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Rainbow Islands (new version)
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- Console
- Arcade
- Players
- 2P alt
About Rainbow Islands (new version)
Arcade Video game published 39 years ago:
Rainbow Islands - The Story of Bubble Bobble 2 (c) 1987 Taito.
In this sequel to the legendary Bubble Bobble - released a year earlier - one or two players (who, unlike 'Bubble Bobble', no longer play simultaneously) take on the role of Bub and Bob, who have now been returned to their original human form after their success in Bubble Bobble. The returning heroes have been asked to rescue the Rainbow Islands from the clutches of the various enemies who have overrun the islands in their absence.
Bob and Bob are each armed with the ability to create solid rainbows. This ingenious game-play device acts as both a weapon (to either kill an enemy instantly, or trap it then collapse the rainbow onto it, the latter essential for collecting bonus gems - as detailed in 'Tips and Tricks') and as a temporary platform that allows the players to reach previously inaccessible parts of the level, as they race to reach the top of the island before the game's tight time limit expires.
A number of power-ups are available to the players; these include multiple rainbows (up to a maximum of three), faster generating rainbows, speed-up shoes and temporary invulnerability. Rainbow Islands is famous for its multitude of hidden secrets, see 'Tips and Tricks' for details.
Rainbow Islands consists of seven levels, each consisting of four rounds. Holding down the jump button will allow the player to jump onto rainbows without crushing them.
- TECHNICAL -
Board number: K1100277A Prom stickers: B22
Main CPU: Motorola 68000, Zilog Z80 Sound Chips: Yamaha YM2151
Control per player: 2-way joystick Buttons per player: 2
- TRIVIA -
Player layout in our catalog: 2P alt.
If you are exploring by feel rather than by title, jump from the tags above into the matching genre rooms, or return to the Arcade hall for the full wall.
Open Play on this page to start Rainbow Islands (new version). Keyboard, USB/Bluetooth pads, and the on-screen touch gamepad all work inside the emulator bar. Save states and fullscreen live on that same bar so you can pause mid-session and resume later.
Rainbow Islands (new version) — play guide
What Rainbow Islands wants from you
Rainbow Islands (Taito, 1987) is Bubble Bobble’s vertical sequel: climb islands with rainbow honesty before continues empty. Rainbow honesty beats mash. Learn Taito 1987 rainbow windows cold—do not paste Bubble Bobble charts blindly. Calm first islands until rainbow timing is narratable; rbisland chrome is packaging, not free invulnerability or free island clears on every board for vanity leaps.
First minutes in Rainbow Islands
First islands: time rainbow platforms, peek hazards, ignore scenic bait that invites panic mash. Power-cycle once so Taito chrome stops looking like Bubble Bobble. Early islands teach Rainbow Islands grammar: planned rainbows before mash routes that death-tax mid-island when denser hazard packs arrive on later boards. Hold that grammar before vanity leaps.
Core systems in Rainbow Islands
Jump, rainbow create as wired, island goals, lives/continues, and Rainbow Islands UI define the systems. Skill is rainbow literacy under pressure—not mashing every jump into a pit. After continues, reconfirm island state before racing again. Keep a one-sentence peek-before-rainbow rule ready before the second island starts on this Taito 1987 Bubble Bobble sequel set.
Score, continues, and resources in Rainbow Islands
Island clears and survival score the run; falls and hits tax continues. Continues are coins. Fewer panic jumps and fewer ignored peeks keep credits alive. Farming early islands forever without reading denser hazards still leaves Rainbow Islands unread. Progress is Taito chrome that no longer forces death loops mid-island on later boards, not a pasted clear.
Mistakes that burn credits in Rainbow Islands
Mash-jumping every gap, ignoring hazards, never peeking pits, tunneling on scenery while a fall finishes you, and rage-continuing after fall streaks burn credits. Power-cycling mid-tilt without a plan burns another credit. Next credit: peek first, rainbow on plan—stop mash tourism for scenery and island panic on later Taito boards.
Next steps after Rainbow Islands
When Rainbow Islands islands clear without constant falls, compare Rainbow Islands Extra deliberately, then return with rainbow drills on Taito 1987. Keep playing until panic-mash empties stop ending sessions mid-island on later boards. Cousin Bubble Bobble cabinets help as contrast after Rainbow Islands feels automatic—not as escape from islands you still mash for chrome. Clear one full island carefully before you chase vanity leaps again.
Sources cited below under Further reading.
Cabinet dossier
Player layout on this cabinet: 2P alt.
Genre tags on Classic Arcade Games: Platform, Arcade.
Screenshots
Next cabinets
Nearby cabinets you may also open from this hall (each on its own play page):Rainbow Islands - Extra Version, Super Bubble Bobble (Sun Mixing, Mega Drive clone hardware), Bubble Memories: The Story Of Bubble Bobble III (Ver 2.4O 1996/02/15), Bubble Bobble II (Ver 2.6O 1994/12/16), Bubble Bobble (Japan, Ver 0.1), Miss Bubble II, Aladdin (bootleg of Japanese Mega Drive version), Altered Beast (set 8) (8751 317-0078), Armored Warriors, Alien Storm (World, 2 Players), Bad Dudes vs. Dragonninja (US revision 1), Vs. Balloon Fight (set BF4 A-3)
Explore more on this site
Same series
Rainbow Islands - Extra Version · Super Bubble Bobble (Sun Mixing, Mega Drive clone hardware) · Bubble Memories: The Story Of Bubble Bobble III (Ver 2.4O 1996/02/15) · Bubble Bobble II (Ver 2.6O 1994/12/16) · Bubble Bobble (Japan, Ver 0.1) · Miss Bubble II
Same genre
Rainbow Islands - Extra Version · Super Bubble Bobble (Sun Mixing, Mega Drive clone hardware) · Bubble Memories: The Story Of Bubble Bobble III (Ver 2.4O 1996/02/15) · Bubble Bobble II (Ver 2.6O 1994/12/16) · Bubble Bobble (Japan, Ver 0.1) · Miss Bubble II · Aladdin (bootleg of Japanese Mega Drive version) · Altered Beast (set 8) (8751 317-0078) · Armored Warriors · Alien Storm (World, 2 Players) · Bad Dudes vs. Dragonninja (US revision 1) · Vs. Balloon Fight (set BF4 A-3)
How to play Rainbow Islands (new version) online
- Arcade stick feel: Arrow keys for the joystick, X/Z (and nearby keys) for buttons, Enter=Start.
- USB / Bluetooth pads map cleanly; six-button fighters use the face-button cluster.
- On phones, open the on-screen pad from the emulator bar; rotate sits next to fullscreen.
- Save states, load, volume, and fullscreen stay on the emulator bar between credits.
Questions about Rainbow Islands (new version)
Can I play Rainbow Islands (new version) free in a browser?
Yes. Classic Arcade Games hosts Rainbow Islands (new version) as a Arcade cabinet you can start on this page. The emulator loads in the browser; you do not need to install a separate app.
What controls does Rainbow Islands (new version) support?
Arcade stick feel: Arrow keys for the joystick, X/Z (and nearby keys) for buttons, Enter=Start. USB / Bluetooth pads map cleanly; six-button fighters use the face-button cluster.
Are there other games in the same series as Rainbow Islands (new version)?
Yes — related series cabinets on this site include Rainbow Islands - Extra Version, Super Bubble Bobble (Sun Mixing, Mega Drive clone hardware), Bubble Memories: The Story Of Bubble Bobble III (Ver 2.4O 1996/02/15), Bubble Bobble II (Ver 2.6O 1994/12/16), Bubble Bobble (Japan, Ver 0.1), Miss Bubble II. Each has its own play page with the same browser emulator path.
Further reading
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