Super Puzzle Bobble Review

Costas Stephanides’s Review

One of the best arcade conversions ever

Puzzle Bobble has been around on the mobile for a couple of years in numerous guises. Previous incarnations were just poor relations to the arcade version and were just a continuous level where you try and play for as long as you can before the balls fill the screen. The games were ok but we really yearned for a true arcade conversion with distinct rounds; we've had to wait a while but finally it is here.

And boy it has definitely been worth the wait. I'll put my hands up and admit that I did used to play this game to death in the arcades. It was the best thing that 30 pence could buy you and needless to say I know this game very well. The mobile version is as close as you can get to the arcade experience. As soon as the theme tune drops in, you know you are in for a good time. Graphically, the game excels itself and has plenty of detail in the characters and the bubbles themselves. The soundtrack is decent, the only thing missing is the little dragon roar when you burst the bubbles. The controls seem to have been simplified for the mobile and it does seem more forgiving when you try and squeeze a bubble into a tight spot.

Where the game really excels is the gameplay. There are two modes - Challenge and Round. Challenge mode is basically the continuous style game that the original mobile games made so popular. This time round the game does play a little easier. You can get annoyingly close to bursting all the bubbles but more just keep coming at the wrong time. Round mode is what it's all about and the game has 30 levels (just like the original) and the layouts are even taken from the arcade version. There's no map to choose your levels but that really is asking for too much. The game is addictive as ever and has that 'just one more go' pull down to a tee. We haven't had the game long but after one sleepless night the Round mode was conquered. That's not to say we wont be playing it again as the game really is very relaxing and a joy to play.

What is missing, and what will hopefully appear in any sequels, is a challenge mode where you can play against the computer. I do remember one incarnation of Puzzle Bobble where there was a whole plot based around challenge mode and it would be great to see this on the mobile. Super Puzzle Bobble is fantastic. Excellent conversion for those that remember the original and its pick and play addictiveness will create a new breed, go and play it - nuff said.