Console: iOS
Pros
* $.99 How can you beat that?* Highly Addictive
* Plenty of options and Game modes Cons * Music is very repetitive * Difficult letters are kind of frequent
Every once in a while a game comes along that manages to captivate you in a way that most others dream of. Some of the time, it’s the most simplistic concepts that really stand out the most. Bubble in Paradise is a prime example of this concept. The game play mechanic is very basic, but because of this there is little to no learning curve.
Presentation : B
Graphics / Animation / Sound
Bubble in Paradise will not blow you away like some of the more technically impressive titles out there, but the saving grace is that it does not have to. The game instantly sets the tone of the experience with a main menu populated with bubbles, and a funky yet relaxing title track. The game is rather colorful and all of the graphics look as sharp as you could hope for. Letters, menus, stats, they are all crisp and never a problem to see. This is a good thing, especially since the entire game revolves around finding words in letters. (We will get to this shortly). The only downside I found with this experience is the soundtrack. I found the playlist to be relaxing and enjoyable, however after a few playthroughs things got a little stale on the music front. I would have liked a little bit more variation in the soundtrack.
Single Player : A
Game mechanics / Length / difficulty
Like I mentioned earlier, this is where the game shines. Bubble in paradise is like a speed version of scrabble, well sort of. There are four modes of play consisting of Normal, Endless, Blitz, and Battle, five different backgrounds to play through, and a ton of unlockables that mix up gameplay as you progress.
Normal mode is by far the funniest experience I have had playing a word game since my discovery of Scrabble years ago. Once started letters contained in bubbles start to float from the bottom of the screen. They seem to randomized very well and you never feel like you are getting stuck with the same possibilities over and over. Your only task is to find words within the letters given and select them in an effort to keep the screen from filling up. Once these words are chosen, the letters included pop and disappear from the playing field. Sounds simple enough right?
While the basic principle is pretty straight forward, things tend to get a little more complex as you go. The longer letters are left of the screen, the bubble surrounding them starts to grow taking up more space. Once the screen gets completely filled a warning sound starts and a red progress bar puts a limit on how long you can stay in this state. Let the progress bar reach the opposite side and the game is over. These elements really come together nicely and do an excellent job at creating a sense of urgency. There were many times when I had a full screen and once the warning sound started, I swear my brain just turned to mush as I scrambled for any word I could find. This frantic and addictive gameplay is the beauty of the experience. Do you select only small words to keep the screen clear or let the letters build up in an effort to score bigger words for more points? The only frustrating moments I had with the game came from the over abundance of the letters “J”, “X”, and “Q”. As they collect and their bubbles grow, I found it really difficult having so many of these letters in the mix. I realize that this issue only stems from my limited vocabulary involving these letters and I cannot fault the game because of my shortcomings. Things really get tough when you have more than one “Q” growing on your screen and nothing to accompany it. (At least that you can think of under pressure).
While all of this is enough to keep you entertained there are also some other very interesting twists to the gameplay. As you play through your session, certain letters will show up in something other than a standard bubble. Usually they are in the middle of unique circles in which the color and designs have different meanings. If you use one of these “special” letters in a word, you then experience its effect. This can include freezing the screen giving you a long look at your letters for a brief moment, or speeding up the flow of letters floating your way. This can prove to be difficult if your screen is nearing the breaking point and letters start to flow faster. It creates a whole new sense of strategy to the mix. Letters can also be surrounded by stars (which you collect in order to unlock levels, modes, and new “special” letters) or in the middle of a light bulb. (which gives you a usable hint). Hints basically just tell you the best word on the screen once used, while I prefer not to use them I can see the use if the tough gets going.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GshkwsrNhBE]
Multiplayer : – A
Game mechanics / features / Online features
Leaderboards and Achievements can not only be tracked by your friends, but also update to your Facebook account automatically as you progress. This combined with a Vs. mode makes this game a step above most when it comes to playing alongside your friends.
Replay Value : A
Lasting appeal / Bonus Content / DLC
Being completely honest, I cannot put this game down. I have always loved word games, but this one combines that experience with a “Tetris” kind of feel. The solid gameplay experience and the wide variety of unlockables really keep you coming back for more. The multiplayer aspect is sure to keep you integrated with your friends and give you yet another avenue to master.
I can’t think of a better way to spend $.99, you owe it to yourself to pick up this one.
Overall : A
