Xbox Parasol Superstars Review: The Ultimate Retro Platformer Pack

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If you grew up in the golden age of arcades—or if you’ve just developed a deep appreciation for quirky Japanese retro gaming—you probably know that developer Taito has a bizarre obsession with turning everyday items into weapons of mass destruction. First, it was bubbles in Bubble Bobble. Then came the magical umbrellas.

Recently, ININ Games dropped a delightful little package on the Xbox Store called the Parasol Superstars bundle. Priced at $23.99, this bundle pairs two incredibly charming, umbrella-wielding platformers: the classic Parasol Stars: The Story of Bubble Bobble III and the rare, formerly Japan-exclusive arcade gem Spica Adventure.

If you bought these separately, they’d run you around $33, so the bundle offers a solid discount. But is it worth your time and hard-earned cash? I spent time shielding myself from cartoon monsters and chucking bad guys across my screen to find out. Here’s my breakdown of what makes this bundle an absolute blast.

Parasol Stars: The Story of Bubble Bobble III

First up is a legendary piece of retro history. While Bubble Bobble and Rainbow Islands usually get all the mainstream love, Parasol Stars is arguably the mechanical peak of the classic trilogy. Instead of trapping enemies in bubbles, Bubby and Bobby are back in human form, armed with magical parasols.

The gameplay loop is pure arcade dopamine. You use your parasol to block incoming projectiles, stun enemies, and—the best part—scoop them up to throw them at other enemies. You can even accumulate giant drops of water, fire, or electricity on top of your umbrella to unleash screen-clearing magical attacks.

Playing this on the Xbox Series X feels buttery smooth. It features a cosmic journey across 8 vibrant planets (plus a couple of secret bonus levels if you play your cards right), backed by one of the catchiest chiptune soundtracks of its era. Best of all? It features local couch co-op. Hooking up a second controller and tackling these chaotic single-screen levels with a friend is exactly the kind of nostalgic fun modern gaming often forgets about.

Spica Adventure

The real surprise of this bundle, though, is Spica Adventure. Originally released in Japanese arcades back in 2005, this game never got a proper international home console release—until now.

You play as Nico, a girl clad entirely in bright pink, armed with a very familiar-looking yellow parasol. Spica Adventure takes the umbrella mechanics of Parasol Stars and translates them into a fast-paced, side-scrolling 2D platformer. Nico can use her parasol to glide, bounce off walls, slide down steep slopes, and deflect a toybox-worth of bizarre enemies.

Visually, the game is a beautiful kaleidoscope of early-2000s cartoon graphics. It’s loud, it’s vibrant, and it radiates pure arcade energy. The game structure is also highly replayable: there are 28 stages in total, but it features a branching path system, allowing you to choose your own route through the universe.

And we have to talk about the music. The soundtrack is done by ZUNTATA, Taito’s legendary in-house synth-pop/arcade band. The tunes are incredibly funky and will absolutely get stuck in your head for days.

Is it Worth It?

The Good:

  • Excellent Value: Getting both games for $23.99 is a steal for retro preservationists and arcade junkies.
  • Top-Tier Couch Co-op: Parasol Stars remains an elite local multiplayer game.
  • Rarity Factor: Having Spica Adventure legally and easily playable on modern Xbox consoles is a massive win.
  • Pure Charm: Both games boast incredible soundtracks, bright color palettes, and accessible but deep mechanics.

The Not-So-Good:

  • Strictly Old-School: If you don’t enjoy the high-difficulty, short-burst nature of arcade games, the gameplay loop might feel repetitive.
  • No Online Multiplayer: The co-op is strictly local, which is a missed opportunity on modern platforms.

Final Verdict

The Parasol Superstars bundle doesn’t pretend to be a massive, 100-hour open-world RPG. Instead, it delivers pure, unadulterated arcade joy. It’s perfect for those nights when you just want to grab a drink, sit down with a friend (or solo), and see who can get the highest score.

If you love retro platformers, unique gaming history, or just want to destroy evil aliens with a magical umbrella, do yourself a favor and pick this bundle up. It’s a colorful, nostalgic ray of sunshine on the Xbox Store.

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