With the success of smaller titles such as Alien Hominid and Katamari Damacy, there has been a slow but steady wave of unique concept game titles beginning to appear in recent years. The Nintendo DS has been a huge boost to the production of these types of out -of-the-box games and that tradition is more apparent then ever in Soul Bubbles.
Beginning with one of the most amusing warning screens, Soul Bubbles is a totally non-traditional game and is proud of it. All throughout the dialog both in game and the instruction manual, the developer's wicked sense of humor shines through. Just looking at the box or screenshots doesn't convey just how the game really works. Soul Bubbles is a perfect marriage of the Bubble Breeze Galaxy level from Super Mario Galaxy and Loco Roco for the PSP. Control through the game world is handled exactly like the bubbles in Super Mario Galaxy, while solving puzzles and the in-game physics closely mirror Loco Roco. You can spit up, inflate, and deflate your bubble and send them bouncing through narrow passages much like the little singing rocos in Loco Roco.
The game is divided up into eight worlds with five worlds in each stage. The main object is to take a bubble of seven spirits from one end of the stage to the other without losing any of them. Hazards come in all varieties, from being squished by rocks, lit on fire, popped on spikes, or attacked by crows. Within each level are three Calabash fruits needed to unlock the final world. Only 50 are required, so diligent players can unlock the last world by at least the fourth world.
Graphically, the game uses a very pleasing and artistic backdrop to each world. The worlds are themed after different continents and each one looks distinct. The character designs are a bit weird, but then again, that seems to be the point. The level design is, again, extremely reminiscent of Loco Roco -- this is not a bad thing at all and just watching the effects of the bubbles on the in game physics engine is amusing in its own right. The game also uses some neat but simple effects with fire, smoke, and water.
Musically the game is very appropriate. Each world's theme evokes whatever ancient culture it's based on. The one downside is that each level shares the same music for the world it's based on, so don't expect too much music variety in the game. For what it's worth, though, the tracks are well-composed and easy to listen to.
The biggest knock on Soul Bubbles is that it wears out its welcome too quickly. The basic gameplay is quickly introduced and rarely, if ever, does it expand from there. The levels do ramp up nicely and the Calabash does become harder to find, but the fact remains that after completing the first few levels, you have seen most everything the game has to offer gameplay-wise. Soul Bubbles is made to be played in small doses. Marathon gaming will only make the gameplay too stale too fast. Much like trying to complete a book of crosswords or sudoku in one sitting, Soul Bubbles is meant to be slowly played over a long period of time. The advantage this brings is that you never really have to worry about where you left off in the story, or what you are supposed to do next. The concept is simple enough in execution to pick up and play just about anytime. It's a shame the title can only be acquired through Toys R Us, as every game deserves a chance to be bought and played anywhere. At full price, though, it's hard to recommend, as it feels much more like a title suited to WiiWare then a full blown Nintendo DS title.
