I have played the arcade version on an arcade machine and I found there really wasn’t a lot of difference between playing it and the SNES version. It’s a fairly good port. The PC version (Yes, There are PC versions of Puzzle Bobble 1-3, possibly others) is also a good port of the game + they put all the music on the CD as audio tracks.

Yeah I cannot argue the whole ‘extra character’ thing. It’s more useful with their multiplayer mode since many of them have different setups for what bubbles you send to your opponent when you clear some of your screen.

I own Bust-A-Move 2 and 3 on the Sega Saturn and enjoy both those entries as well. I’m just glad the SNES got one version at the very least, and it’s certainly a great one. I haven’t played the series beyond part 3. I like the addition of character choices but to me it felt a little convoluted and there’s definitely something pure about the original that I deeply appreciate.

While the best best track goes to #2, I still think the best version of the game is the very first one. With all the versions I have played, I think the closest to that version is Space Bust-A-Move for the DS. Something about it (or the # times I have played Endless Mode) feels more like playing the original than most of the other spinoffs.

Tetris Attack can certainly be a lot of fun, but it gets real crazy at higher speeds. Also interesting that they include a password system so you can carry on through the ‘campaign’ (for lack of better word).

Also:
Kirby’s Avalanche = Puyo Puyo
Tetris Attack = Puzzle League / Panel de Pon
Bust-A-Move = Puzzle Bobble

Oh, that NTSC SNES box art, here we go! When I decided to purchase the Nintendo 16-bit edition of this game more than a year and a half ago, I decided to import the Super Famicom version Puzzle Bobble instead of getting the NTSC SNES version Bust-a-Move–I wouldn’t have objected to trying either version otherwise, but if I HAD gone with the American version then I would’ve put up with one of the most unappealing Nintendo 16-bit cover art I’ve ever seen (give me Bubblun or Bobblun, how these characters are known in Japan, any day; RIP, Fukio Mitsuji). XP The gameplay concept is there, but it is presented in the most busily overcrowded and charmlessly putrid way imaginable. Can you imagine even if it’s a highly unlikely scenario where someone who has no inkling whatsoever of Puzzle Bobble/Bust-a-Move stumbled across this cover and judged it primarily by the art (without turning around to see the in-game screenshots of what it actually looks like in the back)? Personally, I’d consider that NTSC SNES cover a turnaway rather than something that draws me in (the sad thing is that the NTSC PlayStation One cover for Bust-a-Move 2 Arcade Edition, in my opinion, would end up being worse; what were Taito’s American distributors thinking making terrible covers for great games??? Were they just racist against all things cute or something? o_O … Actually, I have feeling that if I knew what they felt justified their ill-made decision I’d probably go insane, so let’s not dwell on that). I mean, what a disservice to this excellent puzzler! >=( Hands down one of my least favorite Nintendo 16-bit covers overall alongside the PAL cover of Equinox (absolutely great game, not a fan of the SNES PAL cover AT ALL and is not an accurate representation of Glendaal’s adventure but even if you took THAT away it just looks repulsive to me, the NTSC SNES cover is superior and beautifully apropos imo) and Whirlo (it would take all day for me to explain why it does not work for me personally, but let’s just say that it betrays what Xandra no Daibōken is all about by trying to paint the protagonist and game as something they’re not–I’ll leave it at that). Sorry, didn’t mean to sound mean about it, it’s just… not something I want to look at =(

Well, hope you have a great day, RVGSteve
To each their own