Forgotten in 2008: Soul Bubbles (DS)

Follow Mark as he uncovers unappreciated gems, lost in 2008’s shuffle.

Bubbles is a particularly organic puzzler, not operating on any confining grid or bound by a strict rule set, allowing your bubble to gracefully dance through the environment, tenuously squeezing against mushroomoid buttons and catching on nuisance vines as it grudgingly tugs in futility.

The game holds obvious comparisons to WiiWare’s debut hit, LostWinds. Watercolour backdrops set to a minimalistic, ethereal score; nudging puffs and gracious sweeps from the consoles’ respective inputs; and a symbiotic relationship between protagonists.

While LostWinds asked players to schizophrenically control both Toku’s direct movements and the wind’s path, Soul Bubbles’ spirits ride silently in their protective shell, only pulsating with energy to alert nearby collectables or threats.

The apprentice, on the other hand, tirelessly pushes and directs the bubble with oversized blows to the point of exhaustion, donning masks to cut and deflate the bulbous carriers and penning new spheres when needed.

Yet, despite his extensive repertoire of moves and techniques, rapid utilisation or complete mastery is rarely needed. Enemies are few and far between, traps bare little challenge and there a no time limit breathing down your neck. Soul Bubbles is refreshingly relaxing, but a lack of challenge habitually breeds apathy.

Where Soul Bubbles shines brightest though, is its excellent puzzle design. Your tools won’t exclusively affect your bubble (allowing you to cut bothersome plants or deflate puffer fish) and your fresh globules can encase more than just spirits (catching water or unstable gasses in animation). Bubbles is a relaxation for your fingers, but a cognitive pressure on your brain.

Alongside LostWinds, Bubbles has strong similarities to LocoRoco (with its gelatinous substances, multicellular in structure), Yoshi’s Island (where your direct control is an auxiliary buffer to the cargo) and World of Goo (another organic puzzler without grids and firm rules).

Despite the game’s quality, critical acclaim and heritage (especially with consultation from Alone in the Dark and Little Big Adventure creator, Frédérick Raynal), the game has made a tiny dent on 2008 with few hardcore DS players taking notice and few sales (the game didn’t hit charts in the UK).

Soul Bubbles is a beautifully constructed game, artfully devious in its puzzles yet relatively tranquil in its challenge. An astounding attention to detail is paid in its serene graphics (complete with falling autumn leaves and tiny flowers, petals shedding with each vagrant puff) and unassuming score, yet the opulent backdrops never interfere with gameplay.

Mekensleep’s delightful platformer regretfully failed to earn the recognition it deserved this year. Don’t leave 2008 without trying it, the game can be yours for a miniscule £7.94 at Amazon.

We have a few more Forgotten in 2008 articles planned before the years’ end, but please feel free to suggest deserving titles in the comments section below.