Rainbow Islands is a fun little arcade game that has a couple unusual tricks up its sleeve. Not many games let you zip around the screen firing rainbows with pelvic thrusts. IGN also liked the countdown mechanic that gives you a time limit instead of a set number of lives or chances. While this is a spiritual sequel to Bubble Bobble, Rainbow Islands is a little less memorable and a little less charming. It's still a good time but it doesn't have the fan base that its prequel has and this XBLA release won't change that fact.
Presentation - 7.0
Graphics - 6.5
Sound - 6.5
Gameplay - 7.5
Lasting Appeal - 7.0
Overall -
The game has 4 distinct modes which unfortunately do not alter the game in any way. The levels are exactly the same no matter which mode you choose. The only difference is that you can choose a variety of costumes including your own avatar. This gives the game a little bit of a boost as it's quite funny to see the painstakingly created mini you leaping from platform to platform. This soon becomes old though.
This game could be fun in short bursts if there was a save option included, but as it is it's a little disappointing.
Console Monster writes: "Sometimes you get a classic re-worked for XBLA and it you feel it necessary to invest some hard-earned points into a title. Occasionally though you get a game which feels like it ticks the boxes but isn't worth the money. Guess which one Rainbow Islands: Towering Adventure falls into?"
It's rainbow time! Rainbow Islands, one of the world's most underrated platformers, has now made its way to the Xbox 360 via the Xbox Live Arcade. For those who are unaware, Rainbow Islands is a sequel to the immensely popular Bubble Bobble, which was initially released in 1987 for the original Nintendo Entertainment System, among many other platforms.
