Rainbow Islands is one of those sequels that doesn’t just rehash the original—it flips Bubble Bobble’s formula in the best way. Instead of trapping enemies in bubbles, you’re shooting rainbows to climb upward, using them as platforms or weapons. Sounds simple, but the timing gets brutal fast—misplace a rainbow, and you’re either cornered or falling straight into an enemy.

The colors pop even on the Master System’s hardware, and the music’s got that same earworm quality as the first game. Early levels feel cheerful, almost deceptively easy, until you hit the first boss and realize how much strategy goes into rainbow placement. Pro tip: Don’t just spam them—you’ll run out of space to move.

It’s got that classic arcade vibe where every death feels like your fault, not the game’s. And yeah, the nostalgia hits hard if you grew up with Bubble Bobble, but it’s more than just a retro novelty. The rainbow mechanics hold up surprisingly well.