Bubble Bobble Evolution

Publisher: Rising Star

Platform: PSP

Category: Arcade / Puzzle

Rating Info

Release Date: 23/03/2007

Member Rating:

Number of Players: 1

Bubble Bobble Evolution Description

Bubble Bobble Evolution is not just a 3D update of the classic platformer - it is much more than that; a completely new game in itself, hence the title. The most obvious new feature is the level structure. Gone is the classic static structure of Bubble Bobble and in its place are three screens on a central spindle, which the player can move between whenever they want. There are also new bubble types and added puzzle elements to the game. The Story Mode re-tells the classic story of two human brothers trapped in bubble-blowing dinosaur bodies by an evil nemesis. There is a slight difference to the original Bubble Bobble - the gameplay actually takes place in two 'Towers of Entertainment' instead of one. The all-new puzzle elements to Bubble Bobble Evolution really do add an extra dimension to the game. Using gaming tactics that are familiar in all Bubble Bobble titles, players must now solve a different puzzle during each level. These can range from watering a seed so it can grow to fill a gap, to finding a source of fire to melt a barrier made of ice. Everything needed to solve these puzzles is available on the three screens that make up the level. So you see, Bubble Bobble has evolved especially for your PSP.

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Reviewed by: ToneLoc	Date: 02/12/2006	Rating:
Another updated classic arcade game. If you are familiar with the original, the depth of gameplay has been updated by 1) splitting up Bub & Bob and placing each character in a separate tower of a castle. 2) adding a series of switches that allow you to open doors (to slip between each of the 3 rooms per level, per tower) or to activate machinery/features within the room. 3) Interacting with objects, by blowing bubbles around them allowing them to be moved around the room and even between rooms. The idea is that each character has to complete the puzzles in their own tower to open up features in the opposite tower, hence enabling both players to move up to the next level. It all sounds rather good in principle but the problems are two-fold. 1) loading time is appalling when you choose to switch characters. It totally breaks up the game play. 2) The different towers are actually very similar, which begs the question, what am I actually waiting for when the game is loading. Furthermore, the similarity between the towers makes the game rather repetitive rather than innovative. For example, the first level involves moving a seed in tower one to a point where it may be planted. You then burst a water balloon on the seed and hey presto and tree appears which you can climb to access a high level switch. When you eventually work out how to move a similar seed between rooms in tower 2 to allow you to drop it on the special platform in that tower you can (similarly) reach a higher platform to activate the other half of the switch from tower 1. This opens a lift, which gives the first opportunity to save your game progress before the game loads up the Boss level. The loading takes well over a minute and when you eventually beat the boss you imagine the way is clear to move on to level 2. Wrong. Your other character is stuck on level one in his tower meaning that you will not be able to progress very far in level 2 on your own. You therefore need to access the other character in the other tower, which takes a further minute or so to load, then do the same boss all over again. Why did somebody think that would be a good idea? Bored. Another classic games ruined by repetitive ?improvements? and an over dependence on (sluggish) loading of alterative levels/areas. All of this is made more infuriating by not really knowing what has actually been loaded up anyway. Shame, I quite liked the original. Maybe the two player version offers more enjoyment ? unfortunately I had lost interest to the point I couldn?t be bothered to try and hook up with an opponent.

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