Classic play is faithful, but new content in Bubble Bobble Revolution takes the game in the wrong direction. Literally.
The problem comes with the new content added to the game. Graphics are richer and more textured, as much so as two dimensional sprites can be. Sound is also fine, with the requisite pops and clunks one would expect. Sadly, the play mechanics in the new content are where it all falls down, as the levels now span vertically into the top screen of the DS, and horizontally via standard scrolling. Essentially, half of the play area is invisible to the player at all times, and that's the hitch. Enemies constantly occupy this area, often firing projectiles at such high speed and frequency that it's near impossible for your slow, low-jumping dinosaur to avoid. With two hit points per life and two lives per continue, the sniping gets really frustrating, really fast. They've thown in some mildly interesting powerups and given your dino some new tricks, but they're mostly useless and do nothing to balance the game's new-style difficulty. There are wireless modes and such, but who cares? It all just sucks too much to matter.
Overall, if you're some kind of Bubble Bobble fetishist, the classic content of the game might be enough reason to justify a purchase. Basing your decision on the new levels, hoping for the revolution promised in the title, however, would be a regrettable mistake.