I'd been to Toys 'R' Us many times, but this was the first time I explored the video games.  I rushed my way towards the massive Nintendo logo hanging overhead one of the aisles, and when I turned the corner I froze in my tracks.  There on the wall were dozens... hundreds... thousands!... of video games from which to choose.  The experience was overwhelming; I thought I'd done my homework by reading up on a handful of games in a Nintendo buyer's guide.  I had my little list with titles such as Amagon, Bomberman, and City Connection, but I was completely unprepared for the wall of games.

Once the awe wore off I started to walk down the aisle and study my options.  I snagged a claim ticket for the beloved NES complete with two controllers, Zapper, and Super Mario Bros. / Duck Hunt game pak.  Then came time to choose the additional game.  I crumbled my list back into my pocket and started scanning the rows of gaming claim tickets.  What to choose?  I didn't get very far in the alphabet, as I landed on Bubble Bobble in moments.  I recognized the name from the buyer's guide, but it didn't make my list because it didn't have "action".  After all, Amagon features a strong brawler, Bomberman is all about the kabooms, and City Connection revolves around a series of car chases.  Dinosaurs that eat candy just couldn't compare.

So why did I choose Bubble Bobble?  Something about it spoke to me.  The box art was certainly colorful, the enemies seemed amusing, and platformers always got a second look.  Bubble Bobble saw a lot of play early on, particularly because it was the only video game my mother would ever play with me.  We played a lot of Bubble Bobble that summer, but over time newer games eclipsed it.  I still have the game pak though, of course.  Like they say, you never forget your first.