Overview – developed by Nakama Game Studio and published by Selecta Play, Bubble Ghost Remake is a brand new iteration of the classic puzzle game from the late 80s. As the ghost of Heinrich Von Schinker, guide a bubble through a series of levels, dodging hazards and obstacles while trying to keep the bubble from popping. This title is available for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5 and Steam with a link to each version at the bottom of this review.
Disclaimer: before I get into the review, I would like to thank the rep at Selecta Play for providing the copy of Bubble Ghost Remake used for this piece, via the Keymailer Service. The provision of this software has not influenced the contents of this review, all thoughts and opinions contained within are my own.
Now with the introductions out of the way, let’s get into the review, starting with the story.
Story – Heinrich Von Schinker, a renowned inventor is living a happy life with his love Sofia, residing in his castle with their menagerie of pets. However, this peace didn’t last as a global conflict arose, causing Heinrich to leave his love to go to war. Some time later, Heinrich returns as a ghost, looking for his love Sofia and finding only a bubble in the empty hall. Now Heinrich has one goal, protect the bubble as he makes his way through his old home.
Gameplay – Bubble ghost is a unique puzzle adventure, where the player takes the role of the titular Bubble Ghost. In each of the main stages, the player must guide the bubble, avoiding hazards and obstacles that could pop the precious bubble. Taking place across 5 sections of the castle, the player must use their ghost power to push the bubble and interact with the environment. Each of the areas of the castle is split into segments, with their own themes.
During each section of the castle, the player must move through each room, guiding their bubble to safety. In the different areas there will be the regular hazards like thorns, spike rails and open flames. But there will be more dangerous obstacles to overcome, including spiders that drop suddenly, electrical arc bolts and moving crushers. If the bubble is popped by a hazard or contact with the environment, the player will be sent back to a checkpoint.
While navigating the different stages, the player will be able to interact with some elements of the stage. This can be as simple as blowing out a candle, or by blowing broken powerlines to connect them and make a circuit. To aid the player with these puzzle solving challenges, the Bubble Ghost can pass through the stage, moving freely throughout the environment. But if they leave the bubble off screen for too long, it will pop and fail the stage.
The intangible nature of being a ghost works well for players to explore stages, as there are many hidden collectables scattered through the stages. These will give extra story details, expanding the narrative in a way that increases the replay value on offer. There are also special rings that can be collected, but these will fade if the player takes too long to reach it with the bubble. There will also be special stages offering an incredibly tough optional challenge.
While this game is based on a relatively simple puzzle game, the gameplay has been expanded significantly. This is through the inclusion of special gimmick stages, which increase the tension that players will face. There will be chase sections where the player must rush to the end of the stage, trying not to be caught in the end. Then there are the themed hazard segments, with clock tower gears, ice blocks and a large empress moth that will steal the bubble.
The biggest new addition to this game is Boss stages, where the player will face very dangerous opponent. These are the most challenging of the stages, as the boss fights can be very tough, especially when trying to control the bubble. There are a few boss battles that occur, with the majority of them taking place in an enclosed space. These are an interesting new wrinkle to the gameplay, but can be frustrating at times.
In this game there are many secrets to uncover and if depending on various factors, there is the potential for more than one ending to be achieved at the end of the game. There is also an option for those who want to go the completionist route, as players can replay previously cleared stages, to find items that they have missed. This stage select feature can also be used to practice tougher sections, or to try and find more challenging routes.
Away from the main game, there are two bonus modes for players to challenge. The first is Speedrun mode, where players can take on speed challenges to place a ranking on the global leaderboard. Then there is the Classic mode, which is the original game for the Gameboy and early home computers, with all of the stages revamped with the new art style. These extra bonuses further increase the replay value on offer for players.
Now with the gameplay covered, it is time to discuss the other aspects of this release, starting with the controls.
Controls – sadly the controls for this game, while simple are the biggest stumbling block for me as a player, with Mouse/Keyboard and standard controller options. Movement is pretty smooth, but the rotation feels awkward and choppy, as a button press is needed to adjust the angle of the ghost. There is an assist feature, which makes rotation automatic, but it sadly doesn’t make it any less awkward and frustrating to handle, especially during tense sections.
Difficulty – Bubble Ghost Remake is pretty challenging in general, as the movement of the bubble itself can be a little tough to control. This is likely to cause some frustrations to players, as they try to learn how to effectively play the game. To help with some of the issues players may face, there are three difficulty options, with an easy, medium and hard setting to choose. These affect the way the game plays out, altering enemies checkpoints and more.
Presentation – in general there is a rather pleasing art style for this game, offering a colourful yet dark atmosphere that is soft yet spooky. The 2D visuals work well, maintaining the spirit of the original. There are also cutscenes and story book style sections, telling the story of the game in a charming and easy to digest manner. The sound ties all of the visual elements together very well, with music that is fitting to the new expanded version.
Final Thoughts – as a kid I had Bubble Ghost on the Game Boy, so when I heard about the remake I had some anticipation for it, due to my love of the original. So when I was given the chance to cover the game, I decided to take it on and give it a try. Sadly, my experience was not the greatest with this remake, due to some awkwardness with the gameplay and controls. This was most present when trying to quickly rotate and move the bubble during tense segments.
The game is fun, with a lot of secrets to discover and challenges to overcome, but it is hampered by the choppy rotation and bubble physics. These factors led to a rough journey to the end of the game for me. There is a very high chance that players will be frustrated with the difficulty, which can be increased with the way movement works. Thankfully there is an assist feature that can lessen this issue, but it feels like a band-aid on a bullet wound at times.
I do appreciate the work that has been put into this game, with all of the new assets, artwork and story that have been added. The inclusion of the original game with a full graphical overhaul, as well as the speedrun modes are a great inclusion, increasing the value of the package for the player. I want to recommend this game to fans of the original, as well as those who are looking for a fun puzzle adventure, I just have to say it is a rough ride.
In the end, I give Bubble Ghost Remake a final score of 3.5/5. This is a mostly fun puzzle adventure, taking the spirit of the original (alongside an updated version of the original included) and expanding it into a whole new experience, but it is sadly hindered by some awkward controls, choppy movement and spikes in difficulty. If you want to check this title out for yourself, a link to each version of the game will be below.
Link to Steam version (HERE)
Link to Nintendo Switch version (HERE)
Link to PlayStation version (HERE)
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