For as long as I can remember, arcades have been strongly associated with masculinity. The games typically feature aggressive themes. Whether it’s Street Fighters battling it out or characters combating hordes with just a knife or a machine gun, the atmosphere is undeniably intense. Thus, I was quite surprised during my first visit to a South Korean arcade in 2011 to see that, along with titles like Tekken and Metal Slug, one game stood out as the most prevalent: Bubble Bobble.

 

 

If you’re unfamiliar with Bubble Bobble, it features two adorable dinosaurs, Bub and Bob, navigating through a hundred screens to rescue their girlfriends (or perhaps just friends). They trap enemies in bubbles and pop them with their little dinosaur spikes. The cuteness of this game in motion is hard to overstate. The music is excessively sweet, the colors vibrant, and even when the timer is counting down and the monsters grow faster and more aggressive, the overall presentation remains sparkly and cheerful.

 

 

While Bubble Bobble might be perceived as a “girly” game because of its appearance, it’s definitely not easy. Even with endless quarters, the last levels introduce puzzle elements that make figuring out how to defeat enemies a challenge. One of the key skills, bubble jumping, involves bouncing on your own bubbles by holding the jump button. This skill isn’t necessary for the early levels but becomes crucial as the game progresses, often without any guidance provided.

 

 

In reality, few players seriously attempt to complete Bubble Bobble, especially considering it culminates in a challenging boss fight on the 100th floor. The game’s true charm lies in its simplicity and fun, making it perfect for date night. Actual arcades have diminished in South Korea since 2011, with arcade machines mostly found in movie theaters. Clever gamers often take advantage of this by arriving early for a movie to squeeze in a few rounds of Bubble Bobble—an excellent warm-up activity.

 

 

The enduring appeal of Bubble Bobble is impressive, given that it is simply the original version of this game. Although the sequels feature more refined mechanics and greater variety, they don’t serve as ideal date games. The mechanics in later versions, such as needing to blow bigger bubbles to trap larger monsters, can be just intricate enough to intimidate less experienced gamers, even those who may enjoy the colorful aesthetics.

 

 

Interestingly, the Snow Bros. games emerged as the best successors to the genre, featuring intuitive combat, charming graphics, and a structure more akin to modern games. While I noticed more Snow Bros. machines in South Korea than Bubble Symphony, nothing truly competes with the charming simplicity of Bub and Bob in their iconic eight-bit style. Perhaps part of the enchantment comes from the nostalgia. I had never encountered Bubble Bobble before my time in South Korea, yet I could feel the magic it exuded.

 

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