Bubble Struggle

Bubble Struggle (also known as BS and originally called Bubble Trouble) is a popular computer game created by Croatian game designer Krešimir CvitanoviÄ‡ . It was released in late 2002 after approximately 6 months of development. The game is available online and an older version can also be downloaded from the official website. Bubble Struggle can be played both in single player and two-player modes. It has been featured on many well-known games websites such as Miniclip and AddictingGames.

In Bubble Struggle, one plays as a devil character dressed in a trenchcoat, yellow T-shirt and bright orange shorts. Bubble Struggle is characterised by colourful backgrounds that are different for every level and a simple, light-hearted game design. The object of the game is to destroy dangerous bubbles, that bounce around the screen, by splitting them into smaller components and finally destroying them altogether. The current version of the game has 22 levels and a high-scores system allowing players to save their best scores. The game stores the top 15 scores only.

The original version of the game, which was released in 2002 and has 17 levels, is known as Bubble Trouble. This version can be found on the Miniclip.com website amongst others. The title was changed after it emerged that another game of the same name held the trademark to it. As of May 2007, the game has been played more than 40 million times on the official website alone. A sequel, Bubble Struggle 2: Rebubbled (or BS2 for short) was released on May 20, 2007.

Gameplay

The game plays similarly to Super Buster Bros.. Players start off with five lives at the beginning of the game. If the player touches a bubble the player automatically loses a life. Extra lives can be collected from level 9 onwards and shields can be used to protect the player. However, if a bubble touches the shield, it is lost after several seconds and the player is left vulnerable once more. While the shield is fading, if a bubble hits it the player is not damaged.

Various items can be collected by splitting bubbles. These include various weapons, extra lives, shields, extra points and a slow-mo item.

One of the main features of Bubble Struggle is the presence of a spiked ceiling in each level. If bubbles are popped in quick succession, a 'combo' can be achieved as the bubbles fly upwards and touch the spikes (this can only be achieved on bubbles of 'Size 4' and above). On levels 6 and 7, the ceiling moves downward and the player must destroy all the bubbles before it reaches the bottom. In all other levels a red time bar sets a limit on the amount of time a player can spend on a particular level. When the time runs out, the player automatically loses a life. (Level 21 is an exception, as it is based on endurance and in order to complete it the player must survive until the time runs out, irrespective of how many bubbles are destroyed.)

Bubbles of various different colours and sizes are encountered throughout the game. 'Size 1' bubbles (the smallest) can be destroyed with one shot. 'Size 2' bubbles split into two 'Size 1' bubbles with each shot. In turn, 'Size 3' bubbles split into two 'Size 2' bubbles, and so on. The largest bubble is found on the final level. Each time it is popped it splits into three smaller bubbles, instead of two, as is the case in all other levels. This, quite obviously, makes it more difficult for the player to complete the level by popping all the bubbles.

Bubbles come in almost all colours of the rainbow: red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple. They range in size from 'Size 1' to 'Size 6' on level 22.

Points are mainly gained by popping bubbles, thus fewer combos results in more points (see Strategy). The time that is left after completion of a level is also converted into points at the end of each round. Additional points can be gained by collecting 'money' which drops out of popped bubbles. Coin items are present in 300 (single gold coin) and 600 point (three coins) versions, whereas banknotes award the player either 1000 (single banknote) or 1500 points (bunch of banknotes).

The maximum possible score has been calculated to be just over 1.4 million points and can be achieved by popping every single bubble in all the levels (i.e. no 'combos') and getting 5 extra lives throughout the course of the game, giving the maximum of
10 lives on level 22 (this only applies to the latest revision of the game, in older versions, only 4 extra lives can be collected). Next, the player would have to pop every bubble on level 22 except for the last 'Size 1' bubble, killing himself/herself 9 times and then finally winning on the last life. To date it appears only three people have been able to accomplish this impressive feat.

Finally, an item with a green 'M' can be picked up, which initiates what is known as the "Bubble Mode". This slows down the movement of all the bubbles and causes them to go into a state of 'slow-motion'. This does not affect the player or speed of the weapons and therefore, during this mode, the player can destroy bubbles more quickly, assuming they are not blocking his/her path by being close to the floor.

The game can be paused before the beginning of every level (when "Get Ready!" is displayed on the screen), but not during actual gameplay.

Tools and weapons

Bubbles can be split and destroyed using various different tools. The normal weapon is the tool the player starts off with at the beginning of each level. This shoots a wavy white line with an arrow at the top, leaving a trail until it hits a bubble or comes into contact with the ceiling, at which point it disappears.

The spiked weapon is similar to the standard tool, except that upon hitting the ceiling, it remains in place for several seconds before disappearing.

The third weapon, only available from level 8 onwards, is the laser weapon, which has a higher shooting rate and fires shots that travel faster than those of the other weapons. However, unlike the previously mentioned weapons, it does not leave behind a trail that can destroy bubbles and it must therefore be fired with accuracy.

The final tool, available from level 13 onwards, is the mine weapon. This is a stationary weapon which can be picked up and dropped in a desired location by pressing the key configured for firing weapons. This tool is useful for levels in which the player is separated from bubbles by a protective wall, as on levels 13 and 14, for example. However, it only destroys bubbles in a single spot.

Levels

The latest version of Bubble Struggle has 22 levels. Earlier revisions have bubbles of slightly different sizes (and colours) on several levels.

Level codes (sometimes called 'cheat codes') can be used to skip levels and go straight to a desired level. This gives players the opportunity to practice certain levels they find difficult and to improve their game strategy more easily. Level codes can be entered by clicking the "LEVEL CODE" button on the intro screen.

If one tries to enter their score after having used a level code, the game will display the words "Game Over" and take them to the high-scores list, without offering the option of saving their score. Thus, one has to start from level 1 in order to be able to record their score (assuming it is sufficiently high to get into the top 15, of course).

In the original game (called Bubble Trouble), there are only 17 levels, all with a unique code. The original version of Bubble Struggle (i.e. the one available for download) has 22 levels, but only the first 19 can be reached using codes - the last three can only be reached by defeating preceding rounds. In the latest revision of the game, available on the official website, however, codes can be entered for all levels up to and including level 22.

Main Menu

See Also

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