I need to start this review with two statements about Parasol Stars. Because, regardless of how fair I keep this, there’s a subconscious bias straight out of the gates, for two reasons.
Parasol Stars is one of the biggest gaming influences on me as a child. A co-op masterpiece that I played endlessly with my brother on our Amiga 500+. It’s a game that shaped how we viewed co-op gaming, and working as a team. Also a game that we saw to completion many times, and seemingly never got tired of.
Secondly, this is our first review code for Dying Art Media, and that’s a big deal, too. Less likely to impact the review, but it’s important to be honest.
For reference: This was the Nintendo Switch version of the game, played on a Nintendo Switch 2.
Parasol Stars
The long-lost middle child of the Bubble Bobble family has finally returned! Released this week (April 14, 2026) as part of the Parasol Superstars bundle by ININ Games and Taito.
Parasol Stars: The Story of Bubble Bobble III is a colourful, chaotic reminder of why single-screen arcade platformers used to rule the world.
While many know Bub and Bob for blowing bubbles, this remastered port brings back the 1991 PC Engine classic where they trade their dragon scales for human forms and magical umbrellas.
Here is my review of the 2026 re-release.
Gameplay
The core hook of Parasol Stars remains its unique Parasol mechanic.
Unlike the bubble-blowing of the first game or the rainbow-climbing of the second, your umbrella is a multi-tool:
Shield: Block incoming projectiles and enemies
Stun: Whack enemies to daze them.
Capture: Pick up stunned enemies (or raindrops/fireballs) and hurl them as massive projectiles. Or…..”accidentally” pick-up your co-op partner and throw them…..I’m not suggesting you do this, but you can….
Flight: Use the umbrella to glide through the air for better positioning.
The flow is fast-paced. You aren’t just clearing a screen; you’re managing elemental drops (water, fire, lightning) that, when collected on your umbrella, can be launched to create massive, screen-clearing effects.
The memories came flooding back after I released my first big water droplet again (it took me a while to remember how to collect the elements). Watching the water flood through the stage and wash enemies away is like witnessing poetry in motion.
Parasol Stars feels great. Snappy, rapid and that perfect balance between “old arcade game” and “modern re-release”. It feels like it should, which is hard in 2026.
The Remastered Experience
Since this 2026 release of Parasol Stars is based on the PC Engine original, it retains that warm, 8-bit-plus aesthetic.
However, the modern port adds the essential Quality of Life features we expect today:
Rewind & Save States: Perfect for some of those brutal late-game bosses (we’re looking at you, Giant Robot). Great to have, for sure, but I’m a traditionalist, so ignored this mostly. It does work great, though.
CRT Filters: Includes several scan line options to replicate that nostalgic glow. Glorious, even on the Switch 2 screen.
Challenge Modes: New leaderboards and time-attack modes for those who want to prove their skills globally. It’s a great addition to Parasol Stars and adds some serious replayability. But not something i’ve been to interested in out of the gates.
Local Co-op: The game is still best played with a friend, where accidental umbrella-hurls of your partner are part of the charm. Whilst I’ve not had chance to try it yet, this is the bit i’m most looking forwards to, and it’s being arranged as I type this review.
Overall
Parasol Stars in 2026 is the same game as it was in 1991, in the best possible way. With modern, quality of life changes for 2026, it feels like a great game made better in some subtle ways.
Nostalgia aside, Parasol Stars would be a great game if only released today. Fun, frenetic and with a wonderful co-op mode.
You can finish the game in under an hour once you’ve gotten the hang of it. But that’s no bad thing, Parasol Stars should be played over and over. I truly hope that somewhere, two siblings of friends discover it and play it over and over, just as I did.
There was a real fear that ININ might somehow butcher an all-time great. Instead, they elevated it and made it accessible again!
DAM, that’s excellent.
More info
The remastered Parasol Stars is currently headlining the Parasol Superstars bundle alongside Spica Adventure.
For $19.99 (launch price), you’re essentially getting two games that follow the same umbrella-combat lineage.
Available on: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4|5, and Xbox Series X|S.
