Rainbow Islands Revolution is a remake of what some would call an arcade “classic”. But really makes a game a “classic”? And more importantly, is Rainbow Islands truly a “classic”? Before I answer these questions let’s take a look at the game itself…

Rainbow Islands Revolution is a platform game in which you must float your character inside a bubble up through the game’s levels while avoiding birds and furry critters who want to kill you. You’re not entirely helpless, though, as you have the ability to fling deadly rainbows at will that can strike your enemies down dead. The rainbows can also be used to grab power-ups and help protect your bubble. Got that? Strike down the killer cuties with your rainbows of death and don’t pop the bubble.

Rainbow Islands Revolution is controlled entirely from the DS’ touchscreen. You move your boy-in-a-bubble by dragging him with the stylus and you also use the stylus to draw your rainbows on the screen. The upper screen is not used for anything other than letting you see what’s coming up as the game has you always moving upwards through the levels. The game has its enjoyable moments and makes good use of the touchscreen interface, but the gameplay is just too simplistic to keep your attention for very long. Coincidently or not, the game only has 40 levels and you can blow through them all in an afternoon or two, so even if it did grab your attention it won’t do so for very long.

This brings me back to the question of what makes an old arcade game a classic. Sure, all old arcade games are similar in the fact that their gameplay is pretty simplistic. However, simplistic does not always mean enjoyable. True arcade classics manage to hook players into the game in spite of the simplistic play and not simply because of it. In the case of Rainbow Islands Revolution, the gameplay is nothing that you’ll be compelled to return to once you’ve experienced it. It is a classic only in the sense that it is an old game and if you haven’t played it before you’re not really missing anything.

It’s hard to recommend the game for purchase since it is so short and you probably won’t be motivated to return to it after you’ve played through it the first time. If you have fond memories of Rainbow Islands from one of its previous incarnations, then rent it for a day or two for a nostalgia kick. Otherwise, there’s no compelling reason to visit these islands.

In The End, This Game Hath Been Rated: 60%. Rainbow Islands Revolutions is too simple and too short to be called either revolutionary or a classic.