=============================================================================== * SUPER PUZZLE BOBBLE * FAQ VERSION 1.20 For The Taito G-Net Arcade Game and the PlayStation 2 Game (c) S.A.Ives 2000-2003 =============================================================================== TRADEMARKS: Super Puzzle Bobble, Zuntata, Taito G-Card, and Taito G-Net are trademarks of Taito Corporation. PlayStation 2 is a trademark of Sony. Any other trademarks are those of their respective owners. =============================================================================== LEGAL CRAP (Terms & Conditions): This FAQ is Copyright (C) Steven Ives 2000. All rights reserved. It may be posted only on the following sites: www.gamefaqs.com GameFAQS www.gameoverdude.com Game Over, the author's web site. www.gameadvice.com Game Advice vgstrategies.about.com Video Games Strategies gamingplanet.com The Gaming Planet www.bubandbob.com Bubandbob.com taito.overclocked.org Bubble Bobble H.Q. www.cheatcc.com Cheat Code Central www.cheat-elite.com Extreme Gamers Network (EGN) www.redcoupe.co.uk Red Coupe Q1- I see the FAQ on a certain site, but you do not have it listed here. Now what? A1- Tell me right now by Private Message at gameoverDude.com. Q2- If I receive permission to host this FAQ, how may I post it to my site? A2- Only in its original plain text form, with NO changes or deletions. NOTE: NEVER is this FAQ to appear on megagames.com, gamesdomain.com, or CNET Games Center (games.netscape.com/Faqs). If you just found it there, TELL ME. I've heard it through the Game FAQs grapevine that these sites rip off FAQs. HTMLized versions of the FAQ may not appear on any site other than www.gameoverdude.com (Game Over), Bubble Bobble HQ, or Bubandbob.com. Q3- Where can I check for the latest version? A3- This FAQ can be found on GameFAQs.com. Q4- Can I host your FAQ? A4- I'm sorry, but no new FAQ hosting requests are accepted. Q5- Can I use this FAQ for any profitable means? A5- NO. NEVER try to make a lamearse profit off my work. This includes but is not limited to magazines, COP-DN and other for-profit sites, Brady Games, Prima, and other publishers. This applies even if there is no direct profit derived from the FAQ. You may not give it as a gift or a bonus item. Q6- Can I use any info found in this FAQ to start my own? A6- If you wish to use any info found herein in a FAQ or other material you are working on, ask me for permission first. If permission is granted, you are to credit me in your work for the information used. I reserve the right to litigate if the TERMS & CONDITIONS are violated. Applicable copyright laws will be enforced. If I use a copyrighted resource, an acknowledgement will be given in the SHOUT-OUTS (The Credits) section. If you disagree with the Terms and Conditions, you may not use this FAQ. Due to spam, I no longer accept email but can still be contacted via Private Message at www.gameoverDude.com. OK, I think I've bored you enough with this legal crap. Let's go! =============================================================================== HISTORY: September 4, 2000 I start work on the Super Puzzle Bobble FAQ. September 5, 2000 The Super Puzzle Bobble FAQ is ready for release. September 13, 2000 A correction: 1P puzzle mode requires you to clear 6 zones, NOT 7. D'oh! Also, a bit more chronology is added in regard to the series. If you want to supply level maps, please go ahead and you will be credited at the end of this FAQ. Character attack patterns have been added for the Versus modes. September 18, 2000 This FAQ gets released to Game FAQs as V1.00. October 03, 2000 I have seen screen shots of the PS2 version, and it looks like a whole new PB title rather than a direct arcade port. NOTE: Most of this info is relevant to the Taito G-Net arcade game, though some of it may be useful to players of the PS2 version. This FAQ is now officially released. October 03, 2000 Interim update: I grant Cheat Code Central permission to host the FAQ. This revision has them added to the OK list. October 09, 2000 Used JWPce to try to get Romaji for some character names in the arcade version, using the Help Kana Table. October 19, 2000 I stick the fork into version 1.10 of the FAQ. It's now done. Cheat-elite.com is granted permission. December 02, 2000 Red Coupe (www.redcoupe.co.uk) is granted permission. A few minor changes are made to the FAQ, and there is a new copyright notice. This FAQ is released as 1.12. December 31, 2000 Brian supplies info on characters "Katze" & "Fungila", as well as a description of "Catch". "Robot Herr" was not the correct name for one of the characters, whose correct name is "Mr. @". January 11, 2000 Fixed an error in the FAQ regarding Bubblun & Bobblun in the PS2 version. Thanks to Mark Wolf for bringing it to my attention. May 29, 2000 Minor changes to FAQ, and new release. August 25, 2003 Email address jerked from FAQ due to spam. If you have the addy from an older version of the FAQ, feel free to keep using it. I can be contacted at gameoverDude.com via private message (user name is gameover). Here's release 1.20- with the means to play as Katze & Fungila. =============================================================================== ABOUT SUPER PUZZLE BOBBLE: This is the 5th in the Puzzle Bobble series. The first installment appeared on the Neo-Geo MVS, AES, and Neo-Geo CD systems. Puzzle Bobble 2, 3, and 4 originated on the Taito F3 Package System (aka Cyber Core System). The PB series has changed systems once more. Now it is on the Taito G-Net. This game appeared in 1999. Series Chronology: 1994 Puzzle Bobble/Bust-A-Move appears on the Neo-Geo. 1995 Puzzle Bobble 2 and 2x are released on Taito F3. The Super NES conversion of Bust-A-Move is released by Taito America. Later, Taito America is closed (a sad day), which explains why their 32-bit games have come from other publishers in the USA market. 1996 Puzzle Bobble 3 and 3dx are released on Taito F3. Bust-A-Move 2 appears in the USA, distributed by Acclaim for Sega Saturn and PSX. 1997 Puzzle Bobble 4 released on Taito F3. TOMMO brings out US versions of Bust-A-Move 3 for the Saturn and PSX. 1998 Super Puzzle Bobble released on Taito G-Net. Bust-A-Move 4 appears on the PSX in the US, distributed by TOMMO. The Nintendo 64 gets a cartridge version of Bust-A-Move 2. 1999 Puzzle Bobble 2 rereleased on the Neo-Geo. Bust-A-Move 3dx comes out for the US PSX under the name Bust-A-Move '99 from Acclaim. BAM '99 also appears on the Nintendo 64 with 4 player support added. 2000 A new game called "Super Puzzle Bobble" is released on the PS2. This game is apparently the sequel to the G-Net arcade game rather than a port of it, despite the fact that it bears the same title. This series is called "Bust-A-Move" in the USA. So, you could call the arcade game "Bust-A-Move 5". The PS2 version is basically "Bust-A-Move 6". The new SPB is out NOW for the PlayStation 2 in Japan, having been released on 09/28/2000. It retails for JPY 5,800. The graphics are far superior to the arcade game and are done in high-res. The art style is also changed. In fact, it will be a LAUNCH TITLE for the USA release of Sony PS2. Guess what it will be called? "Super Bust-A-Move". Acclaim is localizing the PS2 game for the USA. =============================================================================== GAME START: Several play modes are available for you to choose: 1P Puzzle - A traditional 1 player Puzzle Bobble mode with Zone Select. Four versions are available (three regular games and a 5-stage practice mode). The PS2 version offers Training, Normal, and Classic modes for this one. 1P Battle- Essentially a story mode where you take on a roster of CPU opponents. 2P Battle- You challenge another player. NOTE: In Versus modes, you can play either with or without the Chain Reaction system. It's good that Taito offers a choice here, because this system has drawn some mixed reviews. 2P Puzzle- A new mode. Two players will be shooting bubbles at the same time. Both players will have separate scores. (G-Net ONLY) =============================================================================== GAME PLAY: The controls consist of a joystick and ONE button- SHOOT. It doesn't get any simpler than that. Left & Right will aim the Launcher in that direction. Pushing Up will move your aim toward the center. Here are the changes in the game play since the last installment: Pulley System- GONE! Arrow Block- Hit this with a bubble and it will shift the Launcher to a different place. If they appear in a level, there will be two- one with a left arrow, and one with a right arrow. Launcher Position: It varies in certain stages. Large Bubble- Hit it with JUST ONE bubble of the same color and it will pop immediately. It will radiate a colored light after you pop it. All the small bubbles on the screen will be changed to its color. Unbreakable Walls- You must plan your shots around these walls. Bubbles will bounce off of them. Red Magic Gem- Causes the Unbreakable Walls to drop out. You will hear "Bye Bye!". Small Bubbles- In some stages, you will be shooting small bubbles that fit more easily through gaps. When one is hung, it expands into a regular bubble. WARNING!- When you get in danger, some real-time rendered meteors are shot toward the screen and the background momentarily will be a starfield while there is an audible alarm. (G-Net version) Some hold-overs from PB4: Posts- Golden hexagonal blocks that will not go away until you clear out all surrounding bubbles. Big Stage- Some of the levels are wide, as first seen in PB2. Trashing- If you don't want to use a certain bubble, you can aim it at the back wall. If it doesn't meet any other bubbles on the way up or down, it will fall off the bottom. This feature has been in the series since PB3. Blue Gem- This bubble is blue with a glowing star in it. It's been in the series since PB2. Hit it with a certain color bubble to instantly dispose of all others like it. Wood Block- To remove it, you must cause it to fall off. Nothing else will get rid of it. Rainbow Bubble- Match 3 or more bubbles near it, and it will change to the color of the ones you just took out. This can result in additional matches. Ceiling Drop- After a certain number of shots, the frame will begin to judder. When you've fired the next one, the stage's ceiling is lowered. If a bubble crosses the bottom line, it's GAME OVER. I'm not sure if the Iron Ball is in this one. In fact, it may be gone. The Zone Select screen now is done above a 3D landscape with Bub/Bob riding atop the Launcher. PS2 version new stuff: Ragged Frame- some levels have a frame whose shape is not the usual vertical rectangle. One example is a frame that has a stair-step ceiling. Conveyor Walls- These will alter your shot's path. The Iron Ball is in the PS2 version, and it destroys bubbles in its path. The large bubbles now contain captured characters. Unfortunately, the Cooperative Puzzle game from the arcade version seems to have gotten lost. What a shame. NOTE: Some changes have been made to the PS2 version. I'm guessing that some of the arcade features will be brought over to it. It does have a new cast of characters rather than the ones found in the arcade. NOTE: The score will not reset in the PS2 version if you use continues. WHY NOT? That kind of hurts it, IMO. =============================================================================== 1P Puzzle Mode: In this mode, you can choose to play a quick 5-stage practice round or one of three main games of varying difficulty levels. On the map, press down for the practice round. Press up, right, or left to choose one of the main games. In a main game you will select A or B for your first zone at the Zone Select. NOTE: The PS2 version lets you play a 5-stage practice round (Training), a Normal mode, or a Classic mode. Classic mode is "a past puzzle side can play". Shoot bubbles into the formations. Match 3 of the same color and they disappear. If this match causes other bubbles to fall, you earn bonus points. The formula for the points from dropped bubbles is 10*(2^n). From this you see that causing 1 bubble to drop gets you 20 points. Drop a cluster of 17 or more, and you've got 1,310,720, unless you wish to try the trick below. The higher drop bonuses are 2,621,440 , 5,242,880 , and 10,485,760. To go for these amounts: - One of the bubbles in the "Rock" must touch only one member of the "Rope". By "Rope" I mean the pair of bubbles that you are hanging the cluster from. - When you get the bubble that is the same color as the "Rope" and you're going to drop the "Rock", this one must touch only the "Rope". If it touches the "Rock" you will only get 1,310,720. I'm sure it takes 21 bubbles in the "Rock" for the 10.4M shot. I could be wrong. You have a limited time for each shot. When only 5 seconds remain, the time will count down on screen. If it reaches zero, it will be shot automatically (You don't want this to happen). Once no bubbles remain, the round is over. You can get a time bonus of up to 500,000 points. If you take too long, you will get no time bonus. If you know how to set up a 10,485,760 point shot and you wish to go for it, the time bonus will mean less than jack to you. Finish off the 5th round of a zone, and you return to the Zone Select where you can go left or right to choose the next zone. The game will be completed once you have cleared six zones. Zones are named with letters except for the one which is called "?". If one of your bubbles gets close to the bottom line, an audible alarm is heard and some 3D meteors will be shot toward the screen. The music will also be increased in tempo as long as you are in danger. Get out of danger, and the music will revert to its normal tempo. The PS2 version doesn't have the meteors. =============================================================================== Versus modes: You match the bubbles and drop them as in the Puzzle Mode. If you match enough bubbles or cause some to fall, some bubbles will be dumped on your opponent's side. This is one game where you're REALLY out to make your opponent LOSE so that you can win. 1P vs. CPU: If you win, you go to the next opponent. If you lose, you can either continue or quit. Continuing resets the score to 0. 2P vs. CPU: If you win, you keep playing. If you have no new challenger, the game reverts to the mode you were previously in. In Versus games, you can select different characters. "Trashing" is not allowed in these modes. Sometimes in a 2P game, the center boundary will not be there. You have to be careful not to shoot a bubble into your opponent's area when you intend to shoot it into your own. NOTE: Both versions let you play with or without Chain Reactions. The arcade one will ask you before you start a Versus game. =============================================================================== 2P Puzzle: Two players will be shooting bubbles at the same time, but they will be cooperating. There is no Zone Select in this mode. The 1P Puzzle rules generally apply. Be ready in case your partner gets greedy and decides to gank that 10M shot you've set up. If a bubble crosses the bottom line, you're BOTH out of the game. You can still continue. NOTE: Not available in the PS2 version. Bull, isn't it? =============================================================================== CHARACTERS: NOTE: Attack Patterns are now included. Capital letters stand for different colors. Lowercase letters are as follows: r= rainbow bubble b= blue gem w= wood block G-Net Characters: ----------------- Bubblun & Bobblun - The bubble-blowing dragons who are the main heroes. Everyone should know them. Attack Pattern: RROYGBB ROOYGGB Patukii - The mechanical toy cat from Bust-A-Move 2. Attack Pattern: GrrrrGr Grrbrrr Anju - A girl who resembles an elf with 4 fox tails. Attack Pattern: ROOYGGB rrrrrrr Maita - The rock-throwing ghost from Bubble Bobble series. Attack Pattern: wGORBYY BBYBORw Iibi - Rabbit with blue hair. Attack Pattern: ROOYGGB wrBbYrw Uurun- The "Pink Fluff Girl" from Bust-A-Move 2. Attack Pattern: rrrrOrr RRrrrrr Hibadon- Sasquatch type character. Attack Pattern: ROOYGGB BBYYYGG Devillun - A dark gray colored evil dragon. (Debirun) Attack Pattern: RYRGBYB BGBYRGR Non-Player Characters: Chack'N Pop- Accompanies Bubblun or Bobblun in the 1P Puzzle mode. Chirps when you match bubbles. PS2 Version Characters: ----------------------- Bubblun & Bobblun- You know who they are. They cannot be chosen at the Player Select here, but one of them teams up with the character you have picked. Mog- A child wearing a cat costume with a necktie. Catch- The character who is apparently a Taito mascot. A white colored guy that loves karaoke and video games Pinky- A dancing girl who looks like a cat with star-tipped antenna. Mr. @ - A robot who can transform into a rocket, looking for the doctor who made him. Wolo- A mischievous blue guy in orange overalls and a striped shirt. Pukadon- Weird looking blue character that is apparently part fish. Miss T- Some pink character, I'm not sure exactly what she is. A dog? Tom & Yam- Two frogs. One is a small frog in a yellow shirt. The other is a big one wearing a red shirt with a bullseye design and a Robin Hood cap. The two are a blundering older brother and cowardly younger brother. Sorta reminds me of the cartoon "2 Stupid Dogs". Tom & Yam dream of being the President and Vice President of the frog country. Katze- He is 2038 years old and wishes to conquer outer space. Fungila- He is Katze's watchdog and is a very confusing character. To use Katze & Fungila, hit Triangle-Left-Right-Triangle when you get to the title. You'll see a small icon in the corner and K&F should be available at the player select screen. (PS2 version) =============================================================================== SOUNDTRACK INFO: The G-Net Super Puzzle Bobble BGM is composed by Sayoko of Taito Sound Team Zuntata. The producer is Tono (Hiroshige Tonomura). Sayoko also collaborated with Mu-Nakanishi (Munehiro Nakanishi) on the music for the PS2 title. Previous Bust-A-Move games feature different Zuntata members on the soundtracks: BAM 1: Karu. BAM 2: Joutouhei Nakayama (Norihiro Furukawa)- This one has the best soundtrack of the Puzzle Bobble Series, IMO. BAM 3: Karu. BAM 4: OGR (Hisayoshi Ogura) =============================================================================== SHOUT-OUTS (The Credits): If you supply me any information that is used in this FAQ, you're going to be credited here. Corrections are welcome as well, if something is wrong. PM me if you have any information to add. Taito Corporation, for adding new stuff to the classic game idea and offering info on their website relevant to the PS2 version. Acclaim for announcing the US version "Super Bust-A-Move" as a US PS2 launch title. Jeff "CJayC" Veasey of Game FAQs ( gamefaqs.com ) for hosting a great FAQ site. Brian, for info on Katze, Fungila, & Catch. The creator of JWPce, Glenn Rosenthal. I looked up the Kana/Hiragana characters in the Help Kana Table for character names on the arcade version. You, for checking my FAQ out. Thanks! =============================================================================== This FAQ publication is (C) S.A.Ives 2000-2003. All Rights Reserved. Breaking the Copyright is a prosecutable offense subject to applicable civil & criminal penalties. Taito Corporation is the sole owner of all copyrights and trademarks that are relevant to Super Puzzle Bobble or the Taito G-Net Arcade System. PS2, PlayStation, and PlayStation 2 are trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment. Any other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Last note: If you find something out about the game that I've not covered in this FAQ, I'd like to hear about it. Please give me any comments or suggestions you may have as well. www.gameoverdude.com ===============================================================================