If you browse the software aisle at CompUSA or Best Buy, it seems that all the exciting games are much too graphic for a small child, while all the games designed for small children are “snorers.” What’s a parent to do?
In Bubble Trouble, the player is Blinkie, our young fish protagonist. The object of the game is Blinkie’s survival in the cold, cruel ocean. Each level is a maze of bubbles that Blinkie can push around. Blinkie uses the bubbles to “pop” the bad guys. Blinkie’s enemies range from fairly slow fish, to speedy sharks, to even faster starfish. They all want to get Blinkie.
 
You have to be careful, because some foes can also push bubbles, which can crush Blinkie quite effectively. There are many different tools to use during your adventures. Bouncing balls bounce around one or more times. Dynamite can blow up enemies who are close by. If used improperly, it can destroy you, too. Additionally, you can earn time bonuses and extra lives.
Bubble Trouble is a game of reflexes, skill and strategy. That’s saying a lot, and the realization snuck up on me, but these reasons keep bringing me back. Some call the game addictive and I can’t argue with them. At times, I found it hard to pull away from Bubble Trouble.
Bubble Trouble’s graphics are bright, colorful, non-violent, and fun as heck. These make Bubble Trouble a cool game for your kids. My friend enjoys playing Bubble Trouble for hours, and so do his boys (ages five and six). They play together as a group. I believe this is one of the few games that parents can truly enjoy as much as their kids.
Perhaps the most dynamic aspect of the game is the cool, included music, which was written by the authors. The music is also cool because its based on the MOD sound format, an old Amiga Computer format. If you don’t like the included soundtrack, or want something different, you can download one of thousands of files available on the Internet, rename the file, and use it as Bubble Trouble’s soundtrack. It’s pretty cool and it works.
There is also a High-Score contest, which is taken quite seriously by many players.
In summary, the interface and controls are delightfully simple. The graphics and sound are rich. Difficulty is enough to hold adults’ interest, yet it’s still enjoyable for children. Bubble Trouble is well worth the purchase price of $15.