Software:Rainbow Islands

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Short description: 1987 video game

Rainbow Islands
Japanese arcade flyer
Developer(s)Taito
Publisher(s)Taito
Designer(s)Fukio Mitsuji
Composer(s)Hisayoshi Ogura
SeriesRainbow Islands
Platform(s)
Release
Genre(s)Platform
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Script error: The function "nihongo_foot" does not exist., better known as simply Rainbow Islands, is a 1987 platform video game developed and published by Taito for Japanese arcades.[13] It is the sequel to 1986's Bubble Bobble, and the second of four arcade games in the Bubble Bobble series (followed by Bubble Symphony and Bubble Memories, but itself has two direct sequels: Parasol Stars and Bubble Bobble Part 2). The game was ported to home computers and home video game consoles.

Gameplay

The second stage (arcade version)
Arcade PCB (Taito B22)

Following the events of Bubble Bobble, Bubby and Bobby set out to defeat the "Dark Shadow" and rescue the Rainbow Islands. The Dark Shadow is the entity responsible for the events in Bubble Bobble.[14] The game is set on a chain of ten islands, each one with a different theme. Each island provides four rounds of game-play, and once these are complete the player moves to the next island in the chain. In each round the player must get to the top before the sea level rises and kills them. The islands get progressively more difficult, with enemies moving much faster on the later ones. These are depicted on a map screen before the start of each island.

Players can release rainbows that act as weapons, makeshift platforms, and item collectors. Slinging rainbows damages any enemies and acquires any items that the rainbows come in contact with. When jumped upon, they fall down, beating any enemies below them, and releasing a damage field above them.[14] Collecting power-ups increases the player's speed, the speed of the rainbows and how many are spawned. If players take too long in a level, water will start to rise up from the bottom of the stage, and will kill the player character if it rises above his head.[14]

Like its predecessor, the game has multiple endings.[15] To get a big diamond, the player must collect seven different-colored small diamonds on the island and finish the round. The small diamonds are found by destroying enemies by dropping a rainbow on them from above or destroying them with various special items. After collecting the small diamonds, a word "NICE" appears. If the small diamonds are collected in the correct order, the player will get to a secret room at the end of each island, which contains a permanent power up. The color of the small diamonds depends on where the fallen enemies land, so the player can somewhat determine which diamond colors will drop.

The scoring system also has secrets, which allow vastly higher scores to be achieved than normal.[16]

Ports

Graftgold developed ports for the Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC, Amiga and Atari ST, which were released by Ocean Software in 1989 and 1990.[17] The company would also develop ports for the MS-DOS, Sega Saturn and PlayStation, which were released by Acclaim Entertainment in 1996.[14]

The game was released outside Japan for the first time for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1988; the main theme was replaced with an original track, due to its similarity to "Over the Rainbow" from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's 1939 film The Wizard of Oz, which would have attracted legal troubles from Turner Entertainment Co. if the arcade version was ever released outside Japan. It also includes an island based on KiKi Kaikai as a replacement for Magical Island. The Master System version, released by Sega, as well as the Game Boy Color version, are direct ports of this version.[18] The European version of the NES port was localized by Ocean to be more faithful to the arcade version, whereas the Japanese and North American versions have original level designs and story intermissions.[19] A TurboGrafx-16 version was released in 1993 by NEC Avenue. A WonderSwan version was released in 2000 by Bandai.

Rainbow Islands Extra Version is a modified version of Rainbow Islands; the layouts of the islands remain exactly the same except the stages' enemies and bosses appear in a different order (much like Bubble Bobble's Super Mode).[20] In addition, the bosses were made more difficult by adding more variety to their behavior. Rainbow Islands Extra was released in limited quantities in the arcade. The game was also included as a mode in the Mega Drive version of Rainbow Islands. The game was also included in the Japanese compilation Taito Memories II Jōkan for the PlayStation 2 and the PlayStation Portable collection Taito Memories Pocket.

Hamster Corporation released the original arcade version outside Japan for the first time as part of their Arcade Archives series for the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 in January 2024. This version had its main theme replaced with the NES main theme due to the same legal troubles.[18]

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
CrashSpectrum: 94%[23]
CVGAtari ST: 93%[21]

Amiga: 96%
C64: 96%

Spectrum: 95%[22]
Famitsu5/10, 7/10, 8/10, 5/10 (SMD)[26]
Sinclair UserSpectrum: 94[24]
Your SinclairSpectrum: 94°[25]
ACEAtari ST: 934[27]
Zzap!64C64: 96%[28]
MicroHobby (ES)Spectrum: 89%[29]
The Games MachineAmiga: 93%[30]
C64: 92%
MegaTechMega Drive: 86%[31]
Mean MachinesMega Drive: 92%[32]
Sega Master Force91% [33]
Sega Saturn MagazineSaturn: 92%[34]
Awards
PublicationAward
Zzap!64Gold Medal
CrashCrash Smash
Sinclair UserSU Classic

In Japan, Game Machine listed Rainbow Island: The Story of Bubble Bobble 2 as the second most successful table arcade unit of November 1987.[35] It went on to become one of the top ten highest-grossing arcade games of 1988 in Japan.[36] The Spectrum version of the game was number one on the UK sales chart from May[37] to June 1990[38] at the time of release. It was re-released at a budget price, and was number one again from October 1992[39] to March 1993.[40] It was also the top-selling Amiga budget title of March 1992.[41]

UK magazine C&VG gave the ST version a score of 93%, praising the graphics and calling the game addictive and "tremendous fun".[21] It was awarded 94% in the April 1990 issue of Your Sinclair[25] and was placed at number 8 in the "Your Sinclair official top 100".[42] In issue 93 of the same magazine, the readers voted it the second best game of all time. It was also awarded a 94% score in Crash.[23] The readers of Crash voted Rainbow Islands the number one game of all time in December 1991.[43] MegaTech magazine said it was "virtually arcade perfect, with only flickery sprites letting the side down".[31]

Edge wrote in 1994 that "Taito's Rainbow Islands has all the ingredients for a superb videogame – incentives, copious rewards and bonuses, and intelligent bosses".[44]

Despite these accomplishments, in his review of the Bubble Bobble Featuring Rainbow Islands pack, Rich Leadbetter of Sega Saturn Magazine said Rainbow Islands was "vastly underrated and over-looked". He added that the gameplay still felt fresh and unique despite the passage of years, and was good enough to make the collection a must-have by itself.[14]

Accolades

The Amiga version of Rainbow Islands was the first game to reach number one on Amiga Power's annual All Time Top 100 list in 1991,[45] and again in 1992.[46] It held the spot for years until losing to Sensible Soccer, which retained the title for the rest of the magazine's run. In 1992, Mega magazine ranked the Mega Drive version ninth on its "Mega Top 100 Carts" list. In 1993, Commodore Force ranked the game at number five on its list of the top 100 Commodore 64 games.[47] In 1996, GamesMaster ranked the game 79th on its list of the "Top 100 Games of All Time".[48]

Notes


References

  1. ↑ Akagi, Masumi (2006). アーケードTVゲームリスト国内•海外編 (1971–2005). Japan: Amusement News Agency. p. 43. ISBN 978-4990251215. https://archive.org/details/ArcadeGameList1971-2005/page/n43/mode/2up. 
  2. ↑ "NES Games". Nintendo of America. https://www.nintendo.com/consumer/downloads/nes_games.pdf. 
  3. ↑ "All Famicom games sorted from the latest release to the earliest". Famitsu. https://www.famitsu.com/schedule/recent/fc/. 
  4. ↑ "Preview: Rainbow Island". Sinclair User (EMAP) (84): 87. March 1989. https://archive.org/details/sinclair-user-magazine-084/page/n86/mode/1up. 
  5. ↑ "Review: Rainbow Islands". The One (EMAP) (11): 32-33. August 1989. https://archive.org/details/theone-magazine-11/page/n31/mode/2up. 
  6. ↑ "Software List (Software Licensee Release)" (in ja). Sega Corporation. https://www.sega.jp/history/hard/megadrive/software_l.html. 
  7. ↑ "PC Engine Software List 1993" (in ja). http://tk-nz.game.coocan.jp/gamedatabase/software/DB_NEC1_PCE1993.html. 
  8. ↑ "Saturn Review". Mean Machines (EMAP) (48): 60, 61. October 1996. https://archive.org/details/MMSega01Oct92/MMSega48-Oct96/page/60/mode/2up. 
  9. ↑ "Bubble Bobble also featuring Rainbow Islands". http://sega-saturn.com/saturn/software/bubble.htm. 
  10. ↑ "Checkpoint". Computer and Video Games (EMAP) (187): 49. June 1997. https://archive.org/details/Computer_and_Video_Games_Issue_187_1997-06_EMAP_Images_GB/page/n47/mode/2up. 
  11. ↑ "Sony PlayStation Available Software sorted by Release Date @ www.vidgames.com". http://www.vidgames.com/ps/software/release.html. 
  12. ↑ "Wonder Swan Software List 2000" (in ja). http://tk-nz.game.coocan.jp/gamedatabase/software/DB_BDM_WS2000.html. 
  13. ↑ "Rainbow Islands The Story Of Bubble Bobble 2". The International Arcade Museum. http://www.arcade-museum.com/game_detail.php?game_id=9255. 
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 Leadbetter, Richard (October 1996). "Paint the Whole World with a Rainbow!". Sega Saturn Magazine (Emap International Limited) (12): 48–51. 
  15. ↑ "Rainbow Islands". http://uridiumauthor.blogspot.co.uk/2018/03/rainbow-islands.html. 
  16. ↑ "The Ultimate Guide to... #01 Rainbow Islands", Retro Gamer (Imagine Publishing) (79): 24–29, July 2010 
  17. ↑ "Rainbow Islands Work In Progress". The One (6): 14–16. March 1989. https://archive.org/stream/theone-magazine-06/TheOne_06_Mar_1989#page/n15/mode/2up. 
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 McFerran, Damien (2024-01-05). "So, What Music Will Rainbow Islands Use On Nintendo Switch And PS4?" (in en-GB). https://www.timeextension.com/news/2024/01/so-what-music-will-rainbow-islands-use-on-nintendo-switch-and-ps4. 
  19. ↑ "The Definitive Bubble Bobble", Retro Gamer (Imagine Publishing) (28): 61, August 2006 
  20. ↑ "Rainbow Islands Extra Version". The International Arcade Museum. http://www.arcade-museum.com/game_detail.php?game_id=9256. 
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 "Rainbow Islands Atari ST Review". Computer and Video Games (94): 80–81. September 1989. https://archive.org/stream/computer-video-games-magazine-094/CVG094_Sep_1989#page/n79/mode/2up. 
  22. ↑ "C+VG Review". C+VG (Future Publishing) (101): 68. April 1990. https://archive.org/stream/computer-video-games-magazine-101/CVG101_Apr_1990#page/n67/mode/1up. 
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 "Crash Review". Crash (75): 45. April 1990. https://archive.org/stream/crash-magazine-75/Crash_75_Apr_1990#page/n44/mode/1up. 
  24. ↑ "Sinclair User Review". Sinclair User (98): 71. April 1990. https://archive.org/stream/sinclair-user-magazine-098/SinclairUser_098_Apr_1990#page/n69/mode/2up. Retrieved 2013-09-29. 
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 "Rainbow Islands Review". http://www.ysrnry.co.uk/articles/rainbowislands.htm.  Your Sinclair (52): 94. April 1990. 
  26. ↑ Famitsu staff (October 12, 1990). "新作ゲーム クロスレビュー" (in ja). Weekly Famitsu (Enterbrain, Tokuma Shoten) (111): 19. https://archive.org/stream/bi-weekly-famitsu-no.-111-october-12th-1990/Bi-Weekly%20Famitsu%20-%20No.%20111%20October%2012th%201990%20%28Compressed%29#page/n16/mode/1up. 
  27. ↑ "ACE Review". ACE (24): 92–93. September 1989. https://archive.org/stream/ace-magazine-24/ACE_Issue_24_1989_Sep#page/n61/mode/2up. 
  28. ↑ "Review – Rainbow Islands". Zzap!64 (53): 10–11. September 1989. https://archive.org/stream/zzap64-magazine-053/ZZap_64_Issue_053_1989_Sep#page/n9/mode/2up. Retrieved 2014-06-23. 
  29. ↑ "Review – Rainbow Islands". Micro Hobby (198): 38. April 1991. http://www.worldofspectrum.org/showmag.cgi?mag=MicroHobby/Issue198/Pages/MicroHobby19800038.jpg. Retrieved 2013-09-29. 
  30. ↑ "Review – Rainbow Islands". The Games Machine (28): 45. March 1990. http://www.worldofspectrum.org/showmag.cgi?mag=TheGamesMachine/Issue28/Pages/TheGamesMachine2800045.jpg. Retrieved 2013-09-29. 
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 "Game Index – Rainbow Islands". MegaTech (2): 78. February 1992. 
  32. ↑ "Review – Rainbow Islands". Mean Machines (Outofprintarchive.com) (2): 92–93. November 1990. http://www.outofprintarchive.com/articles/reviews/MegaDrive/RainbowIslands-MeanMachines2-3.html. Retrieved 2013-09-29. 
  33. ↑ "Rainbow Islands Sega". Sega Master Force (2): 13. September 1993. http://www.smspower.org/Scans/SegaMasterForce-Magazine-Issue2?gallerypage=13. Retrieved November 19, 2015. 
  34. ↑ Leadbetter, Rich (October 1996). "Review: Bubble Bobble Rainbow Islands". Sega Saturn Magazine (Emap International Limited) (12): 74–75. 
  35. ↑ "Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - テーブル型TVゲーム機 (Table Videos)". Game Machine (Amusement Press, Inc.) (321): 25. 1 December 1987. 
  36. ↑ "第２回ゲーメスト大賞 〜 年間ヒットゲームベスト100" (in ja). Gamest 29 (February 1989): 25–41 (41). December 27, 1988. https://archive.org/details/gamest0029/page/n44.  alternate url
  37. ↑ "Your Sinclair Top Ten Games". http://ysrnry.co.uk/ys53.htm.  Your Sinclair (53). May 1990. 
  38. ↑ "Your Sinclair Top Ten Games". http://ysrnry.co.uk/ys54.htm.  Your Sinclair (54). June 1990. 
  39. ↑ "Your Sinclair Top Ten Games". http://ysrnry.co.uk/ys82.htm.  Your Sinclair (82). October 1992. 
  40. ↑ "Your Sinclair Top Ten Games". http://ysrnry.co.uk/ys87.htm.  Your Sinclair (87). March 1993. 
  41. ↑ "Charts: Month ending 27th March 1992". The One (EMAP) (44 (May 1992)): 16. 21 April 1992. https://archive.org/details/theone-magazine-44/page/n15. 
  42. ↑ "The YS Top 100 Speccy Games Of All Time (Ever!)". Your Sinclair (70): 31. October 1991. http://www.ysrnry.co.uk/articles/ystop100_4.htm. Retrieved 2006-09-04. 
  43. ↑ "top 100 speccy Games". Crash (94). December 1991. https://archive.org/stream/crash-magazine-94/Crash_94_Dec_1991#page/n47/mode/2up. 
  44. ↑ "Rules of the Game". Edge (12): 51. September 1994. 
  45. ↑ All-Time Top 100 Games Amiga Power (Supplemental): 4. May 1991. 
  46. ↑ "The All-Time Top 100 Games: (1) Rainbow Islands". Amiga Power (13): 32–5. May 1992. https://archive.org/details/Amiga_Power_Issue_13_1992-05_Future_Publishing_GB/page/n31/mode/2up. 
  47. ↑ "Top Ton!". Autumn 1993. p. 33. https://archive.org/stream/zzap64-magazine-101/ZZap_64_Issue_101_Commodore_Force_Issue_11_1993_Autumn#page/n32/mode/1up/. Retrieved 2017-09-03. 
  48. ↑ "Top 100 Games of All Time". GamesMaster (44): 75. July 1996. https://retrocdn.net/images/c/cf/GamesMaster_UK_044.pdf. 

Features

Edits and submissions to the site (including screenshots, box art, developer information, game summaries, and more) go through a verification process of fact-checking by volunteer "approvers".[2] This approval process after submission can range from minutes to days or months.[3] The most commonly used sources are the video game's website, packaging, and credit screens. There is a published standard for game information and copy-editing.[4] A ranking system allows users to earn points for contributing accurate information.[5]

Registered users can rate and review games. Users can create private or public "have" and "want" lists, which can generate a list of games available for trade with other registered users. The site contains an integrated forum. Each listed game can have its own sub-forum.

History

Logo used until March 2014

MobyGames was founded on March 1, 1999, by Jim Leonard and Brian Hirt, and joined by David Berk 18 months later, the three of which had been friends since high school.[6][7] Leonard had the idea of sharing information about computer games with a larger audience. The database began with information about games for IBM PC compatibles, relying on the founders' personal collections. Eventually, the site was opened up to allow general users to contribute information.[5] In a 2003 interview, Berk emphasized MobyGames' dedication to taking video games more seriously than broader society and to preserving games for their important cultural influence.[5]

In mid-2010, MobyGames was purchased by GameFly for an undisclosed amount.[8] This was announced to the community post factum , and the site's interface was given an unpopular redesign.[7] A few major contributors left, refusing to do volunteer work for a commercial website.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025} On December 18, 2013, MobyGames was acquired by Jeremiah Freyholtz, owner of Blue Flame Labs (a San Francisco-based game and web development company) and VGBoxArt (a site for fan-made video game box art).[9] Blue Flame Labs reverted MobyGames' interface to its pre-overhaul look and feel,[10] and for the next eight years, the site was run by Freyholtz and Independent Games Festival organizer Simon Carless.[7]

On November 24, 2021, Atari SA announced a potential deal with Blue Flame Labs to purchase MobyGames for $1.5 million.[11] The purchase was completed on 8 March 2022, with Freyholtz remaining as general manager.[12][13][14] Over the next year, the financial boost given by Atari led to a rework of the site being built from scratch with a new backend codebase, as well as updates improving the mobile and desktop user interface.[1] This was accomplished by investing in full-time development of the site instead of its previously part-time development.[15]

In 2024, MobyGames began offering a paid "Pro" membership option for the site to generate additional revenue.[16] Previously, the site had generated income exclusively through banner ads and (from March 2014 onward) a small number of patrons via the Patreon website.[17]

On February 13, 2025, Freyholtz stepped down as the site lead to move onto new projects, leaving operations to Tracy Poff, a veteran coder on the site, and Atari staff.[18]

See also

  • IGDB – game database used by Twitch for its search and discovery functions

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sheehan, Gavin (2023-02-22). "Atari Relaunches The Fully Rebuilt & Optimized MobyGames Website". https://bleedingcool.com/games/atari-relaunches-the-fully-rebuilt-optimized-mobygames-website/. 
  2. ↑ Litchfield, Ted (2021-11-26). "Zombie company Atari to devour MobyGames". https://www.pcgamer.com/zombie-company-atari-to-devour-mobygames/. 
  3. ↑ "MobyGames FAQ: Emails Answered § When will my submission be approved?". Blue Flame Labs. 30 March 2014. http://www.mobygames.com/info/faq7#g1. 
  4. ↑ "The MobyGames Standards and Practices". Blue Flame Labs. 6 January 2016. http://www.mobygames.com/info/standards. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Miller, Stanley A. (2003-04-22). "People's choice awards honor favorite Web sites". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 
  6. ↑ "20 Years of MobyGames" (in en). 2019-02-28. https://trixter.oldskool.org/2019/02/28/20-years-of-mobygames/. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Plunkett, Luke (2022-03-10). "Atari Buys MobyGames For $1.5 Million". https://kotaku.com/mobygames-retro-credits-database-imdb-atari-freyholtz-b-1848638521. 
  8. ↑ "Report: MobyGames Acquired By GameFly Media". Gamasutra. 2011-02-07. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/report-mobygames-acquired-by-gamefly-media. 
  9. ↑ Corriea, Alexa Ray (December 31, 2013). "MobyGames purchased from GameFly, improvements planned". http://www.polygon.com/2013/12/31/5261414/mobygames-purchased-from-gamefly-improvements-planned. 
  10. ↑ Wawro, Alex (31 December 2013). "Game dev database MobyGames getting some TLC under new owner". Gamasutra. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/game-dev-database-mobygames-getting-some-tlc-under-new-owner. 
  11. ↑ "Atari invests in Anstream, may buy MobyGames". November 24, 2021. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-11-24-atari-invests-in-anstream-may-buy-mobygames. 
  12. ↑ Rousseau, Jeffrey (2022-03-09). "Atari purchases Moby Games". https://www.gamesindustry.biz/atari-purchases-moby-games. 
  13. ↑ "Atari Completes MobyGames Acquisition, Details Plans for the Site's Continued Support". March 8, 2022. https://www.atari.com/atari-completes-mobygames-acquisition-details-plans-for-the-sites-continued-support/. 
  14. ↑ "Atari has acquired game database MobyGames for $1.5 million" (in en-GB). 2022-03-09. https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/atari-has-acquired-game-database-mobygames-for-1-5-million/. 
  15. ↑ Stanton, Rich (2022-03-10). "Atari buys videogame database MobyGames for $1.5 million". https://www.pcgamer.com/atari-buys-videogame-database-mobygames-for-dollar15-million/. 
  16. ↑ Harris, John (2024-03-09). "MobyGames Offering “Pro” Membership". https://setsideb.com/mobygames-offering-pro-membership/. 
  17. ↑ "MobyGames on Patreon". http://www.patreon.com/mobygames. 
  18. ↑ "An update on MobyGames leadership". 2025-02-13. https://www.mobygames.com/forum/3/thread/269628/an-update-on-mobygames-leadership/#post-269628. 
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