A game is only as good as the length of
enjoyment it brings to you. It's all very well to have a game with amazing
graphics and cool movies, but if it doesn't capture you and beckon you
to play again, the game has ultimately failed in accomplishing its
purpose. Surprisingly, the games that are at the top of most people's lists
with regards to replay value are puzzle games, thanks in part 
to the fact
that graphics don't matter and the game never becomes obsolete. Tetris,
Columns, and PuyoPuyo (a.k.a. Skittles) are all perfect examples... and
a new one is going to soon be added to that list, Gubble!
Gubble, the puzzle game for the entire family. Gubble has been available for the PC for almost a year now, and during that time has established itself as another sleeper hit. Gubble's unique story and concept, coupled with fun for the entire family, are the highlights of this action&adventure puzzle game.
The easiest way to describe Gubble is a cross between Pac-Man and Sega's Bug. You control Gubble, a cute purple alien who was incorrectly chosen for a mission... a mission to save a world that has been screwed, literally. The zymbots (levels) scattered across 10 cities have been filled with screws, nails, and a handful of other tool box favorites. Fortunately, Gubble's floating chair is compatible with every tool needed for the job. The screwdriver for the screws, hammer for the nails, etc. For those hard-to-do jobs Gubble uses only the best Skil powertools, which include a drill and electric screwdriver.
Graphically speaking, Gubble is more advanced than the usual puzzle game, but doesn't break any new ground. The sprites
have been rendered in 3D, but the levels follow a very blocky style. The
animation of the Gubble character turning, shaking, or what have you when
he (it?) removes an item is a nice touch, although it would have been even
nicer had that animation been applied to the object being 
removed, rather
than simply disappearing. Gubble's soundtrack is rather interesting, mixing
elements of techno with some Donkey Kong Country style music. Although
some tracks will get repetitive and boring rather quickly, most of them
are kind on the ears and pleasing to the brain.
Actual Entertainment: Way to go! I personally give Actual Entertainment, the creators of Gubble, a pat on the back for porting Gubble to the Macintosh, making it their first Mac title. It's nice to see that some producers are actually willing to venture into a market that many would consider to be highly unstable. Gubble is certainly one of the best "family" games that has ever hit the Macintosh, and if it says anything about the quality of Actual Entertainment's future releases, it looks like it will be a bright future, indeed, for Actual.
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 SRP: $29.99 |