So you’re probably pretty familiar with the Bubble Bobble franchise, yes? But did you know about the Bubble Bobble sequel that wasn’t quite a sequel?

We’re talking about Parasol Stars: The Story of Bubble Bobble III. It came out for arcades for a bit and also saw a good release over on the Turbo-Grafx 16. But outside of that, we haven’t seen much of it. However, ININ Games – a company that’s worked with Taito on a number of classics in the past – is about to change all that.

ININ has announced that Parasol Stars will make its way digitally to Xbox, PlayStation and Nintendo Switch by the end of 2023. In addition, Strictly Limited Games are making a physical version of the game for PlayStation and Nintendo Switch, with pre-orders set to kick off on July 27th. Details about that particular version will be available soon.

Straight from the press release:

“Parasol Stars: The Story of Bubble Bobble III is loaded with power-ups that could mean the difference between a sweet win or a crushing defeat! Toss a bomb and blast your enemies to smithereens, or freeze time with a clock that’s all yours to command. But don’t get too comfy, or Death will sneak up on you and swipe one of your precious lives! Harness the power of the parasol and show off your skills in this epic adventure!”

Check out the full list of features as well:

  • Triumphant Return: The universally beloved franchise, Bubble Bobble, is back on PlayStation 4 and 5, Nintendo Switch and Xbox.
  • Cute Cast of Iconic characters: Meet a lovable cast of iconic characters, each with their unique charm and abilities, adding to the enjoyment of the gameplay.
  • Dazzling Parasols: Wield colorful parasols with magical powers to shield against enemies, stun foes, and unleash high-scoring stars.
  • Power-ups Galore: Discover a variety of power-ups, from bombs to time-freezing clocks, to gain the upper hand in challenging battles.
  • Strategic Gameplay: Use the parasol weapon to secure victory and evade the looming threat of Death.
  • Nostalgic Homage: Parasol Stars pays homage to TAITO’s earlier game, Chack’n Pop, one of the early platform games and a precursor to the highly popular Bubble Bobble series.
  • Ten Worlds: Embark on an adventure beyond the main eight worlds of Parasol Stars and unlock two secret worlds.
  • Keep an eye out for even more parasols! ININ and TAITO have exciting news to share soon.

So, yes, this is one to get excited over, as it’s a piece of gaming history resurfaced for all to enjoy!

Look for more details in the weeks ahead, leading up to the game’s arrival at Gamescom!