About This Game
Introduction
Bubble Bobble C64 Remastered
is a fan-made radical enhancement—with all-new graphics—of the Commodore 64 version of Taito's
Bubble Bobble
, originally developed by Software Creations and published by Firebird in 1987.
The game was met with critical and player acclaim upon release and is still regarded today as a great classic for the C64, as well as one of the best games ever released on the platform.
The project was started in January 2025 by Davide Bottino, retro games creator of
Toki C64 Remastered
fame and journalist at
Zzap! Magazine Italia
, with the goal of improving the graphical fidelity of the C64 version while preserving its classic gameplay. Here's what Davide says:
"Bubble Bobble was love at first sight. I was 11 years old when, at a friendâs house, I first saw that little cassette from a newsstand bootleg edition called Bolle Bolle. It only took a moment: those vibrant colors, the lively graphics, the quirky characters, the tons of bonuses and power-ups to collect, the catchy music that got stuck in your head, and the stellar gameplay. Whether playing solo or co-op, every game felt like an epic adventure, with hours flying by in the desperate yet wonderful attempt to clear all 100 levels. The C64 version was my first encounter with Bubble Bobble, and itâs with this version that I built my fondest memories.
Years later I stumbled upon the fabled arcade cabinet. It was a revelation. The game was even faster, more frantic, with a bonus system that responded almost magically to the playerâs actions. Thanks to emulation, over the years Iâve been able to revisit both versions and study their differences. The C64 version remains an incredible technical achievement for its time—a solid recreation of the arcade original and an excellent game for our beloved breadbin, still enjoyable to this day. However, to be fair, itâs not a "perfect" port by any stretch. The simplified mechanics mean that the spirit of the original didnât fully carry
