Puzzle Bobble 2/Bust-A-Move Again FAQ *and* Puzzle Bobble 2 EX/Bust-A-Move Again EX FAQ v2.5 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hi, this is Poln (again). I've decided to take over this FAQ w/ Carl Chavez's help since C. Chavez has other things to take care of. He game me permission to update this FAQ as necessary.
You can e-mail Carl Chavez or Poln (at the address below) for comments or concerns, but the best advice is to go the arcade(s) (that have this game) at a community college or university and ask around and hopefully, they can show how to play this game. You can also take the time and watch the monitor as it will show you how to play (which is common on many if not all of the games made by Tatio). This FAQ is just to give you details of the game and a helping hand (scoring, rules, etc). Of course, you can still e-mail us for additional information that I/we do not have on this document.
*Why did I say cc or univ? Because (in my experience), there are people who play this game a lot and may help you with this game. You can also observe other people on how it's been played to get an idea of what you might expect. You can still go to other arcades that has it as well. For home systems, check your game manual. Thank you for your time. Enjoy reading this FAQ. Have a wonderful day. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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The Puzzle Bobble 2 / Bust-A-Move Again FAQ *and* Puzzle Bobble 2 EX / Bust-A-Move Again EX FAQ
version 2.5 by Carl Chavez (carl@bubandbob.com) & Poln (poln@i.am)
with PSX codes (added by CjayC/Wolf)
last updated 21 November 1997/ 5 October 1999 *********************************************
What's new
2.0/2.1 -fixed bonus points -vs. CPU battle added w/ more info. -start of game added. -A lot of corrections..
2.12 -Fix intro section
2.3 -Fixed vs. CPU mode
2.5 -Added Ending
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Puzzle Bobble 2 EX/Bust-A-Move Again EX is the same as Puzzle Bobble 2/Bust-A-Move Again. The EX is using a Tatio F3 board. The reg. one uses the reg. Neo Geo MVS board.
I'll use PB2/BAMA to make it easier. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Wow.. it's been 1.5 years since the last update. I now have access to these machines again so I can share more information to you.
Please e-mail updates and corrections to carl@bubandbob.com *or* poln@i.am
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PB2/BAMA is the sequel to Puzzle Bobble/Bust-a-Move (PB/BAM), a game by Taito in which the famous dragons, Bub and Bob, play a puzzle game. PB2/BAMA is very similar to the original game. To recap:
* A group of differently-colored bubbles are above the dragons.
* The dragons control a catapult.
* When at least three bubbles of the same color are adjacent to each. other, they pop and all bubbles connected to them and to no others fall.
PB2/BAMA has the following play differences:
* There are stone blocks which cannot be destroyed. * There are solid bubbles which cannot be popped, only dropped.
* There are two special weapons: 1. The bowling ball, which destroys all bubbles in its path up to the top of the screen.
2. The gem, which destroys all bubbles of the color of the bubble that hit it.
* Certain levels have a play area twice as wide as normal.
* There is a vs. computer mode.
* Like many Taito games, you can now pick a path to follow as you progress through the game.
* Like many Taito games, you can choose from the normal game or a special game.
* Characters are little more cartoony (babies) like VF Kids, SPF2T, and others.
* Dragons DO NOT control the catapult, you do (similar to PdP). They just sit there, watching your progress/work. They feel Happy when the space is open, scared when you almost at the line. If you lose, the dragon will be so sad that they'll burst into tears.
* There are no music speed so you better watch the line. Also, on each round, music is played different, and have different backgrounds rather then the same thing over and over.
* Player 1 will be Bub (green dragon) ALWAYS. Player 2 will be Bob (blue dragon) ALWAYS.
This FAQ is for the arcade version. There is a Saturn FAQ. See the Puzzle Bobble 2 page at http://www.bubandbob.com to find the Saturn FAQ.
Some of this stuff is referenced from the PB/BAM FAQ.
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-Controls are the same as in PB/BAM. Left turns the Launcher Left, Right turns the Launcher Right, and Fire fires.
-Screen drop method is the same.
-Remember..if the ball goes over the line, game is over (unless you want to continue). If you wish to continue, you'll get started with a line that will help you to where you want the ball to go. The drawback is when you start to where you left off, the score resets to zero (0).
-At times, you'll the thinking, "Where should I put this ball, especially in though situations?" Basicly, you have approximately 10 seconds to release a ball in play. The computer will warn you how much time left at 5 seconds before the ball has to be released. If you don't release the ball within a certain amout of time, it will be released for you.
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********* SCORING *********
Like PB/BAM, each bubble is worth 10 points when it pops. There is a bonus for dropped bubbles as follows:
Unlike PB/BAM, there is a way to get more than 1.31 million points. It is sometimes possible to get 2621440, 5242880, or even 10485760 points! To do this:
* You need 17 or more bubbles.
* One of these bubbles must touch exactly one bubble of a group (like a pair) of similarly colored bubbles.
* The bubble that pops the similarly colored group of bubbles must not touch the group of 17 or more bubbles.
Does not work: Does work:
X X X A B C X Y A B C Y D E D E F G H F G H etc. etc.
Bonus Points Scoring -------------------- Unlike PB/BAM, after 48 seconds, NO Bonus. Like PB/BAM, time bonus points are awarded based on how fast you've completed, NOT accuarcy... well.. it may play a part. The faster you finish the round, the more points you get. The time bonus is 10x the values from PB/BAM, so if you completed the round in 5 seconds or less, you'll net a 500,000 pt bonus. At 6 sec. approx 494K, 7 sec. approx 480K, as so forth as it goes down to 47.9 sec. at 300 pts. (you won't see a tenth of a sec. on the screen). What's unusual to the PB/BAM it is more percise in timing and scoring. You may see the time you completed, but the score is variable. Example, you have completed the round in 10 sec. The scoring is on a tenth or hundreth of a second basis so 10.1 seconds may receive the higher bonus score then 10.9 seconds. After 48 seconds or greater, NO Bonus. Don't worry about the bonus every time, just try to clear the state as best as you can.
Here is the chart. Points awarded are approx./avg.
Time you completed Points Awarded (approx./avg.) 1-5 sec. 500,000 6 sec. 494,800 7 sec. 479,800 8 sec. 471,100 9 sec. 461,100 10 sec. 445,900 11 sec. 434,100 12 sec. 419,500 . . . . 15 sec. 385,200 . . . . 20 sec. 324,000 . . . . 24 sec. 278,100 . . . . 30 sec. 204,200 . . . . 35 sec. 142,800 . . . . 39 sec. 99,200 . . . . 44 sec. 37,900 . . 46 sec. 15,100 47 sec. as low as 300 48+ seconds or greater NO BONUS
You can get the idea on how much the bonus points is possible. I did not list all of the here (that takes too long), but you can do the math or an estimate on how much bonus poins you may possibly get with how many seconds it took for you to finish. Please...don't worry about the bonus points, just clear the round as best as you can. This is just FYI.
************* START OF GAME *************
After putting in your coins, you can choose 1) Puzzle Game (regular) or 2) vs. CPU Battle. If you choose a Puzzle game, you'll play a regular game. If on the other hand you want the vs. CPU Battle, then it will be treated like a 2 player game.
A. If you have choosen Puzzle Game, you will see a Map of where you want to go. After completing 5 rounds, you will choose to go to another stage. You will go through 6 stages and 30 rounds. When you reach top (stages U,V,W,?,X, Y,Z) and copleted all 30, you will see an ending. Each stage has a different ending which you can figure out what it is. If you are despreate for an answer, e-mail me and lets talk about it. Of course, as you progress, it will get harder so do expect that. Here is the map:
U V W ? X Y Z -- Levels 26-30 \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / O P Q R S T -- Levels 21-25 \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / J K L M N -- Levels 16-20 \ / \ / \ / \ / F G H I -- Levels 11-15 \ / \ / \ / C D E -- Levels 06-10 \ / \ / A B -- Levels 01-05 \ / START
Levels a.k.a Rounds are the same.
B. If you have choosen vs. CPU Battle, you have a choice of 3 levels (similar to Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo). All of them are 2 player type of game. This is a fast paced game. You can play against a human 2 player to get a feel of what's to come.
Practice - You will only play 3 rounds, that's it (same method as Easy Mode in SPF2T). In the practice round. This one is for children (hence the name on the display) and for beginners who just want to practice to have fun (improve your performance). In each of the 3 rounds, there is a line that will help you to where you want the ball to go. The characters are different from the regular levels except the 3rd round. The first one is a spy type of person. The 2nd is a smoking chick and the third is a purple whale, the same whale as you play against in the first round in Normal and Hard modes..
Normal - You will go through different worlds and play against other characters til.... ?? It gets a little harder as you advanced.
Hard - Same as above, but harder (AI is smarter).
NOTE: SPF2T is from Capcom, not Tatio, but it is used as an example.
Rules for the vs. CPU Battle is the same as in a 2 player game which is also the same as in PB/BAM. If you don't know what they are, read PB/BAM FAQ and find out how it is done.
Bub (1P), or Bob (2P) will walk through different Worlds to compete against a character.
If you win, you will get bonus points awarded (if any) for the time it takes to beat the other character. It is awarded the same as when you completed the round in a 1 player game. You will move on to play against another character (unless you beat the game).
If you lose, GAME OVER (unless you want to continue). Rules for continuing will still apply.
I've haven't completed the CPU battle. If someone did, please help me. Also, I need help on different Worlds and what the characters are.
******** 2 Player ********
-Rules for a 2-player game are the same as in PB/BAM. Go read that one if you are unsure what they are. After that, it will go back to where you left off.
-Operator settings can very. Can be set to winner takes all (first person wins, losers pay), best 2 out of 3, or best 3 out of 5. This is indicated by a yellow trophy on the top of the screen.
-In addition, if you win, all bubbles in your side will drop, and you earn an additional 10 points per drop.
-It will display the time that you have completed/beat the other player. Bonus points will be awarded the same way as in a 1 player game.
********* ENDING *********
The ending of this game varies depending on last section of your journey. If you really want the spoilers, read the PB2 for Saturn FAQ.
On the last level, you will see characters from Bubble Bobble & Rainbow Islands (which was made in the 1980's).
After the ending, credits scroll. At the same time, it will take you back on want area you came from plus you will see more characters from PB/RI.
******* CODES *******
There seems to be only one code so far in PB2/BAMA.
* Fire <- -> Fire This will cause a Drunk to appear at the bottom of the screen in PB2. In BAMA, the screen will turn gray. You can now play what is called "Another World". The levels in this world are similar to the normal levels, but the differences do make the levels more difficult.
************ HALL OF FAME ************
There are 2 sets of high scores. One is for the reg. 1 player game, the other is vs. CPU Battle.
******** LEVELS ********
Is anybody actually willing to make ASCII maps of all 220 normal and Another World boards?! Yep, someone did. There is a Level Map guide written by Marco "Zolla" Marzolla which is really good. You can get it at http://www.bubandbob.com *or* http://www.bubandbob.comhttp://www.gamefaqs.com
********* CREDITS *********
Betz Bar and Grill for being the only known place in Seattle, WA where BAMA was.
Addendum (from info provided by lhobbs@hubcap.clemson.edu (Wolf)) for the Playstation version of the game:
Extra 27 levels: At title screen, on controller 1 enter: R1, Up, L2, Down. If done correctly, you'll see the little wizard from Bubble Bobble dancing in the lower right hand corner of your screen. When you go to the game select screen, the puzle game should read "Another World."
30 Credits: At the option menu, press Left, Right, R1, R2, L2, L1, Up, Down. Then quickly highlight "CREDITS" and press the X button as fast as you can. You should be able to increase your credits up to 29 now.
