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.
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.
Available in our shop
Hand-cleaned and tested units shipped worldwide from Toyohashi, Japan. HP direct purchase exclusive: we include a printed shop owner's note card with every order.
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