Rising Star Games has released the first set screenshots of Bubble Bobble for the Nintendo DS. The game features all new levels and a respectful, but original, return to the old-school formulae that made Bubble Bobble popular.

According to the press release, ”Bubble Bobble Double Shot will feature a perfect re-creation of Bubble Bobble’s frantic platforming gameplay, complete with all the secrets and bubble-flocking complexities that made the original such a rewarding game to master.”

The game will also feature compact levels, which will be displayed across the two DS screens, complete with engagingly detailed versions of the series’ signature enemies. Rendered in keeping with the original’s retro aesthetic, both the level layout and the characters fit the Bubble Bobble style of old.

In terms of new gameplay mechanics, the press release states that “...players will now have to switch characters during play to take out certain colour-coded enemies. Bub, Bob and newcomer Bubu each shoot bubbles in different hues, and can be switched in the blink of an eye with a tap of a shoulder button. A new star bubble has also been introduced which allows the player to change the colour of all enemies when burst, with an ability to choose the enemies’ colour by shooting the star bubble with the player’s selected character.”

Bubble Bobble Double Shot will also include multiplayer competitive and cooperative modes, using the Nintendo DS Wi-fi. The game will be released for Nintendo’s handheld in the first quarter of 2007. In the meantime you can check out the first set of screenshots below.