This game is missing content. This seems to be the saturn port, which doesn't include the popular Win Contest mode. You cannot unlock any characters in Bust-a-move '99, and the 1025 Collection mode has the list menu, rather than the much better numbered menu. This port is missing the biggest feature that attracts old players to it. Also no steam remote play? So I can't even play this online with my friends, at this point, save the $13 if this is a beloved classic for you, and wait until City Connection updates the game to include the features that make this worth buying over simply emulating. When emulation and the addition of fightcade have more features than the official re-release, you need to do better.

I'm going to be completely honest with Everyone here, this game is not worth buying.
Why? Because the game is missing the biggest feature of Puzzle Bobble 3, win contest.
The game isn't that fun without it. i can't even play as my favorite character (dreg, Drunk) because of this decision.
i can't even play VERY HARD mode.. Because those modes only exist on the PLAYSTATION or PC versions of the game, not the SATURN version..

The only battles you have in the game are Normal & Hard mode, but as an experienced player, that's not enough.
that's why WIN CONTEST is WAAAAAAY more fun and challenging!

Not even steam remote play to invite friends to play with you?

I'm very disappointed with this release.

This release is bad.

1. The menu screen is window mode only, and you can only use the analogue stick for navigation, however, in game, you can only use the d-pad?
   
   
2. The sound goes out of sync, often, when either: a) changing games, or b) loading a save state. And it is out of sync by several seconds!
   
   
3. The letterboxed wallpapers are half-arsed, ugly images, with no option to turn them off.
   
   
4. The achievements do not cover a lot of the included games content. E.g., the different routes on challenge mode, or collection mode in BUST-A-Move 3. And the achievements which they did bother making are all trivial to earn.
   
   
5. Annoyingly, when the "Get an 'Excellent' rank in Challenge Mode." Achievements is earned, the "good" and "average" versions of it are not also unlocked, therefore, you will have to play intentionally bad to unlock them.
   
   
6. The "rewind" feature is not a rewind feature, it is a collection of save states which one can pick from, rather than a button which actually rewinds the game.

[updated review] The games are nice and I discovered that they start in windowed mode, but pressing the option button on the controller you can open the option menu and set it to run full screen. Now I like it.

Pure nostalgia. Perfect couch game for the SteamDeck!

Should have listened to the reviews. After four hours, I've run out content in both games. I love Puzzle Bobble to death, but with as bare bones as this collection is, I don't think I can recommend it for the $15 they're asking for.

---=== Pros ===---

• Both games play well, and come with a fair share of challenge.
  
• The music is great, and a delight to hear while playing.
  
• I appreciate the additional features menu both games have. This is great for picking up where you've left off if you felt like putting the game down for a while.

---=== Cons ===---

• There is roughly four hours of content all together. I ran out of things to do in a few sessions of play.
  
• Aside from the previously mentioned additional features menus in each game, what you're getting in this pack are two games as they came when they first release, and a level editor.
  
• Like many others have mentioned before me, there is no remote play together. Multiplayer isn't really a thing unless it's against CPUs or you have people locally to play with.
  
• Both games are the original arcade releases and you're given 15 seconds to pick your game mode, 10 if you're playing PB3. Rewind can be useful there at least, though it shouldn't be a replacement for removing the menu timers.
  
• For games that has various characters and character selection, there sure is a lot of being forced to play as one character.

---=== Conclusion ===---
I'm glad that these games are available at all on modern hardware, but I cannot recommend it at it's current price with how little you get and the lack of remote play together. Definitely wait for price drop or a sale if you plan to buy it.

I don't know how this is allowed on Steam tbh.

The most translations done are just the titlescreens, there are only three functions mapped on keyboard, no fullscreen option, closes and open separate windows constantly, just seems like a super lazy port for some extra cash.


Seeing as neither company gives a ♥♥♥♥ about quality control I suggest you just go and play through an emulator

Bust-a-Move 2 is a competitive sport in my family and we do not bow to anyone.

Hours of fun and nightmarish torture beating your friends and family, now returned for the modern age!

The fact that there is no online remote play is very sad. That is the only reason I won't play it. That's what makes the game fun.

Puzzle Bobble is my all time favourite game, but these ports are not up to scratch.The sidebars are very annoying (especially in windowed mode) but the sound effects are also of bizarrely poor quality (the music is fine). As others have said bits are missing as the result of apparently focusing on the Saturn version which no one has cause to be particularly nostalgic about.Hopefully updates will get this up to standard, because these games deserve it.