Bubble Ghost
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| Bubble Ghost | ||
|---|---|---|
Composer(s) Hitoshi Sakimoto | | |
| Platform(s) | Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Apple IIGS, Atari ST, Commodore 64, DOS, Game Boy, SAM Coupé, Windows | |
| Release | ||
Action | ||
| Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer | |
Bubble Ghost is an
Gameplay
The objective is to guide a bubble throughout a number of halls in a haunted house. If the bubble hits any walls or obstacles, then it will pop and the player loses a life. Obstacles include lit candles, electricity and fans. These can be all controlled by the ghost, who can wander around the level freely and blow at things - such as the bubble to add speed, the candle to put out the flame, or switches to turn them on or off.
The ghost is controlled using the mouse. A press on the left button of the mouse makes the ghost rotate to the left. A press on the right button of the mouse makes the ghost rotate to the right. A press on a keyboard key (Shift) makes the ghost blow.
The game is made of 35 halls (levels). Each time the player makes the bubble exit a hall, he wins 1000 points + left bonus. Action on animation may add 5000 points to the player. The bonus is re-initialized at every new hall. A new bubble is added to the player account each time the bubble exits towards the top of the hall.
Ports
The original Bubble Ghost was created by Christophe Andréani (design, programming) on an Atari ST computer. The game has been adapted for other computers throughout the world.
Some years later,
A Game Boy version was published in 1990. It was the first French game adapted for the Game Boy,[citation needed] and one of the earliest games whose music was written by Hitoshi Sakimoto.
Development
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The game was programmed in C (editor and compiler: Megamax C) and 68000 assembly language on an Atari 1040 ST computer. The graphics were made with the Degas Elite drawing software. The digital sound of the introductory page of the game ("Welcome to Bubble Ghost") was built using ST Replay. This is the author's voice. The other sound effects use the synthesizer inside the Atari ST.
Here are some notes from the author when creating the game:
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Bubble Ghost, levels order -
Bubble Ghost, hall#9 design -
Bubble Ghost, ghost and bubble animation -
Bubble Ghost, game technical notes
Reception
| Publication | Score |
|---|---|
| GamePro | GB: 15/25[1] |
| Jeuxvideo.com | 14/20[2] |
The following French magazines have published Bubble Ghost reviews:
- SVM Science et Vie Micro #45, December 1987 (Atari ST version) Download magazine
- ST Magazine #14, November/December 1987 (Atari ST version) Download magazine
- Micro News #6, November/December 1987 (Atari ST version)
- Le Tatou #10, December 1987 (Atari ST version)
- 1ST (FirST) #4, December 1987 (Atari ST version) Download magazine
- Jeux et Stratégie #48, December 1987 (Atari ST version)[3]
- Génération 4 #2, December 1987 (Atari ST version) Download magazine
- Amstrad Cent Pour Cent #1, February 1988 (Amstrad CPC version) Download magazine
- Génération 4 Hors série #2, oct/nov/dec 1990 (Game Boy version) Download magazine
- Génération 4 #31, March 1991 (Game Boy version) Download magazine
- Player One #18, March 1992 (Game Boy version) Download magazine
- Joypad #7, April 1992 (Game Boy version) Download magazine
- Consoles + #7, March 1992 (Game Boy version) Download magazine
The following US magazines has published Bubble Ghost reviews:
- VideoGames and Computer Entertainment, USA, April 1991 (Game Boy version)
- Antic Vol.7 #7, November 1988 (Atari ST version) See review
- ST-Log Issue 24, October 1988 (Atari ST version) See review
- ST-Log Issue 26, December 1988 (Atari ST version) See review
The following French magazines have published Bubble + (Bubble Plus) reviews:
- Génération 4 #22, May 1990 (Atari ST and Amiga version) Download magazine
- Micro News #35, May 1990 (Atari ST version) Download magazine
Posterity
- Book - ISBN 0553354833. The Game Boy version of the Bubble Ghost game is cited on page 49.
- Book - ISBN 9780133155211. The Atari ST version of the Bubble Ghost game is cited on page 28.
- Book - ISBN 9780262537759. The Atari ST version of the Bubble Ghost game is cited on page 145.
- Book - ISBN 9780786492312. The Game Boy version of the Bubble Ghost game is cited on page 300.
- Book - ISBN 978-2-919603-66-4. The Game Boy version of the Bubble Ghost game is cited on page 199.
- Book - ISBN 9781732355217. The Atari ST version of the Bubble Ghost game is cited on page 171.
- Video - Rétro Découverte, novembre 2021, with the interview with Christophe Andréani.[4]
- Book - ISBN 9781957932019. The Atari ST version of the Bubble Ghost game is cited on page 112.
References
- ^ Andromeda (December 1990). "Game Boy ProView: Bubble Ghost" (PDF). GamePro. p. 144.
- ^ "Test du jeu Bubble Ghost sur GB". Jeuxvideo.com (in French). 2012-10-18. Retrieved 2024-01-24.
- ^ "Jeux & stratégie 48". December 1987.
- ^ #50 DES TENDANCES DES JEUX VIDÉO Bubble Ghost - Rétro Découverte, Youtube : "Retour sur une pépite oubliée de la GameBoy : Bubble Ghost !"
External links
- Bubble Ghost at MobyGames
- Bubble Ghost at Atari Mania
- Bubble Ghost at Amiga Hall of Light
- Bubble Ghost at Lemon 64
- Christophe Andréani's website
- Retro Decouverte author's interview