Rainbow Islands Extra serves as the vibrant, vertical sequel to Taito’s legendary Bubble Bobble, trading bubble-trapping for the elegant art of rainbow creation. As Bubby and Bobby, players must scale seven themed islands, using rainbows as both temporary platforms and lethal projectiles to crush the "Dark Shadow" influence. The mechanic remains one of the most satisfying in 16-bit gaming, requiring a delicate balance between rapid climbing and tactical enemy management to uncover the game’s hidden "Secret Diamonds" necessary for the true ending.
This specific Mega Drive rendition includes the "Extra" mode, a remix originally found in the arcades that reshuffles the enemy patterns and boss order to provide a stiffer challenge for veterans. While the core "Original" mode is present, the "Extra" version adds significant replay value, forcing players to rethink their strategies for levels like Insect Island and Combat Island. The visual presentation is bright and charming, though the Mega Drive hardware occasionally struggles with sprite flickering and slowdown when the screen becomes saturated with rainbows and power-ups.
Despite minor technical hiccups and a slightly metallic FM-synth soundtrack compared to the arcade original, this remains a stellar conversion of a platforming masterpiece. It captures the frantic, "just one more go" energy that defined Taito's golden era, even if it lacks the color depth of the PC Engine CD version. As a Japan-exclusive release for the Sega 16-bit hardware, it has become a staple for import collectors who value tight controls and deep scoring systems over sheer graphical fidelity.
