Rainbow Islands Revolution

Long before everyone had a handheld game system, and even longer before touch-screen technology was available, Taito released an arcade game called Rainbow Islands. The game had players running from enemies in search of the goal, located at the top of the screen.

Rainbow Islands Revolution expands on that concept with touch-screen gameplay. The boy in the bubble, mysteriously trapped there for no explained reason, must float to the top of each level to succeed. Touch the screen and drag your finger or stylus (either will do) to guide the boy through the level.

Touch any part of the screen except the boy to draw an enemy-destroying rainbow. (Now that's something you don't hear every day.) Draw a handful of shapes, like lines and circles, to keep wild animals at bay. They look harmless, smiling with their beaks and big teeth. But one touch from these furry prowlers and it's bye-bye bubble boy.

The boy's saving grace comes in the form of his health meter, which has a lot to give for all the cuts and bruises he's going to incur. Spikes are placed in the most troublesome locations, forcing you to find alternative routes to each goal.

Rainbow's levels are designed like any up-scrolling platformer, with the major difference being that you float, not jump, to the top. You can lean up against the sides of platforms to stop moving – a wise choice if several enemies are nearby. Though the bottom screen is the only one used for gameplay, you can check the top screen at any time to see what's coming.

This very important, more so than other dual-screen games, because planning ahead is the only way you'll survive. By looking ahead, you'll know when to stop moving and start drawing rainbows. You'll also know of upcoming spikes, and any other hazards that await your arrival. Bosses can't be predicted, but it doesn't matter – the game pauses to introduce you to each beast. That brief rest is all you'll get before an all-out war begins.

Conceptually, Rainbow Islands Revolution is an interesting game. Its levels are sneaky, as enemies swarm and spikes become too much to avoid. Getting cornered is instant suicide, as enemies can repeatedly attack, eliminating all health points. Spikes also cause repeated damage, so don't stand next to them for too long. Plowing through enemies won't get you anywhere. While you're dragging the boy through, he'll be taking damage at every turn. Drop the boy to draw a rainbow and you're toast. You can't kill every enemy at once. While you're taking care of one group, another will burst the bubble.

This is a cool idea, but the touch mechanics aren't the best. Quick lines aren't always registered, especially when you draw a rainbow right next to the kid. The game cannot predict which you mean to touch – the world, which creates a rainbow, or the child, which would allow you to move him. This often leads to frustration and unnecessary deaths.

Bubble movement and rainbow creation is way too slow. You'll have to draw at a snail-like pace to keep up with the boy. Go any faster and you'll fly right past him, killing your maneuverability. Conclusion: another unnecessary death.

This style of gameplay – the good and the bad – is repetitive at best. I like the levels, and I look forward to playing any game that focuses its controls on the touch screen. Buttons are fine, but we've been playing games the old way for 20+ years. Rainbow Islands Revolution ventures into new territory, and it deserves credit for that. Unfortunately, not all new ventures lead to a revolutionary destination.

Gameplay: 5.0
Using the touch screen, drag your spunky, bubble-riding character to the top of each stage. Draw rainbows to destroy enemies and protect the helpless child. Fun for the first few levels – not very entertaining after that.

Graphics: 4.0
The cartoony, below-SNES-quality visuals do nothing to enhance the experience of playing Rainbow Islands Revolution.

Sound: 4.0
Rainbow’s music is a lot like a rainbow – bright and colorful. That might’ve been Ok when I was four, but this is an update to an arcade game that was designed for the masses, not the kiddies. In repetition, you’ll do what any sane person in your position would do and turn the sound off.

Difficulty: Easy
Easy, yet cheap and frustrating at times. The game is predictable, but if you make a mistake you’ll be bombarded by enemies that make it impossible to move. There’s little time to recover.

Concept: 7.5
An up-scrolling, rainbow-drawing, child-dragging adventure with touch screen controls. The D-pad is not used.

Multiplayer: 5.0
Multi-card multiplayer for a game you won’t spend much time playing by yourself. Those who are bored with the single-player mode will only spread that boredom if they encourage others to join in.

Overall: 5.0
Anyone who thoroughly enjoyed Yoshi’s Touch & Go will find Rainbow Islands Revolution to be a worthy title in the vein of that game. The rest of us are left with an island that’s a little too monotonous to hold our interest.