| a.k.a. Awatama Posted 19th November 2024. © 2024 |
With the innovation of the dual screen, the Nintendo DS housed a lot of ambitious titles that tried to take advantage of the new control setup. Some would result in awkward experiences, usually where the gimmick overrode the mechanics, and became either simplistic to accommodate the touch controls or caused pain from the dexterity needed. Soul Bubbles, the lone release from French studio Mekensleep, would prove a great use of the system’s capabilities, and it’s genuinely surprising that they didn’t get a chance to make further games. Those seeking a relaxing yet thoughtful puzzler should definitely check this one out.
Playing as an apprentice shaman, Soul Bubbles sees you guiding trapped spirits on to the next life through eight worlds and 40 stages in total. The story is pretty light, with a handful of scenes usually involving your elder master gifting tips and new mechanics, but the core concept is novel. All the action takes place on the lower screen, as you guide your shaman by swiping, create bubbles with circle shapes and slice bubbles into smaller ones with a slash. The map is placed on the upper screen, but you can warp instantly to any discovered area by holding down the D-pad and tapping where to go. The controls feel responsive, and a relaxed pace ensures the learning curve is quite gradual. There’s also the presence of three hidden Calabash and hundreds of stardust collectibles in each level, adding quite the incentive to go off the beaten path, though your spirits clear the dark fog in unexplored areas. However, to simply pass each stage, you must guide seven spirits to a Gateway cube.
Guiding spirits to the goal is your main aim, but there are many obstacles to navigate along the way
Of course, the path to the cubes is not simple, as hazards and puzzles attempt to impede your progress. The level design here proves really intelligent, with each world introducing a new mechanic and then testing your thought process across the five stages. The second world, for example, adds fragile rocks which can be broken with taps on the screen, though some cause landslides which slow your bubble down. It constantly evolves the experience, and gives each world a distinct flavour outside of the aesthetic changes. Soul Bubbles proves relaxing for the most part, a gentle yet interesting suite of puzzles that keeps you guessing. Later stages do get tougher, and the floaty nature of the bubble coupled with tricky hazards such as insects which eat one of your spirits can prove frustrating. But generally speaking, this game is just good fun, and fits the DS like a glove without feeling forced or gimmicky.
The more relaxed difficulty does have one slight downside in terms of replay value, sadly. In the early going, a lot of the collectibles aren’t too hard to seek out, especially when going near Calabash sees your spirits reacting like a metal detector. Stardust is trickier to seek out, but keen eyes can find them pretty easily still. Some levels lack replay value, as a consequence, especially in the early going. Nevertheless, there’s good pick-up-and-play appeal to the shorter levels, and a few goodies can be unlocked in the Extras menu. These include a couple of bonus stages, offering even more inventive gameplay. You might finish the game in around six hours on your first run, but stage rankings and collectibles can keep you coming back for more. You can even earn ranks, determined by your collectibles found and completion time, with an S Rank requiring a flawless run.
Soul Bubbles also boasts a charming presentation, which is equal parts colourful and abstract. Levels are attractively rendered, each world encompassing a new motif such as the Desert theme of Altjeringa. Characters and foes also look good, especially your shaman with the waving scarf. The highlight has to be the souls you collect: they shine bright blue and stand out, react to danger with panicked flickering and change into a harsh red if the bubble is burst. The sound is good, with clever use of certain themes to highlight aspects such as danger, a frantic drum track kicks in if your souls are in peril. The menu theme is also endearing, though unfortunately general gameplay can feel a touch sparse in terms of background music. Ambience is good, though a few sound effects can feel grating such as loud crunches when you dispatch foes.
Soul Bubbles proves one of the unsung greats of the Nintendo DS: it makes use of the system’s capabilities without feeling forced or awkward. The general concept is novel, the controls work well and the charming presentation proves endearing. And it feels right on a handheld, with a relaxed pace and shorter levels proving good for brisk sessions. While later stages can get a touch frustrating, and some might find the replay value on the short side, these aren’t enough sink this game. If you’re looking for a unique puzzler that you might have missed, Soul Bubbles proves just the ticket.
VERDICT "Soul Bubbles mixes tight controls and charming presentation with a novel concept, making for an endearing puzzler that makes use of the system’s capabilities without feeling forced." OVERALL: 8/10 |
OTHER DS GAMES WITH CREATIVE CONTROLSREVIEWED
Galactic Taz Ball (2010, DS) | Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective (2011, DS) |
