Tiny Bubbles

I had some fun with this game, mostly in the Puzzle Mode. If you can restrict yourself to the Puzzle Mode, then sure, this is a good game. But the Arcade Mode is all about completing goals with this fish doing stuff in the level as you make your moves, and the fish is just the least fun mechanic I've ever encountered in a puzzle game. I say this as someone who went to the trouble of 100%ing the game. It's a shame, because it could have easily been done better. I'll explain: in the Arcade Mode, levels have this fish that places bubbles according to certain patterns. Sometimes it only places bubbles in the center, sometimes only in the outside, sometimes it prefers certain zones... But the only thing you get to know at the start of a level is whether the fish is placing bubbles after a given time or whether the fish is placing bubbles after every move you make. Aside from that, there's no way to know what the fish is programmed to do each level except by observing the fish's behavior, so on your first try of a level, it's sometimes a good idea to ignore the level itself and watch what the fish does. There's a tool-tip on the side that they can use to describe what the fish is going to do each level, so why not use that? Also, you have no idea what the fish's next move is going to be, which totally screws with your ability to plan. When you have a plan, your only option is to execute on it REALLY FAST, before the fish does something to ruin it like laying a bubble that completes a match you need, or laying a bubble with a color you're out of so you can't match it to clear it, or laying a bubble that pushes a match you need AWAY... I think that some way to know what the fish is going to do next would've helped a lot. All that said? There's some fun to be had here; the Puzzle Mode is downright inspired at times. I was making bubbles big enough to make matches, cutting things to manipulate the physics, making all kinds of paths so stars could find their friends and avoid the wicked jelly crabs... Great, clever stuff. But even then, the game doesn't let you see more than four moves ahead. I get why that's the case in Arcade Mode, but shouldn't the Puzzle Mode let you see that stuff? So that feels like another sin of the the Arcade Mode; it's really too bad they were attached to the same game. One last complaint: it takes too much luck to get a match of fifteen or more in Infinity Mode. Those achievements should've stopped at 10+, which takes some cleverness but doesn't give the fish as much power to screw you over.

The game is not just visually and acoustically charming, but you get a large number of clever puzzles for your money.

Puzzles ? There are some pure puzzles, but the game is mostly arcade, with physics and various forms of timers. Hand mobility is paramount. Usually, I flush timed puzzles into the virtual toilet with a red thumb down, but not here. Gotta admit that the thing is quite fun. Some levels are indeed annoying, but that's when the clock is combined with RNG-based mechanics that take all sense of achievement out of your hands: if you fail, you reapply your method until you stop being unlucky. Plus a couple of levels that are so badly designed that you get a game over before you've finished reading the objectives; it can take several attempts until you finally get involved. Reasons for being enjoyable despite the time constraints (which single-handedly ruin most games) are their brevity (you lose little on failure,) the utterly satisfying bubble physics, and the presentation, notably the sound. It's about as resistible as the popping of bubble wrap. Several of the actual puzzles are excellently designed; in fact, I found the most challenging levels to be non-timed ones. Finally, I wouldn't call the full game relaxing, but many levels certainly are; and replayable. I can't help deducing points for including timers (I hate timers, in case you hadn't noticed,) but my final rating is still largely positive.

i wish the puzzles where the fish continuously blows bubbles would wait until you made your first move to start blowing bubbles. let me get my bearings!!!!

A great little casual puzzle game. Nicely done. It's a bit hard sometimes but otherwise, it's a pleasure to play it.

If you like puzzle games, physics puzzlers,. etc., you'll love this. Grab it now while it's on sale! Criminally underappreciated, not only is the gameplay fun and challenging, the execution is pleasing and elegant.

This is so calming for my autism, thanks for making life easier.