Shoot Bubble Deluxe

We all remember the classic games that we grew up playing and games like Bust-a-move/Puzzle Bobble are timeless classics. I'm sure we all remember playing at least one version of the Naito classic, well here's another rendition of the game this time for the Android system. The game is for all intents and purposes the same loveable game we all know and love just with the cuteness that Taito added.

The title screen

Straight from the title screen you can tell this is going to be easy on the eye, nothing special but nice to look at and not something you'll be squinting to see. Good start already for the boys and girls from City Games LLC who developed the game. From the title screen you can select either Puzzle mode are Arcade mode, to be honest the concepts of both are the same with just different level designs and small differences (such as a level select in Puzzle mode).

If you are wondering what the third option is, it's "Game Center" which appears to be a leader board, though I maybe wrong with that assumption.

 So now onto the game it's self. If the image to the side looks familiar, you'll know exactly what the game is all about. You fire balls (or bubbles, hence the name of the game) from a cannon at the bottom of the screen trying to create a a set of 3 of the same colour which wipes out those bubbles/balls. The concept it's self is a simple one and one we've all played before and yet even now, 25 years after the original, it's addictive.

The controls for the game are simple and although at times they seem a little inaccurate they are usually right as you use your finger to fire the bubbles where you want them (so it's probably more me sucking at the game as opposed to poor controls). The bubbles, as you can see, all look very sharp and clear, and although some of the colours (a teal and a silver/grey) can look a little bit too similar you can use a "colourblind mode" to help differentiate them.

When the bubbles hit each other a simple sound is made and this one of the few flaws with the game. The sounds are really, really basic, the fact that the game lacks it's own music just adds to the fact the sound is lacking. It's a minor flaw and one that's easy to cover up by using the music app, but it is still a flaw and one that could have easily been over-come by adding a small tune on a loop. This is about the only flaw I can find with the game other than the fact it completely lacks any really original idea of it's own.

Addictiveness-9/10. It's Bust-a-move, it's a classic and it's addictive
Controls-8/10. They do feel slightly off at times though are generally good and responsive
Graphics-7/10 Bright and sharp though nothing excellent. Solid but unspectacular
Sounds-2/10 Just very basic “collision” sounds, no music and nothing impressive
Originality-0/10 It's a Bust-a-move clone, nothing original

Total score
26/50

Overall an immensely fun Bust-a-Move clone which only really falls short on the grounds it's "sounds" are very poor. If you ignore the fact it's a clone and ignore the "originality" rating this game scores really highly and will almost certainly see you being forced to charge your battery on more than one occasion.

Gaming mark B+

If you enjoy this game also try out:

Shoot Bubble, Bubble Pop