"Bubbles" FAQ version 1.0 (02/01/2004) Copyright Martin Dale-Hench 2004 (hockeyfox@ameritech.net) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ ( B | U | B | B | L | E | S ) \_/ \_/ \_/ \_/ \_/ \_/ \_/ ----------------- Table of Contents ----------------- 1.0 About the Game 2.0 FAQ 2.1 Controls 2.2 Playing Field 2.3 Scoring 2.4 Game Basics 2.5 Tips 3.0 Disclaimer/Thanks ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1.0 ABOUT THE GAME ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ First of all, I played this game via the collection/compliation disc for Dreamcast, entitled "Midway's Greatest Arcade Hits", which I wrote a FAQ for, so I don't own the real arcade thing nor have played it in the real thing. Therefore, if you have ANYTHING that you want me to add, PLEASE do feel free to contact me. Thanks! This game was released in 1982/83 by none other than Williams, the Atari of arcade games. The head producer wanted to do a clean (no pun intended), non-violent game... Well, he got his goal, all right. The Williams team, who also created greats such as Joust and Defender, went to work on this game. Some of the unique differences that this game had in its time was the 'pressure sensitive' analog stick. As you pushed the stick further, the faster your character moved. Also, the arcade cabient for Bubbles was dubbed 'indestructible' because it was made of blue plastic, which would spring back into proper position if it was crushed by outside pressure. Unfortuantely, this game did not succeed sales-wise. People was turned off by its goofy and kiddy design. However, there are still a small following for this game. If you want some more information, look into those sites: http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/Stadium/5406/ http://www.klov.com/B/Bubbles.html ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2.0 FAQ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------ 2.1 Controls ------------ Control Stick : Move Bubble ----------------- 2.2 Playing Field ----------------- Bubbles, as your 'character', has to pick up enough, not neccessarily all, crumbs/ants to make itself bigger. When it is big enough to grow a face, it may go down the drain without worry. You have to dodge the Blades, Greasies and the infamous Roach! Cleaning Lady is yours for your taking, though. +-------------------------------------------------------------------+ | | | | | | | * | | \_/ | | | | __ | | /^^\ * | | \__/ ___ | | ^Bubbles^ ### | | * | | @ | | ___ | | / \ | | CL @===== |Drain| * ___ | | \___/ ### | | \\\\ | | //// * | | | | * | | @ | | | | * @ @ | | | | ___ | | ### * | +-------------------------------------------------------------------+ ___ '*' Crumb/Dirt '@' Ant 'CL' Cleaning Lady ### Greasie @===== Roach //// (it's not a wang like it looks like, sorry) \\\\ Razorblade ----------- 2.3 Scoring ----------- Crumb : 100 Points Ants : 150 Points Greasie* : 200 Points Cleaning Lady** : 500 Points Roach* : 1000 Points Dive Ahead Bonus : x1000 Points per bubble enlargement Around the Drain : x2 Points (If you get the above items around the drain) *Greasie/Roach can be conquered if you collect the Cleaning Lady and gain her sweeping skill to bump it into the drain. **Cleaning Lady's Point Value will increase as she collects items. --------------- 2.4 Game Basics --------------- Moving - You just move around with the Stick, and you will not have to press ANY buttons. It's THAT simple. The surface of the sink, of course, is extremely slippery so you have to handle/guide your loving bubble through turns AND its braking. You can't expect your bubble to just stop on a dime... Get to know how to manuever your bubble through tight spots if you want to succeed in this game. Also, as your bubble become bigger, its agility decreases. Your Bubble's Size - The size of the bubble will vary directly to the number of crumbs/ants you have collected. The more objects you you collect, the bigger it is. Duh. :P However, if your bubble is big enough, it will start to grow/show some facial features. Only then you may execute some actions that a face-less bubbles cannot. Clearing a Level - There are two ways to successfully clear a level: 1) The sink is completely free of the ants and the dirt. AND your bubble have a face (eyes and a full smile). The objects doesn't have to be gobbled up by your bubble... It also can end when a crumb or an ant goes down the drain or got picked up by the cleaning lady. When this occurs, your size will be 'judged' by the drain if you can move on. 2) Going down the drain. You may end the level prematurely if you successfully go down the drain. If you have a pretty, face, and happy face on, you can end the level at any time by going down the drain. If not... you can NOT, period. How You Lose a Life - 1) You get in contact with one of those if you are not protected somehow: a) Giant Ant (a.k.a. Roach) b) Razor Blade c) Brush d) Sponge 2) You fall through the drain when it's not flashing. 3) Your bubble is face-less when every greasie/ ant/crumb is gone. Foes (and how to conquer them) *ROACH* It's the big, ugly, bad-breathing wolf! Er, no. It's the biggest animal you will find in BUBBLES. It only comes out of the drain. The game warns you before it even comes out... when the drain is flashing red, it is signaling that a roach is coming. To eliminate it, attain the broom from the Cleaning Lady and spear the broom DIRECTLY into the Roach and he will fall and yield 1000 Points! It has to be DIRECTLY, though. *RAZOR BLADE* The shiny blue that just stalls, waiting for you to carelessly bump into it. There's no way to get rid of it, sorry. Just don't touch and you have your problem solved. :) *BRUSH* A brown brush... what can I say? If your bubble has a face, you may bump into it and push it away. If you managed to bump it to the direction of the drain, it will fall into oblivion forever! 1000 Points for you! *SPONGE* The Orange version of the Brush. Likewise, you can bump it out of the way ONLY if you has a face. Putting it into the drain will yield you some decent points. Cleaning Lady - Several things that need to be acknowledged... First, she will come out and use her brrom to clean up stuff, stealing some possible dirt/crumb for you to use to port up. Therefore, it is an excellent idea if you would get the Lady ASAP. However, as she sweeps up items, her points also add up (starting from 500). Also, if you caught her from her broom side, you will gain her "broom" ability. A tiny peck (giggle) will pop up... Use this as a weapon against Roaches. Can be used once only. -------- 2.5 Tips -------- -Keep moving... You won't attract dirt if you just stand there. :) Also, Roaches are like heat-seeking missiles... they won't aimlessly wander because they WANT you. Delicious fat bubble! Mmmm. -Go around the circumference/perimeter of the sink first, since they are the easiest to collect. Then work your way inwards. -Dirt and crumbs will slowly head for the drain so you could spin around the drain, collecting them as they come. -If the drain is flashing RED, back off! A Giant Ant/Roach is coming your way! Seek and capture the Cleaning Lady's broom (if there is one) to counter this threat. -Do not try to out-run Roaches, because they are actually faster than your poor, slow-poke Bubble. Instead, out-manuever them. Go in circles around them and pick up materials in the process. Once you have a smile, bid the ugly duckling farewell and head for the drain before you get bitten! -If there is a low supply of materials abroad and you're not even close to getting a smile on your face... don't get the materials because it would speed your death up. Instead, use the remaining time to wait for the green light and go in! It might take a while. Hell, maybe the light will never come... ;_; -DON'T BE SELFISH! You might want to try to collect more materials when you have a big, big smile on your face... it's not worth it. Take the safe road and go into the drain before someone kicks your head in. -Try to collect the items around the drain, you get 2x points that way. -Once you have a smile on your face, you can make the brushes/sponges bounce off without getting blown up. Try to aim them to the drain to add injury to the insilt! :) -Not really a tip... but the number of the level you are currently playing is on the top left corner. Once it goes past 99, it comes back to 01. -Practice! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3.0 DISCLAIMER/THANKS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ---------- Disclaimer ---------- I don't mind having my FAQs posted on other sites, but I don't fancy having them posted without my knowledge. Just ask me and I will gladly allow you to do so. my e-mail is hockeyfox@ameritech.net. The following FAQs has my permission: www.gamefaqs.com faqs.ign.com www.neoseeker.com ------ Thanks ------ -Williams for staying true to their games. -Midway for providing me the collection of Williams games. -The mandatory CJayC thanks. OMG I LUV U CEEJ! ;D -War Doc for the inspiration of the format and the FAQ. -You! ________) _____ __ __) (, / (, / (, /| / /___, / / | / ) / ___/__ ) / |/ (_/ (__ / (_/ ' Copyright Martin Dale-Hench 2004