Canuck PDA

Over the past few weeks I sure you've been wondering what Bubble Ship Boy was all about. Well it's finally been released! We at Canuck PDA got a chance to check it out and here's how we see things.

Gameplay
I absolutely love the seamless integration of the game style to fit in with the PalmOS. It's one of those few game that are optimized for the 320x320 screen. And by that, I mean it's not just some scaled-down port of an existing game, it's somepletely original. This game really seems to be designed from the ground up for the PalmOS user. This game is easily comparable to that of Bejeweled, Insaniquarium, or any other arcade-style game. This is one of those games that you would love to play during a 10 minute bus ride, or pretty well whenever you have you have time to kill. Bubble Ship Boy is of of those rare gaming gems that are quick and simple to play, whenever and wherever you want.

The gameplay is simple, yet extremely difficult. You need to head upwards to the end of the level, while avoiding the numerous enemies. I found that it was very easy to get addicted to the game, however it often took numerous tries to beat the latter levels. Oh, I forgot to mention, there are only 4 levels, but don't let that discourage you. Each level seems fresh and new, with new challenges each time. I don't particularity like the idea that only 3 hits will kill you, but with the numerous opportunities to pick up items, this is easily forgiven.

The cutscenes and creative plot really show the effort the developers put into making a game that would not only be marketable, but also a game that the average person would want to play. I found myself enthrolled by the plot of playing in the role of n-droo, an alien from the planet Velition who unwittingly finds himself alone and on the trail of the evil Deek Furple.

The main menu's user interface is very simple and intuative. I love the ability to enable invincibility, just for fun. I adds a new dimension to the game. I would have loved if you could do timed levels where you had to complete the level in a certain amount of time. Hopefully we might see something similar, or even a scoring system, in future releases.

Graphics and Sounds
Breathtaking. That's the only way to properly describe the graphics in this game. The graphics are classic-style with an updated look. The characters look amazing. Absolutely original with fantastic cutscene graphics. The graphics are easily better than most PalmOS games out there and are perfectly integrated into the program. I only wish there was landscape/portrait support. There is no easy way to fully describe the graphics so I suggest you check it out yourself.

The sound in this game is equally impressive. It really brings the environment to life. The developers clearly put a lot of thought and effort into this game to make it the best it can be.

Controls
The controls in this game are very easy to use. Simply use the stylus to move the character around, and that's it! During gameplay, if you want to return to the menu, all you need to do is hit the menu silkscreen button, simple and effective. I must admit, it's the simplicity of this game that kept me coming back.

My Verdict
This game really has the "zen of palm". Although I'm a bit disappointed in the lack of landscape/portrait support, the graphics and overall simplicity of Bubble Ship Boy make this game a definate winner. I am glad to see another Canadian PalmOS developer and recommend you check out this amazing new game.