Parasol Stars

The bubble you fired in Bubble Bobble is gone — and an umbrella has replaced it. Parasol Stars: The Story of Bubble Bobble III closes out Taito's famous trilogy and sends the dragons Bubby and Bobby back into human form as the boys Bub and Bob, armed with a parasol they use to whack enemies, deflect projectiles and collect bonuses.

The umbrella mechanic is surprisingly rich. You can scoop up enemies with it as well as the elements — water, fire, lightning — and then hurl them at other opponents, creating flashy chain eliminations. Each screen is a self-contained room that you clear of all enemies in order to advance, which keeps the proven single-screen design that made the whole series famous.

Visually Parasol Stars is exactly the adorable, colorful game that made people fall in love with the PC Engine. Chubby little characters, exultant colors and catchy music create the atmosphere of a merry fairy tale, beneath whose surface, however, hides a surprisingly addictive arcade challenge — especially when you go after hidden bonuses and a high score.

As a cooperative game for two it blossoms the very most. Clearing screens together, competing for bonuses and coordinating at the tougher bosses make it an ideal title for two players who like accessible but not trivial action. It's that classic „one more screen" fun where you easily lose track of time.

For fans of Bubble Bobble and Rainbow Islands, Parasol Stars is a must, because it carries this series' hallmark through to playful perfection. And even without knowledge of the predecessors, it is one of the loveliest platformers you'll find on the PC Engine.

Why play: An adorable, addictive conclusion to the Bubble Bobble trilogy with an inventive umbrella mechanic and superb two-player co-op.