由Taito於 1987 年在街機推出，並於 1988 年移植至紅白機的彩虹島，是經典名作泡泡龍的正統續篇。雖然主角依然是熟悉的巴比與巴比，但在本作中，他們已經從恐龍恢復成人類男孩，而攻擊方式也從經典的泡泡進化為極具創意的「彩虹魔法」，為遊戲帶來截然不同的體驗。

在故事設定上，劇情延續前作結局。兩位主角在解除詛咒後，發現彩虹群島正遭受大魔王的侵略，不僅居民被囚禁，整個世界的色彩也逐漸消逝。為了恢復和平，他們踏上旅程，運用傳說中的彩虹之力，逐一解放七座風格鮮明的島嶼。從充滿自然氣息的昆蟲島，到機械風格濃厚的機器人島，甚至還有致敬Arkanoid的特殊關卡，每一個舞台都展現出豐富的創意與變化。最終目標則是擊敗幕後的大魔王，讓彩虹重新出現在天空之中。

遊戲的核心機制圍繞著「彩虹」展開，展現出當時動作遊戲中極為少見的設計巧思。玩家可以發射弧形彩虹作為攻擊手段，同時這些彩虹也具有實體，可以作為臨時平台使用，讓角色向上攀爬或跨越障礙。當從高處跳落到彩虹上時，彩虹會崩塌並向下掉落，若下方有敵人則會被壓制消滅。這種結合攻擊與地形操作的設計，使戰鬥與移動融為一體，創造出高度自由且富策略性的玩法。

此外，還設計極具深度的收集要素。在每一座島嶼中，需要透過特定方式擊敗敵人，收集七種不同顏色的「大鑽石」。只有在前七座島嶼完整收集所有寶石，才能解鎖隱藏的第八座島，並挑戰真正的最終頭目，達成所謂的「真結局」。這樣的設計大幅提升遊戲的探索性與重玩價值。

在節奏與關卡呈現上，採用由下往上的垂直捲軸進行方式。隨著時間推移，畫面下方會逐漸被上升的海水吞沒，迫使玩家不斷向上移動，形成一種持續壓迫的緊張感。這種壓力與遊戲鮮豔、可愛的視覺風格形成強烈對比，使整體體驗更加鮮明。每座島嶼的最後還設有大型頭目戰，考驗玩家對彩虹生成位置與崩塌時機的精準掌握。

在市場評價方面，被普遍視為 80 年代末期動作遊戲的巔峰之作之一，其地位與影響力絲毫不遜於前作《泡泡龍》。彩虹系統將攻擊與移動完美結合，展現出Taito卓越的設計能力。即使在紅白機版本中，受到硬體限制導致畫面表現略有簡化，但整體流暢度與核心玩法的還原仍然相當出色，使其成為該平台上最受歡迎的移植作品之一。

總體來看，《彩虹島》是一款外表繽紛可愛、內在卻極具挑戰性的動作經典。其節奏明快的音樂、充滿變化的關卡設計，以及運用彩虹進行攻防與移動的獨特快感，使這部作品在眾多玩家心中留下了難以磨滅的印記，正如其名稱一般，長久散發著耀眼而不褪色的魅力。

Developed by Taito and originally released in arcades in 1987 before being ported to the Famicom/NES in 1988, Rainbow Islands is the official sequel to the classic Bubble Bobble. While the protagonists Bubby and Bobby are still present, they have returned to human form from dinosaurs, and their attack method has evolved from the iconic bubbles to inventive “rainbow magic,” giving the game a completely fresh gameplay experience.

The story continues from the previous game. After lifting the curse and regaining their human forms, the heroes discover that the Rainbow Islands are under threat from a powerful Dark Lord. Not only have the inhabitants been captured, but the islands themselves are losing their vibrant colors. To restore peace, the duo must harness the legendary power of rainbows to liberate seven uniquely themed islands. These range from the nature-filled Insect Island to the mechanically inspired Robot Island, even including a stage paying homage to Arkanoid. Ultimately, the goal is to defeat the Dark Lord and bring rainbows back to the skies.

The core gameplay revolves around the rainbow mechanic, showcasing a level of creativity rare in action games of the era. Players can shoot curved rainbows that serve both as weapons and as solid platforms, allowing characters to climb or traverse obstacles. When a player jumps onto a rainbow from above, it collapses, crushing any enemies beneath it. This combination of offense and platforming integrates combat and movement into a single fluid system, offering freedom and strategic depth.

The game also features a rich collection system. Players must defeat enemies in specific ways to gather seven differently colored “Big Diamonds” on each island. Only by collecting all diamonds across the first seven islands can they unlock the hidden eighth island and challenge the true final boss to achieve the “true ending.” This mechanic adds significant exploration value and replayability.

In terms of pacing and level design, Rainbow Islands uses a bottom-to-top vertical scrolling system. As time passes, rising water threatens to engulf the lower levels, pushing players upward and creating continuous tension. This pressure contrasts sharply with the game’s bright and cheerful visuals. Each island concludes with a large boss battle that tests the player’s mastery of rainbow placement and timing.

Critically, Rainbow Islands is regarded as one of the pinnacles of late-1980s action gaming, with influence comparable to its predecessor, Bubble Bobble. Taito’s design brilliance shines through in the rainbow system, which perfectly fuses offense and movement. Even in the Famicom/NES version, where hardware limitations simplified some visuals, the smoothness of gameplay and faithful adaptation of core mechanics made it one of the platform’s most celebrated arcade ports.

Overall, Rainbow Islands is a game that appears colorful and approachable on the surface yet offers deep, challenging gameplay. Its energetic music, varied level design, and the exhilarating use of rainbows for both combat and navigation have left an indelible mark on generations of players, making it a timeless classic that continues to shine brilliantly, true to its name.