Written Android App Review
Pop! Pop! Pop! The sound of this Android app alone is addicting, never mind the space-invaders like theme – kill them before they kill you. Intricate patterns of bubbles seem to taunt you as they are forcefully shoved down the screen. In the mean time, you are fervently flinging more bubbles at it, in an effort to destroy the invaders, clear the screen, and win the game. These types of Android games have long held our interest for countless hours. Who would have thought a simple game concept from an 80’s ATARI system could still be so popular 30 years later? Yes, we are simple minded fools, but if it’s not broke, why fix it?
Bubble Drop Android app is one such game and seems to be a slightly improved version of Frozen Bubble, both of which are available on the Android Market. Trust me though – don’t waste your time with Frozen Bubble. This version at least has updated graphics to enhance visual appeal.
Bubble Drop
Gameplay
As mentioned above, the object of the game is to pop all the bubbles and clear the screen. This is done by matching three or more of the same color in a row. As the game progresses, the patterns get more and more complex and fill more of the screen. I personally played through level 42 and found I had to repeat some of the higher levels multiple times before finally winning. However, there were a few issues which made it more challenging…
- I could be wrong, but I SWEAR there is a glitch where the color you are shown that are about to throw ends up being an entirely different color. At least twice each game, I thought I was shooting one color and it ended up a different color. For instance, I might shoot what said to be a green bubble, only to find out it was red. Do you know how frustrating that is? Here I think I’m about to finally clear a section I’ve been waiting on and I end up blocking my chances entirely because the wrong color comes out. Frustrating indeed!
- The calibration doesn’t seem consistent. Many times I selected my target and many times it feel short, often attaching to something closer and thus ruining my game. I noticed this error seemed to occur in multiples of three. Even if I was trying to make a bank shot, it would end up going somewhere else entirely. While I managed to recover from most of these, I still lost a few rounds thanks to this glitch.
Other than these two issues, I found the Android game was just tantalizing enough to keep me playing. The gameplay was smooth and the graphics were appealing. The sound was a bit obnoxious but thankfully there was a “Sound On/Off” button. Also, like Frozen Bubble, I noticed it also had a color blind option. I can’t help but find this incredibly unusual since I would think it unlikely a color blind person would even look at a game where colors have to be matched. There is also a “Don’t Hurry Me” function which gives the player more time to decide where to shoot. But what fun is that? Part of the thrill is trying to clear the screen and quickly as possible. Lastly, there is a “Fullscreen On/Off” button as well. The only difference between these two is whether or not the task bar for you device can be seen or not. This also seems like a useless feature to me and one which could get ripped out. Overall, I am awarding three stars for gameplay.
Bubble Drop
The graphics in this version are actually decent. The bubbles are glossy and have a marbled texture to them. There is a clear indication of which level you are on and what the next color will be. It has an industrialized background and border, as if the player is in a cave or underground mine. The game plays smoothly and without any visual glitches (other than the colors randomly changing). For attractive graphics in a simplistic game, I award 5 stars.
Value
Not only is the game free, but it is also addicting. Don’t be surprised if you start playing and tell yourself, “I’ll only play for 10 minutes” only to find yourself still playing 30 minutes later. Trust me, time flies when you play this game. And the more challenging the levels get, the more you want to play! For being a fun time waster, I award Bubble Drop 5 stars.
Android Apps Review Details: Bubble Drop Android app is free. This app requires Android 1.5 and up. You may download Bubble Drop from the Android Market.
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