The Quixotic Engineer

I first heard of the game Soul Bubbles when Lost Garden suggested that it was “a classic game ill treated by expert reviewers.” His description of the game struck a chord with me, and I was compelled to troll eBay for a copy. However, despite having been released less than a month prior, it was surprisingly difficult to track down. It turns out that Soul Bubbles was a Toys ‘R’ Us exclusive release, had sold poorly and was already out of print.

When I finally did manage to track down a copy, the opening screen immediately validated my purchase: (read the alt-text if the picture is too blurry)

Soul Bubbles tells the story of an apprentice psychopomp, a spirit responsible for escorting souls to the afterlife. The path to the netherworld is full of danger, so the young spirit is instructed to surround the souls with a protective bubble to keep them safe. This soul-filled bubble can be guided down the perilous path to the next life by blowing it in the right direction.

Along with the wind, which is directed with the stylus, the player also has several masks at their disposal. The tiger mask can cut down obstacles and split the bubble to fit in tight spaces. The hummingbird mask is used to draw new bubbles, and the elephant mask deflates/pops them. These tools are mapped to buttons of the DS’s directional pad.

There are 8 worlds in Soul Bubbles, and each is named after a different culture’s version of the afterlife. Commendably, they opted to forgo familiar mythological worlds such as Hades and Valhalla in favour of fairly obscure ones. These include the indigenous Australian’s dreamworld Altjeringa, the Irish otherworld Tir Tairngire and the Spanish city of gold Quivira. The environments in each world, including the music, reflect their cultural and geographical origins. The puzzles in each world also revolve around a specific theme. For instance, the obstacles in Tomo-Kahni revolve around fire and water, while in Pemako they involve playing with gravity.

Soul Bubbles is a game that was clearly made with a lot of love and, as with many things, it’s the small details that make a big difference. The wind, for instance, doesn’t only move your bubble, but also causes grass to sway, leaves to fall and dandelions to shed their seeds. These plants can also be cut with the tiger mask and pushed aside by the bubble. These small cosmetic details, together with the beautiful watercolour graphics and rich varied environments, come together to make one of the most visually stunning handheld games I’ve ever seen.

Furthermore, while the game is quite easy overall, the fact that the developers took the time to introduce new gameplay mechanics in every stage is commendable. If you’re a tourist gamer like I am, you’ll really appreciate being introduced to new ideas at every turn. As such, while your goal remains the same in each level (escort the bubble to the end) the game remains fresh throughout.

While there are games for the DS with tighter mechanics and more difficult challenges, there are few that are as soothing as Soul Bubbles. It’s a game that rewards patience and exploration over speed and reflexes. Fortunately, the world is a beautiful tapestry with rich international music that’s well worth exploring.

[This post is part of the Hidden Gems series.]