Soul Bubbles Review for the Nintendo DS (NDS)

System: DS	Review Rating Legend
Dev: Mekensleep Touch	1.0 - 1.9 = Avoid	4.0 - 4.4 = Great
Pub: Eidos	2.0 - 2.4 = Poor	4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
Release: July 2008	2.5 - 2.9 = Average	5.0 = The Best
Players: 1	3.0 - 3.4 = Fair
ESRB Rating: Everyone	3.5 - 3.9 = Good

Also, you'll have to search for golden calabash, squash-looking fruit hidden in each maze. By collecting a certain amount, new worlds will open up. Depending on how long you took, how much stardust you collected, the number of calabashes you found (up to three), and the number of souls you saved (up to seven), you'll be given a rank. Since the game doesn't offer multiplayer gameplay, perhaps this is the only factor that adds replayability; people who enjoy playing time and again to beat their own scores may find some incentive here. Hidden items will also be added to the gallery as you find them, but there isn't much excitement to be found in that.

Soul Bubbles screenshot

If you care about graphics on the DS, the game isn't visually astounding, but the hand-drawn style looks nice and definitely gets the job done. It looks like a traditional and artistic children story book. There are eight different worlds with over 40 levels (or should I say mazes?). The characters are cute and decidedly cartoonish, which will appeal to children and light-hearted adults (like me). The environments are imaginative and almost enchanting, though they have little detail. We can say the same about the music - it's nice and relaxing, but it doesn't really stand out.

I'm sure many of you will get addicted and won't stop playing the game until you beat it. Others, especially those less inclined to playing puzzles and enjoying soothing gameplay, should probably just skip it. Either way, it may just be worth at least a rental to see if this is your kind of thing. If you do enjoy it, you can always pick it up (only at Toys R Us and some online retailers) and take it on your next car ride!

By Maria Montoro
CCC Site Director

RATING OUT OF 5

RATING DESCRIPTION

3.5

Graphics
Cute, hand-drawn, and zany characters of all kinds will make you giggle, but simplistic environments leave a bit to be desired.

4.2

Control
Navigating the bubble couldn't be easier, and secondary controls to activate the cut, draw, and deflate functions make perfect sense. In some occasions, bubbles get split when you try to join them and vice versa.

3.7

Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
Relaxing tunes are ultimately forgettable, but they are nice to hear while you play. Sound effects are mild and sparse, which is often better than playing a game with annoying sound effects.

3.5

Play Value
Soul Bubble is a very simple and rather easy game with about 50 different levels. There's nothing else after getting through Story Mode, but you can replay every single one of the levels and try to improve your score…unless it was flawless to start with!

3.7

Overall Rating - Good
Not an average. See Rating legend above for a final score breakdown.

Game Features:

Cut, join, deflate, expand, and blow bubbles that interact realistically to the environment in more than 40 challenging levels.

Follow the star dust for guidance as well as making the spirits glow brighter.

Uncover secret paths, bonus levels, and secret awards throughout the worlds.