Pirate Baby
http://www.selectparks.net/modules.php?file=article&name=News&sid=442
HaniPIG @ Aug 30th 2006 10:12AM
Bubble Bobble would definitely be one of the best retro hits I could think of. I still have flashbacks to those stupid white sharks coming with the fast music when I couldn't pop that last lightning bolt bubble to get the last baddy. That game was all about multiplayer though, some of those levels were really built for it. I don't know if I ever did actually beat it. The false ending after the first 100 always got me.
DrunkPenguin @ Aug 30th 2006 10:14AM
The original Rampage would make a great addition to XBLA. Forget about all the "sequals", the original will always be the best.
Abe @ Aug 30th 2006 10:23AM
While we're at it, throw on Puzzle Bobble as well (with LIVE play!).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puzzle_Bobble
Karlito @ Aug 30th 2006 10:24AM
Powerstone,metal slug,tecmo bowl,gradius,r-type,gyrus,ms.pac-man,pole position with multiplayer
ExTester @ Aug 30th 2006 10:39AM
Put me down for
Bonanza Brothers, but I am refering to the Arcade version. Not the console converts. It would translate to fairly well since the graphics in the arcade version would really nice on a 360.
http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?game_id=7185
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonanza_Bros.
Lifford @ Aug 30th 2006 10:44AM
If Bubble Bobble gets on XBLA then I'd want Snow Bros too. Nick and Tom were the bomb back in the day.
Rogue Soul @ Aug 30th 2006 10:47AM
The original 2D Lemmings (with 2 player Vs) and Worms.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lemmings
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worms_(computer_game)
Dron @ Aug 30th 2006 10:49AM
Double Dragon
Dracula Jones @ Aug 30th 2006 10:54AM
Bubble Bobble is my fiancee's favorite game of all time. Nothing on the 360 has caught her attention yet, no matter how many times I ask her if she wants to play Table Tennis or Street Fighter with me. PLEASE bring this to XBLA! Bubble Bobble is the chosen one that will bring balance to our home!
Brian @ Aug 30th 2006 11:12AM
Toejam and Earl, with co-op of course, would be amazing on XBLA. I'd be very happy with just a straight port of the Genesis game. But if they created a whole new game maybe with 4 player co-op...game of the century.
Darren Cornwell @ Aug 30th 2006 11:16AM
Three Words: Tetsuya Mizuguchi, REZ.... That's the only game that SHOULD definately be on XBLA. How can it not be there already!!!
murph @ Aug 30th 2006 11:22AM
Chu Chu Rocket would be a perfect fit. I also would love to see NHL 94 on XBL. And old school Lode Runner would be killer.
Andy @ Aug 30th 2006 11:24AM
Super Sprint - even though it was done on Miday Arcade Treasures...
Shawn @ Aug 30th 2006 11:26AM
Toe Jam and Earl FTW! That was such an amazing game. Maybe throw in a little "Hot Coffee" action in the secret hot tub area of the map. rofl.
dMyzE @ Aug 30th 2006 11:30AM
It's funny, I thought for sure one of my favorite games would have been mentioned long ago as coming to XBLA, or at least a "good idea", but I haven't seen it even mentioned. Umm, has anyone ever played a game called Duke Nukem 3d ?? Arguably the most innovative fps ever, I think it would be extremely popular on XBLA.
Other games I'd like to see on there, include Worms 3d, Risk, SimCity, & Magic the Gathering...wow those sound nerdy and possibly hard if not impossible to get, but would be very popular in my opinion.
"Shake it baby!"
PsionStorm @ Aug 30th 2006 11:41AM
Chu Chu Rocket would be a blast, and I've seen alot of demand for that game. I'd be surprised if it didn't make it.
Some sort of classic Bomberman would be a blessing, too.
I'd love to see Yar's Revenge though. Anyone?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yar%27s_Revenge
Abbas @ Aug 30th 2006 11:53AM
My vote is for Super Puzzle Fighter 2 Turbo.
I hope somoene at Microsoft is reading this blog.
jimmcq @ Aug 30th 2006 11:54AM
Bubble Bubble online LIVE would be suhweet!
Jeff Christoffersen @ Aug 30th 2006 12:01PM
Completely agree. One of my all time favorite games.
Pixelantes Anonymous @ Aug 30th 2006 12:05PM
Bubble Bobble! YES! And 1942 would rock as well.
I'd also suggest Zaxxon.
I'm missing the old school karate games from Commodore 64. IK+ (International Karate +), The Way of the Exploding Fist and Brian Jack's Uchi Mata...any of those would be great.
Time Pilot, btw, is awesome on XBLA. Got one game in before heading to work this morning.
Worms is (was?) supposed to come to XBLA already, but somehow it's been forever delayed. I remember reading about it several months ago. Lemmings would be a great 2nd choice if Worms is not coming.
Chris @ Aug 30th 2006 12:09PM
ToeJam & Earl would rock! Oooh...Zaxxon...that's good!
However, the game I most want to see on XBLA with Live support? Speedball 2. I really need me some Speedball!
Foppe @ Aug 30th 2006 12:12PM
Chu Chu Rocket
Metal Slug 3
The Simpsons Arcade Game
Zombies Ate My Neighbors
Elevator Action
Worms
Syndicate
Dungeon Keeper
Ignition
Duke Nukem 1, 2 & 3D
Atomic Bomberman
Civilization
Colonization
Elite
Sim City
All of them was great games, adding multiplayer to them could revive some of the series.
DrHockey @ Aug 30th 2006 1:06PM
We need to reach way back: Burgertime, Qbert, and Commando.
puh_fifer @ Aug 30th 2006 1:38PM
Well I'm only 23 so Im gonna have to go with Goldeneye007 as my number one. Don't know if Rare or Nintendo own the rights though. Goldeneye with online multiplayer would be sweet. Im pretty sure it could get compressed under 50MB too.
ymmv @ Aug 30th 2006 2:20PM
My suggestions:
- Super Puzzle Fighter Turbo 2 (Couldn't stop playing this PSX game with friends)
- Boulderdash (a classic C64 puzzle game)
- Loderunner (highly addictive C64 game)
- Nebulus (Very clever Amiga puzzle/platform game)
- Lemmings
- Bubble Bobble or New Zealand Story
- Ghosts and Goblins
- Rick Dangerous (the best Amiga platform game)
- Klax (slightly similar to Astropop though)
- a Pinball game of course
- Stunt Car Racer (one of the few multiplayer, multi-screen Amiga game featuring racing cars on roller coaster tracks. Insane fun)
- Arkanoid (simple yet addictive)
LunarDuality @ Aug 30th 2006 2:27PM
Okay, Bubble Bobble would definitely be sweet. My ex-girlfriend and I broke out her NES just to play co-op...pure gaming bliss.
Lode Runner would be cool but they should include a "classic" version that is insanely simplistic a la the Apple II + version that I spent hours creating over 200 extra levels for when I was a wee one AND then include the latest Sierra version which had some cool new gadgets and ways to foil the Mad Monks!
Also, I'm really looking forward to the possiblities in the "Trivia/Gameshow" category. I think any of the You Don't Know Jack games and also a great (but little known) word/trivia game for DOS called Lexicross. It combined crosswords, memory, trivia, and wheel of fortune in a great way. I still play it through emulation. (And it would theoretically have unlimited expansion capabilities with new puzzles and such.)
ymmv @ Aug 30th 2006 2:28PM
A few other worthy yet puzzling suggestions:
- Pushover
- Logical
I'd love to see those made into Xbox Live Arcade games, too.
Zachary @ Aug 30th 2006 4:23PM
Worms would be awesome (delayed???).
Monopoly anyone? just a thought
CHEZBIPPY12 @ Aug 30th 2006 4:57PM
Bring this game (Bubble Bobble) to xbla, girls and guys love it, I know so many and I mean so many people that would buy this game, its a gurenteed money pit.
aragorn @ Aug 30th 2006 5:02PM
Rogue Soul said: I'd love to see the game 'Defcon' by Introversion Software
WORD! I am very excited that Introversion is releasing their other game... of who's name I can't remember... but regardless, Introversion is one of the premier indy developers out there... and hopefully with their release, other indy developeres will jump onboard, and show that creative gameplay can be just as, or more important than pretty graphics.
Darren Cornwell said: Three Words: Tetsuya Mizuguchi, REZ.... That's the only game that SHOULD definately be on XBLA. How can it not be there already!!!
WORD AGAIN!!!! This was the one game that no one gave a chance, and XBLA would be the perfect way to bring it new life. Only... sega owns it...
Anyway, for the most part, I feel like XBLA has been selling it's self short. All the japanese developers keep releasing titles in a tentative mannor. Konami, and namco have been flooding the market with old arcade classics, and Capcom released SFII.
WHY NOT SF ALPHA!?!? It'd take more time, but I'd be willing to drop 2,000 points for it.
And while Konami, Midway and Namco have some excellent old school games available, I think we really need to get Atari in on the mix.
Because I need
Missile Command
Millepied
on top of this, here's a few more wishlist items:
Guilty Gear: Online distribution would really help ARC
Sam & Max: Cuz it's great
Power Stone: An excellent alternative to Smash Bros.
TETRIS ATTACK: I haven't ever played lumines, but as far as I'm concerned, this game has the single best puzzle multiplayer EVER!!!!
Sim City: cuz honestly... it's timeless.
Freespace 2!: Again, timeless
DESCENT!!!!
Quake 1: another game that just refuses to get old
Half Life 1: maybe this is a bad idea, but oh well.
Final Fight: just one of the more refined beat-em-ups
Oddworld: watching abe die never gets old. ripe for multiplayer
Shinbi III: twas better than Ninja Gaiden
TMNT Turtles in time: MULTIPLAYER!!!!
That's all i can think of off the top of my head.
RickyB @ Aug 30th 2006 5:07PM
OMG!!!!!!!!! Ms. Pac-Man!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GET MS PAC-MAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
aragorn @ Aug 30th 2006 5:57PM
I just thought of THE perfect game for XBLA
1990's Cult smash, classic remake, hybrid First Person Real time strategy
BATTLEZONE!!!!!
insane_cobra @ Aug 30th 2006 6:10PM
Okay people, let's be reasonable, XBLA games must be quite easy to pick up and play. I think things like Civilization are pretty much out of the question, but Oasis might be a decent replacement.
Anyway, I'd like to see more new, original games, but if I have to choose some retro goodness to go along with it, then I'd definitely pick Power Stone, maybe also Power Stone 2. I'm not sure if they could squeeze either in 50 megs, though.
Other than that, Super Dodge Ball, Pang, Toki, Earthworm Jim games, Gunstar Heroes, Soukyugurentai, Psychic Killer Taromaru, Apidya, The Chaos Engine, Lionheart (the Thalion one), Creatures (the Thalamus one), Roadkill...
Xfan @ Aug 30th 2006 6:23PM
I'd love to see...
Crystal Castles, Super Pacman (my personal favorite of the series), Qix, Tron, Warlords, Double Dragon, Star Wars, Major Havoc, Xybots, and (please please please) NARC.
aragorn @ Aug 30th 2006 6:28PM
insane cobra: I am very much of the opinion that accessibility in gameplay, and depth of gameplay are not mutually exclussive. I mean, look at sim City: the very face of micromanagement... but EVERYONE AND THEIR PARENTS WERE PLAYING IT!
Sami Sin @ Aug 30th 2006 6:57PM
I would love to see Bubble Bobble on XBLA. I remember playing it on Commodore 64 during the 80s and just loved it!
Shamma Banks @ Aug 30th 2006 7:29PM
Those are all great suggestions. I would like to see a chess game, or checkers, or maybe even connect four. LOL. And other board games. These would have to be 400 or less MS points of course. Blackjack would also be good. Battleship.
Also all the old atari games.
Centipede
Moon Patrol
Missle command
Tempest
Destroyer
Pole Position, with online multi player, lol, ect.
All of these would have to have updated graphics and gameplay.
Super breakout
Toknicke @ Aug 31st 2006 12:34AM
what about miner 2049:er?
http://www.classicgaming.com/miner2049er/
boxmyth @ Aug 31st 2006 12:34AM
I actually had the chance to chat with Criterion's (God in human form) Alex Ward, who said he had been hasseling MSoft about getting Burnout 2: Point of Impact on Live Arcade. I thought this was a brilliant idea, as to this day, my friends and I have never had so much fun with a Burnout crash mode as we did with Burnout 2.
And Worms would rock.
Can't wait for Castle Crashers...
insane_cobra @ Aug 31st 2006 4:05AM
@aragorn
Maybe you're right. I'd certainly love to see some more complex (and bigger) games there, but I'm afraid that's not their focus for now. Being able to get a copy of Radiant Silvergun for a reasonable amount of money would be just peachy.
Tuanster @ Aug 31st 2006 10:15AM
Super Puzzle Fighter 2!!! I've been dreaming of an online version of this forever.
teamtba @ Aug 31st 2006 9:54PM
Guerilla Warfare from the NES.
NARC.
Tetris anyone?
icepick314 @ Sep 1st 2006 5:29AM
How about some old school multiplayer arcade games like X-Men and TMNT series (especially Turtles in Time)...
I can't wait for Castle Crashers...some good old multiplayer beat'em up!!
Patttyblades @ Sep 1st 2006 7:59PM
Halo Zero once the xna thing is up