The Sharp X68000 version of Bubble Bobble was a Japan-only release and is an authentic and beautiful port – arguably just as good as the arcade original itself, if not better.

I’m not 100% sure who developed it, though. Some sources say that Taito converted it themselves, while others say that Japanese developer/publisher Dempa developed it.

The game was released in 1990 and it shows just how amazing the X68000 was – compared to other gaming systems – back in the early ’90s.

The X68000 version of Bubble Bobble features the arcade game in its entirety, plus it also has a hidden minigame called “Sybubblun” that is based on designer Fukio Mitsuji‘s later game, Sylvalion. This extra game features twenty new, more difficult, screens that are re-skinned with a Sylvalion theme.

The only real downside is the annoying “Push 2P” in the bottom right-hand corner, that persists throughout the entire game (unless a second player joins in, although there’s no real need for it).

See also: 10 Best Bubble Bobble Conversions

More: Bubble Bobble on Wikipedia