I've wanted to write a tribute piece to Bust-A-Move for a while. I couldn't come up with the right premise for it. I don't write especially good game reviews. I could write about being probably the only person on earth who pre-ordered the Super Nintendo version. I only played it a couple times in the arcade but it was an instant favorite. I worked at a video game store at the time and knew a Super Nintendo port was coming. I also knew we'd only receive a couple copies because it wasn't a major release. Pre-orders were kind of a new concept then, and it was unnecessary for me to pre-order since I'd be the one unpacking the UPS box. That didn't stop me.
Bust-A-Move would go on to be one of my most-played Super Nintendo games. It's still a great way to unwind.
I bought it on the Switch also of course, it was somewhere around $5-$7 at the time. It included Puzzle Bobble, the original version in Japanese. I assumed these were the exact same game, minus the name & title.
I tried Puzzle Bobble and found it was much easier than Bust-A-Move. The first time I played the single-player versus mode I went through the whole thing undefeated. It never felt like the CPU AI was trying. Then in the challenge mode the wildcard bubble, that eliminates every bubble of whichever color you hit, appeared. This bubble is not in Bust-A-Move.
I checked the option screen in both versions. They each start at the middle of three difficulty options.
It's a little confusing because in Bust-A-Move "Normal" is used for both "Levels" and "Levels of computer". While in Puzzle Bobble they use different values for each. They instead went with "Normal" and "Medium". In my extremely limited understanding, the latter is used when describing the strength of something (such as a computer opponent). Like in English a person could be described as "burly" but it wouldn't make sense to say a level has "burly" difficulty. The translator decided to simplify the English options which I think was the right call.
When I started the story mode (I know it's not called that) it also seemed easier. I couldn't pinpoint why though.
I'm going to solve it the only way I know how... by comparing these games stage-by-stage. From here on out, Puzzle Bobble is on the left and Bust-A-Move is on the right.
Stage 1
The tutorial stage is the same.
Stage 2
OK, this didn't take long to sort out. Stage 2 in Puzzle Bobble is one row shorter than Bust-A-Move.
Does the difficulty setting effect anything here? First, here is Puzzle Bobble stage 2 on the difficult setting:
The layout is unchanged. Likewise with Bust-A-Move set to easy difficulty:
So that's it, the layout in Puzzle Bobble is just plain easier. We only had to get to the second stage to find a difference. That means it is officially worth comparing the rest of the stages because there must be more like it.
Stage 3
This looks the same. There isn't much that would make this stage easier anyway.
Stage 4
I am assuming that anyone reading this is familiar with how Puzzle Bobble/Bust-A-Move works. So in stage 4 it's obvious why Puzzle Bobble is easier. A single orange bubble can clear the entire board. Until that bubble arrives, it is easy to clear most of the board with a blue or gray bubble. In Bust-A-Move, two orange bubbles are needed and the blue bubbles are a more difficult shot.
Stage 5
These are the same and again it's a very easy stage. This stage exists to show how the thunderbolt bubbles work.
Stage 6
There are no differences here, this is another simple stage.
Stage 7
Puzzle Bobble is easier because those top orange and purple bubbles are both a clear shot. The blue and green bubbles are also easier to hit.
Stage 8
I had to go back a replay this level to make sure I didn't get it wrong. Nope, the Puzzle Bobble stage is actually half the size of Bust-A-Move. It doesn't even matter, it's the difference of finishing the stage in one shot or two.
Stage 9
Bust-A-Move includes those three extra gray bubbles. That is a small change with a big impact to the difficulty. It means gray bubbles will spawn until they are cleared. At the start of the stage there is no good place to shoot a gray bubble. In Puzzle Bobble you will always spawn bubbles that have a matching color open.
Stage 10
In this stage, Puzzle Bobble has one more bubble than Bust-A-Move but it makes the stage easier.
Stage 11
This is the first (but not only) stage with a different fundamental layout. In Puzzle Bobble, half the stage can be cleared on the first shot. In Bust-A-Move, by the time you clear a path to a thunderbolt bubble it is practically useless.
Stage 12
These are the same, once again for a very simple level.
Stage 13
This is an odd one. Puzzle Bobble starts with more colors, which usually makes a level more difficult. However, breaking the gray bubbles drops all the rows below them. Bust-A-Move is a little more complicated despite starting with fewer colors to eliminate.
Stage 14
I don't think the differences here impact the difficulty. This is an easy enough stage in either version.
Stage 15
There is a very subtle difference that makes Puzzle Bobble easier here. In Bust-A-Move red, purple, and green bubbles are useless and annoying until the bottom two rows are cleared. In Puzzle Bobble there is at least a place for red bubbles that isn't useless. They are still annoying until those rows are cleared.
Stage 16
This is a throwback to stage 2 where Puzzle Bobble has fewer rows.
Stage 17
These are the same, again for a stage that can be cleared easily.
Stage 18
This is the most challenging level so far where the layouts are identical.
Stage 19
This is an easy level, it's just a couple simple bank shots to clear.
Stage 20
This is another extremely simple stage. You can often finish it without moving the pointer.
Stage 21
Puzzle Bobble is slightly easier because it starts with fewer colors.
Stage 22
Wow, this is an unnecessarily easy stage in Puzzle Bobble. The Bust-A-Move version is not challenging. The Puzzle Bobble version starts with fewer colors and those two sets of three red bubbles make the stage even easier.
Stage 23
This is another one where subtle differences greatly impact the difficulty. In Puzzle Bobble, the rightmost set of bubbles have yellow and blue sections ready to burst. This clears access to the next section quickly. The two purple ones in Bust-A-Move do not clear as much space.
Stage 24
In this stage, Puzzle Bobble has fewer bubbles and a clear path to the two waterfall bubbles.
Stage 25
This is a little bit of a mixed bag. Puzzle Bobble starts with more colors but has a third thunderbolt bubble. These are about equal difficultly in the end.
Stage 26
Another stage where the layout is the same and the difficultly is at least average.
Stage 27
I had to double-check these weren't reversed. I think this is the first stage so far where Bust-A-Move is easier. The third from the bottom row in particular. The middle section though, Puzzle Bobble is slightly easier. Once the top two rows are reached it's back to Bust-A-Move being easier.
Stage 28
This is another one I had to double-check, I thought I had mistakenly cleared a section in Puzzle Bobble before taking the screenshot. Nope. It has a much easier path to reaching the exploding bubble from the start.
Stage 29
This is another stage where Bust-A-Move is slightly easier because it has those two orange bubbles that are close at the start of the stage. It's not a huge difference though.
Stage 30
Puzzle Bobble is obviously much easier here, especially the center column.
Stage 31
These start off the same, but once the thunderbolt bubbles are reached Puzzle Bobble becomes the easier of the two.
Stage 32
This is my least favorite level in the game, the only one I outright dislike. If you don't get an orange bubble in the first 4-5 that's it. There is no difference in these versions.
Stage 33
This is another fairly challenging level that is the same in both versions.
Stage 34
Another one that is the same in both versions. This level is either really easy or really tough depending on the random order of bubbles to shoot.
Stage 35
Another level that is the same, it is a deceptively easy one though.
Stage 36
OK, back to a stage where Puzzle Bobble is clearly easier because it starts with fewer colors.
Stage 37
The differences here are small and I don't think matter either way.
Stage 38
This begins a block of three stages that are the same and also easy.
Stage 39
This level is only challenging if a lot of green bubbles spawn early.
Stage 40
This is just a level where the designers had some fun. It takes about 2 seconds to clear.
Stage 41
The rainbow bubbles are easy to hit from the beginning of the stage in Puzzle Bobble. By the time you clear them in Bust-A-Move they are not helpful.
Stage 42
The Puzzle Bobble version is easier if you start with a blue or gray bubble in the queue.
Stage 43
Puzzle Bobble has fewer bubbles but isn't that much easier otherwise.
Stage 44
Puzzle Bobble has four colors while Bust-A-Move has a whopping seven by comparison.
Stage 45
This looks the same on both versions. There's not any strategy to this level, it relies on good random luck.
Stage 46
Depending on what I count, this is the second or third level where Puzzle Bobble is possibly more difficult than Bust-A-Move. There are more bubbles but the waterfall is easier to hit.
Stage 47
This one is the same on both, and another level that relies heavily on luck.
Stage 48
The bubbles are different colors but I don't see anything making one easier than the other.
Stage 49
So I'm beginning to wonder if Puzzle Bobble starts off easier than grows more difficult? It's not like I'll be proven wrong in literally the next stage or anything.
Stage 50
Alright, halfway mark. I thought I'd run out of steam by now by now but I'm going strong. Also so much for that theory. The addition of orange bubbles makes Bust-A-Move the more difficult version of stage 50.
Stage 51
I was about to declare that Puzzle Bobble is the more difficult version then noticed Bust-A-Move starts with one more color. To make it worse, the gray bubbles are buried so starting with several gray bubbles is going to wreck you.
Stage 52
These stages are the same.
Stage 53
This is another fun and easy stage with no differences between the two versions.
Stage 54
This one is kind of a wash too. Puzzle Bobble starts off with a blue, red, and green pair. Bust-A-Move has more pairings but they are only two colors. Either way this depends on which bubbles spawn.
Stage 55
This is four colors vs. five colors, fewer colors is always easier.
Stage 56
It's possible that Puzzle Bobble is maybe a little bit easier. It is for sure if you are lucky enough to start with a yellow bubble, like in this screenshot, and are able to just thread it on the left side. Bust-A-Move has the purple bubbles on the left that are a couple rows lower.
Stage 57
I double-checked this one too, the layout for Puzzle Bobble is so odd. Your first two shots will clear about half the board.
Stage 58
We're getting into another block of identical stages. This one reminds me of Boxing on the Atari 2600.
Stage 59
This is another stage where you need good random luck.
Stage 60
This stage is a pain if you get orange, red, yellow, or gray bubbles early.
Stage 61
These layout are different they are hard to compare. With Bust-A-Move you can clear a lot of the board with a well placed purple bubble. For Puzzle Bobble, this stage is a grind. Actually on further inspection, stages 61 and 92 are flipped. So on Puzzle Bobble you're seeing the more difficult stage first.
Stage 62
These are the same again.
Stage 63
And... also the same.
Stage 64
The Puzzle Bobble version is so much easier here. It starts with fewer colors, which always helps. It's also possible to knock down big sections more easily.
Stage 65
These are the same.
Stage 66
These are also the same.
Stage 67
Here Puzzle Bobble is easier because it starts with one fewer color.
Stage 68
Now we're getting to another small block of stages that are the same. These are all fun, artistic stages. These are the kinds of shapes in early Picross games.
Stage 69
I assume these are supposed to be hourglasses.
Stage 70
Maybe these are a character (meaning Kanji, not a cartoon character).
Stage 71
Here's the last same stage one for a little bit.
Stage 72
The difference here is Puzzle Bobble starts with one fewer color again.
Stage 73
On this stage, Bust-A-Move has some extra bubbles near the top that add just a little difficulty.
Stage 74
The two lower clusters have fewer bubbles in Puzzle Bobble.
Stage 75
This stage is the same on both, it's another one where you need some luck to get through.
Stage 76
This one is also the same on both.
Stage 77
This is another stage where Puzzle Bobble starts with four colors while Bust-A-Move starts with five.
Stage 78
These stages are not close at all. Despite being densely packed, Puzzle Bobble is way easier because of the four fireball bubbles.
Stage 79
Stages 79 and 84 are flipped. Puzzle Bobble stage 79 is identical to Bust-A-Move stage 84. Bust-A-Move stage 79 is the same layout as Puzzle Bobble stage 84 but with more starting colors.
Stage 80
This tribute to Taito's early days is the same on both versions.
Stage 81
This is another stage where Bust-A-Move starts with more colors. Bust-A-Move also removes the two center green bubbles that can never be hit anyway.
Stage 82
These levels are the same.
Stage 83
These levels are also the same.
Stage 84
(See stage 79)
Stage 85
From here on out there are not many differences. The next set of levels is challenging on Puzzle Bobble and they didn't crank many of them up for Bust-A-Move.
Stage 86
I'm pretty sure this snail is in a Picross game.
Stage 87
There's a small layout change that makes Puzzle Bobble easier. Well two now that I look again. The green bubble in the lower right side is exposed, and there's one less red bubble.
Stage 88
Yeah, OK, technically Bust-A-Move is more difficult here. The additions are two matched pairs of bubbles though, so they're just a small extra bit of work.
Stage 89
These are the same.
Stage 90
Alright, home stretch. Bust-A-Move has a few more bubbles along the bottom making it the more difficult version. The yellow bubble in the top right corner gives it a sharper look but doesn't make things easier or harder.
Stage 91
These are the same.
Stage 92
Oh, I have to revise a previous entry now... see stage 61 for comments.
Stage 93
These are the same general idea. There's no real difficulty difference.
Stage 94
This does not look like another swapped level thing. The Puzzle Bobble stage starts with so many pairs already on the board. It's very easy for late in the game. The Bust-A-Move level is a tough one.
Stage 95
The top section of this board is easier to clear out in Puzzle Bobble.
Stage 96
This is almost a repeat of stage 45. Puzzle Bobble starts off with one less color.
Stage 97
Here's a great stage to completely wreck you when you think you're almost at the end. It's the same layout in both versions.
Stage 98
Puzzle Bobble has a much cleaner path to hitting the exploding bubble.
Stage 99
This is a very fitting final regular stage. It is the same in both versions.
Stage 100
I couldn't see any differences in the final boss fight.
So to finally answer the question in the title of this article... Puzzle Bobble is easier than Bust-A-Move because:
I won't speculate why the US release was made more difficult. There could be a dozen reasons or maybe none at all.
Tags: Super Nintendo
