Taito's Bubble Bobble sequel on PC Engine. Umbrellas replaced bubbles — catching raindrops, throwing enemies.
Parasol Stars: The Story of Bubble Bobble III was developed by Taito and published for PC Engine in September 1991 — the third entry in the Bubble Bobble series, replacing Bub and Bob's bubble mechanics with umbrella mechanics. Players caught raindrops in their parasol to charge up attacks, then threw the filled parasol or released its contents to defeat enemies. The game retained Bubble Bobble's single-screen stage design and two-player cooperative mode. Parasol Stars sold approximately 300,000 copies on PC Engine and is cited as the series' most mechanically inventive entry.
About this game
Released in Japan on February 15, 1991, Parasol Stars: The Story of Bubble Bobble III is a joyful single-screen action-platformer developed and published by Taito for the PC Engine. Bub and Bob return — now in human form as Bubby and Bobby — armed with magical umbrellas instead of bubble-blowing mouths. Players use their parasols to collect water droplets, raindrops, and other elements flung from enemies, then transform them into projectiles for devastating elemental attacks. Composer Noriyuki Iwadare delivered one of the most beloved soundtracks in PC Engine history.
Key Features
Eight worlds of single-screen stages. The parasol has two core functions: block enemy projectiles, and collect dropped elements to transform into ranged attacks. Collected water becomes a powerful water bomb; stars from enemies become homing star throws; clouds create lightning; and a 'rainbow' element can create platforms. Two-player simultaneous co-op. Each world has a boss requiring specific elemental tactics. The game rewards precise item collection over speed.
Gallery
The Story Behind
Parasol Stars arrived on the PC Engine as a showpiece for the platform's abilities — its colorful sprites and smooth animation rivaled anything available on home hardware at the time. Taito had already established the Bubble Bobble franchise as one of gaming's most beloved cooperative experiences; Parasol Stars refined the formula with the elemental umbrella mechanic, adding a layer of tactical play to the cheerful chaos. The game became one of the most beloved PC Engine titles and is consistently listed among the platform's essential software.
Tricks & Tales
Noriyuki Iwadare, who composed the Parasol Stars soundtrack, later went on to compose music for the Lunar series (Lunar: Silver Star Story, Lunar 2: Eternal Blue) and the Ace Attorney series — making this an early work from a composer who became one of the most celebrated in Japanese gaming. The PC Engine / TurboGrafx-16 version is the definitive release of Parasol Stars; ports to other platforms were made but none matched the original's graphical quality and soundtrack. The two-player co-op mode was designed around the idea of sharing a single game experience between friends, echoing Bubble Bobble's original arcade DNA.
Collector's Guide
Region & Compatibility
The PC Engine version was released in Japan in February 1991. A TurboGrafx-16 version was published in North America, making this one of the rare PC Engine games that received an official Western localisation. The PC Engine HuCard format is standard.
Maintenance Tips
Standard PC Engine HuCard with no battery backup. Clean the HuCard contacts with isopropyl alcohol. The HuCard format is generally durable but keep away from moisture. The Japan version is more common than the TG-16 North America version.
Going deeper
Explore the machine this game ran on, and what to check before you buy or care for one:
What to Watch Out For
Before buying, these are the points worth knowing — from someone who handles original Japanese Parasol Stars: The Story of Bubble Bobble III copies regularly.
Will this Japanese PC Engine game work on a North American TurboGrafx-16?
Not without a hardware adapter. The TurboGrafx-16's data bus lines are wired in reverse compared to the PC Engine, making the two regions physically incompatible at the cartridge (HuCard) slot level. A passive adapter such as the dbElectronics Turbo PC-Henshin bridges this gap for HuCard titles. For CD-ROM² software, the TurboGrafx-CD drive will run Japanese discs if they do not carry a software region check, but compatibility varies by title. In both cases, Japanese PC Engine software is designed for the Japanese market and carries no English text.
How should I store and clean a PC Engine HuCard?
Keep HuCards in their original plastic sleeves or a protective case, away from humidity and direct sunlight — the exposed gold contacts oxidize over time. To clean: apply 90%+ isopropyl alcohol to a cotton swab and gently wipe the gold edge contacts. Never blow on them — breath moisture accelerates corrosion. Handle by the plastic edges only, avoiding the contact strip. HuCards have no internal battery and no moving parts, making them among the most durable formats from the era.
Does this HuCard have an internal save battery?
HuCards do not support internal battery backup by design. If this title requires save data between sessions, it either uses a password system or requires an external backup peripheral (such as the Tennokoe Bank or Backup Booster) connected to the PC Engine's expansion bus. Check the game manual for the save method — many action and strategy HuCard titles are designed as single-session experiences and do not require saving at all.
Before You Buy
Things worth knowing before you buy Parasol Stars: The Story of Bubble Bobble III
A short checklist for buying used PC Engine software wisely — useful with any seller, anywhere.
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Choose a seller who tests it before shipping
A copy that has actually been powered on and checked is a known quantity. An untested one is a gamble you only settle after it arrives.
Look for a seller who states it was function-tested and says what they confirmed. A serious seller can tell you exactly what was checked.
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Make sure it fits your console
Japanese PC Engine HuCards and CDs are not compatible with the North American TurboGrafx-16 — the formats differ. Use a Japanese PC Engine system.
Play it on a matching Japanese console or a region-free system, and confirm the listing states the region.
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HuCard or CD-ROM² — know which you're buying
PC Engine games come on HuCard chips or on CD-ROM². CD titles also require the right CD system and a working System Card.
Confirm the format in the listing, and for CDs check the disc surface and that saves are supported.
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Check that the contacts are clean
Dirty edge contacts are the most common cause of startup and sound trouble in cartridges of this age.
Choose a seller who cleans the contacts before shipping. A note that it was tested and cleaned means the basics were handled.
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Read the seller's reviews and return policy
A 100% positive record across thousands of sales is close to a guarantee — packing, communication and problem-solving all work for everyone. A return policy protects you if something is off.
Read the feedback and confirm a clear return window before you buy.
The last step before buying anywhere is knowing what it's worth.
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