Rainbow Islands: The Story of Bubble Bobble 2 NES box art

Nintendo Entertainment System · Platformer

Rainbow Islands: The Story of Bubble Bobble 2

Deep cut

SystemNintendo Entertainment System
Released1988 (originally 1987)
GenrePlatformer
DeveloperITL
PublisherTaito
Players1–2 players
CommitmentAn evening or two (Roughly 1–6 hours to see it through)
SeriesBubble Bobble
LegacyDeep cut · legacy score 5

Released for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1988, Rainbow Islands: The Story of Bubble Bobble 2 is a platformer developed by ITL and published by Taito. Depending on the region, you may also know it as Bubble Bobble Part 2 or Rainbow Islands. This NES release is a port or adaptation of a game that first appeared in 1987.

It landed about 3 years into the NES's life. Other notable NES releases from 1988 include Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario Bros. 2 and Final Fantasy II.

It is part of the Bubble Bobble series; on the NES you can also try Bubble Bobble and Rainbow Islands: Bubble Bobble 2. The series also appears on other systems with Bubble Bobble (Master System) and Bubble Bobble (Saturn). ITL also made Abadox for the NES.

Rainbow Islands: The Story of Bubble Bobble 2 supports up to 2 players, whether that means taking turns or going head-to-head.

Pick it if…

  • you want to run, jump and explore
  • you have time for an evening or two (roughly 1–6 hours to see it through)
  • you have a friend to play against
  • you've played the NES hits and want something less obvious

Maybe skip it if…

  • you get frustrated by precise jumps and limited lives

What playing Rainbow Islands: The Story of Bubble Bobble 2 is like

Platformers are all about movement: running, jumping and timing your way across levels full of gaps, enemies and secrets. The best ones feel great to control within seconds and then slowly teach you to master every leap.

Tip for newcomers: Retro platformers often have limited lives and few checkpoints. Learn one level at a time, look for hidden 1-ups, and don't be shy about using a save feature when it is available.

Rainbow Islands: The Story of Bubble Bobble 2 gameplay screenshot on NES
In-game screenshot (NES)

Rainbow Islands: The Story of Bubble Bobble 2 cheats & codes

49 codes on file (Game Genie, Other codes). Here are a few Game Genie codes to start with:

Infinite LivesOZUKTTVS
Invincibility (Tested Up To Level 3x3TSXGAKTP

See all Rainbow Islands: The Story of Bubble Bobble 2 cheats

Rainbow Islands: The Story of Bubble Bobble 2 walkthroughs & guides

Stuck, or want to go deeper? These trusted sites have full walkthroughs, completion times and more for Rainbow Islands: The Story of Bubble Bobble 2.

If you like Rainbow Islands: The Story of Bubble Bobble 2, the Matrix also picks…

Playing NES games today

NES games are short on paper but often famously tough, so expect to replay levels and learn patterns. Many first-party titles are available through Nintendo Switch Online, original cartridges remain easy to find, and you can play backups of games you own in an emulator such as Rec0m88.

Rainbow Islands: The Story of Bubble Bobble 2 FAQ

When did Rainbow Islands: The Story of Bubble Bobble 2 come out on the NES?

Rainbow Islands: The Story of Bubble Bobble 2 was released for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1988; the original game dates back to 1987.

Who made Rainbow Islands: The Story of Bubble Bobble 2?

It was developed by ITL and published by Taito.

Is Rainbow Islands: The Story of Bubble Bobble 2 multiplayer?

Yes. Rainbow Islands: The Story of Bubble Bobble 2 supports up to 2 players.

How long does Rainbow Islands: The Story of Bubble Bobble 2 take to play?

As a platformer, Rainbow Islands: The Story of Bubble Bobble 2 typically falls into the "An evening or two" category: roughly 1–6 hours to see it through. Your time will vary with skill and how much you explore.

Read more about Rainbow Islands: The Story of Bubble Bobble 2 on Wikipedia. Facts on this page are compiled from the open libretro database and Wikidata; "legacy score" reflects how widely a game is documented across Wikipedia's language editions. Spotted an error? Let us know.

Not sure? Let the Matrix pick for you