1st October 1988
Bubble Ghost
You may think being a ghost is just a matter of drifting around wearing a sheet and saying boo, but you'd be wrong. The star of this spooky story, a poor unfortunate ectoplasmic being, has lost his soul. He knows where it is - in a bubble - and he wants it back. To become whole again, he must guide his bubble through the castle.
The castle is made up of a multitude of interconnecting rooms, each filled with hazards. Nothing worries the ghost - he can pass straight through anything without a worry - but the bubble is much more sensitive about things and bursts when it touches anything that isn't the ghost. Moving a bubble when you have no body is not easy. You have to blow it everywhere.
Each room is made up of lots of sharp objects just waiting to pop your bubble: knives, spikes, candles, disembodied heads and even the walls. Electric fans blow the bubble off onto a spiky bit.
Surprisingly for an Infogrames game, there's no music, but the sound effects are good. The background graphics are simple and the sprites are flickery, but there are some humorous effects: when the bubble bursts, the ghost looks most annoyed.
This is a simple game in concept that's mindbogglingly frustrating and also immensely addictive. It'll wear off, but you'll get a few hours of enjoyment.
Second Opinion
I've always liked CPC games that originate in France. They seem to have a style you just don't find anywhere else - which is not necessarily to say they're any better.
Bubble Ghost has an original theme, goodish graphics and fiendishly tricky gameplay. For a while you think you've cracked it, only to fail on a new screen. Good stuff.
Green Screen View
No problem.
First Day Target Score
Complete ten screens.
Verdict
Graphics 54%
P. Some humorous touches to the graphics.
N. Flickery sprites.
Sonics 35%
P. Effects are fine, but there aren't many.
Grab Factor 68%
P. A nice idea that works well.
N. Some early rooms are too difficult and stop the enjoyment.
Staying Power 56%
P. Large castle to explore.
N. May tire of it if you keep getting stuck in the same room.
Overall 61%
P. A fun game unfortunately spoiled a little by flickery graphics.
Screenshots
