ArtNJ
07-21-2009, 09:32 PM
Bubble Twirrl is a copy (and by copy, I mean a literal copy, not a variant) of Bubble Spinner, a free flash-based browser game that you can play at, among other places, http://www.deadwhale.com/play.php?game=774, where it is rated 4.7 out of 5, with nearly 16,000 reviews. Bubble Spinner also has nearly 2,500 fans on Facebook, so yeah, this is a popular game, even if you havent heard of it. Bubble Spinner is a lot of fun and quite addicting, so being a copy is not a bad thing per se. Just a guess, but given that they changed the name, it probably isnt an authorized copy.
I'll get to what Bubble Spinner/Twirrl is in a bit, (generally, its a match 3 combined with a bubble shooter, where the twist is that the board spins) but first, is it a good copy? Yes and no. Differences:
(1) the relaxing and zen inducing music of bubble spinner is much loved. Bubble Twirrl has different music. Not bad per se, but different, no option to turn it off, and no ipod music -- all in all a real negative;
(2) continue/save game works;
(3) high score list is local only, not global, and doesnt take names;
(3) adds a "mysterious" "style", which is bubble spinner with different skinned balls. Fine, but so what. Doesnt add much.
(5) the sounds and effects when you pop balls are slightly different
(6) the basic gameplay and mechanics appear to be faithfully reproduced. One minor annoyance is that the balls appear to fly slower. I dunno, makes the game feel not as fast paced.
(7) screen size and controls: This is the major difference. At first, I thought I would dislike the touch controls. However, they work well enough, and I suspect I will fully get used to them;
(8) 20 second load time is a minor annoyance;
Bottom Line: Bubble Twirrl IS Bubble Spinner, with minor differences most likely of zero consequence to a new player, but which might annoy the die hard Bubble Spinner fan a bit. Still, if your a die hard fan, and the idea of paying $2.99 for Bubble Spinner on your iphone appeals, easy choice.
OK, OK, you get it. Its Bubble Spinner. But what the heck is that you ask? My description of a match 3 mated with a bubble shooter, where the board rotates doesnt tell you much. You want pictures. You want more info. Easy, just try it for free, no download, no hassle. Click and play. http://www.deadwhale.com/play.php?game=774
I'll get to what Bubble Spinner/Twirrl is in a bit, (generally, its a match 3 combined with a bubble shooter, where the twist is that the board spins) but first, is it a good copy? Yes and no. Differences:
(1) the relaxing and zen inducing music of bubble spinner is much loved. Bubble Twirrl has different music. Not bad per se, but different, no option to turn it off, and no ipod music -- all in all a real negative;
(2) continue/save game works;
(3) high score list is local only, not global, and doesnt take names;
(3) adds a "mysterious" "style", which is bubble spinner with different skinned balls. Fine, but so what. Doesnt add much.
(5) the sounds and effects when you pop balls are slightly different
(6) the basic gameplay and mechanics appear to be faithfully reproduced. One minor annoyance is that the balls appear to fly slower. I dunno, makes the game feel not as fast paced.
(7) screen size and controls: This is the major difference. At first, I thought I would dislike the touch controls. However, they work well enough, and I suspect I will fully get used to them;
(8) 20 second load time is a minor annoyance;
Bottom Line: Bubble Twirrl IS Bubble Spinner, with minor differences most likely of zero consequence to a new player, but which might annoy the die hard Bubble Spinner fan a bit. Still, if your a die hard fan, and the idea of paying $2.99 for Bubble Spinner on your iphone appeals, easy choice.
OK, OK, you get it. Its Bubble Spinner. But what the heck is that you ask? My description of a match 3 mated with a bubble shooter, where the board rotates doesnt tell you much. You want pictures. You want more info. Easy, just try it for free, no download, no hassle. Click and play. http://www.deadwhale.com/play.php?game=774