Turn foes into friends by making bubbles

The concept of the two-player video game has been around as long as Pong and your little brother has been kicking you in the shins ever since for a chance to play. Of course, you'll get to be first player since you're older and he's just going to lose anyway. Two-player video games stoked the fires of sibling rivalry and have torn friendships apart. I once got in a fist fight with a kid because he always took the mushroom houses in Super Mario Bros. 3. He had Only Child Syndrome and didn't know how to share. A two player game should bring people together, not tear them apart, and nothing brings people together more than big-eyed baby dinosaurs who blow bubbles. Bub and Bob from Bubble Bobble are the best of friends, so why can't you and player two be so fortunate?

Everything about Bubble Bobble fosters a friendly and inviting environment. Even a war-hardened Contra veteran will be humming the super happy theme song days after blowing bubbles with a new best friend. The cuteness factor is enough to make Hello Kitty grow a mouth and throw up on your shoes, but don't let the candy power-ups and cookie-collecting bonus rounds distract from the unique two-player cooperative strategies required to master this game.

Unlike most two-player games, Bubble Bobble emphasizes teamwork. You actually have to work together, imagine that. In each level, Bub and Bob must trap other big-eyed monsters inside of bubbles and pop them. Once all the bubbles are popped and the monsters turn into point-rewarding fruit treats, Bub and Bob float together to the next level. Sounds like cake doesn't it? Well, when you're swearing enough to make a sailor with Tourette's blush, you won't think the game is so cute anymore. The difficulty curve increases over 100 levels, so you'll soon find out why two players are recommended.

In the notoriously frustrating level 57 a platform at the top of the screen is practically unreachable unless one player blows bubbles for the other player to bounce on while simultaneously avoiding a rain of freakin' laser beams. It is possible to beat Bubble Bobble in single player mode, but the game makes you feel guilty for being a friendless loser. "Congratulations! But this is not a true ending! Come here with your friends! You will be impressed by the truth of this story!! Never forget your friends! Try again!!" A second player is essential to get the happy ending. In level 99 a crystal ball appears on the screen that only player two can get before it disappears. This sends the bubbly duo to a series of levels that lead to the true last boss and if they both survive the epic bobble, the happy ending reads, "Congratulations! Now, you found the most important magic in the world. It's love & friendship!" If you feel like hugging player two, it's perfectly fine, you've both been through a lot together. But don't stop there; enter the secret code you get after the credits and play it all over again to see the super secret ending. Then you'll be super best friends. Even if you could never beat Bubble Bobble, its message of friendship rings true. Speaking of which, make the Bubble Bobble theme song your ring tone, and you'll start meeting all sorts of friendly people.