Jamyskis

I was pleasantly surprised when I saw the update to Frozen Bubble in my RSS feed on happypenguin.org a while back. I thought the game had stopped development, and while IMHO it was a great game, it lacked enough features to really keep you in and pull you in.

For those who don’t know, Frozen Bubble is a GPL clone of the eternal classic Bust-A-Move (or Puzzle Bobble, depending on where you’re from). Instead of dinosaurs, you have penguins, etc. etc. etc. Originally conceived for Linux, the GPL nature of the game and its status as a must-have in the freeware world meant it got ported to numerous other platforms including Windows and mobile phones.

The 1.0.0 release came out in 2003, and for three years there were no new releases, and only incremental updates to the website indicating how well it had done in reviews - deservedly so. Finally, in October, version 2.0.0 was released to much fanfare, sporting several new features:

• A new “multiplayer training” mode.
• Internet and network play.
• A graphical makeover.
• A musical makeover.
• Joystick support.
• Gameplay recording.

The single-player game, has, to extents and purposes, changed little from version 1.0.0. The multiplayer training mode is little more than a version of the normal single player mode with a 2 minute time limit attached. Not really useful, but it’s there if you want it. The original single player mode is just as great as ever, and the inclusion of joystick support is a boon. A major criticism I made of the original FB - the same graphical theme and background throughout the dozens of levels - still remains, but the core of the gameplay mechanics is flawless.

Internet play looks good, although the servers were, at the time of writing, not particularly well populated, with a single player on the 20 or so servers located around. Still, I had a good couple of games with him (and lost!). Hopefully when the servers get a bit fuller, internet play will be more fun, but as it is, it’s a good solid addition to an already sparkling package.

The graphical makeover, while perhaps a little unnecessary, is well done, and the 3D penguins that jump around at the bottom of the screen look good. The music consists of a remix of the original tunes, and the professional software used to create them shows through - they really do sound great!

All in all, if you’re looking for a good single-player game and have the original Frozen Bubble installed, get hold of the update if it isn’t too much hassle. The multiplayer support is very welcome and comes certainly recommended if that is what you are searching for.

Download it at http://www.frozen-bubble.org.