Video Game Review #539: Bubble Witch 3 Saga

Bubble Witch 3 Saga

Mobile

Before playing:

I have had this game downloaded on my phone for about eight years now. Back in 2016, I had just started playing Bubble Witch 2. Coincidentally this game came out almost immediately after I started that one. I ended up liking this one a thousand times more than 2, which I found to be slower paced and bit on the dull side. I quickly kicked 2 to the curb. I've been playing this game exclusively ever since. Perfect for killing time while pooping and going on long car rides.

Having played this for eight years, I considered myself fully qualified to write a review for this game. So here we are. I'm reviewing it. I hope you enjoy.

Story:

There's not much of a story here. The game's theme does the heavy lifting. You're the Bubble Witch. You have to save ghosts and pop bubbles and fight Morgana the evil witch. Occasionally, the game will hold a special event, where you have to go through a graveyard, or something. Your character will talk to someone via the speech bubble for a few seconds. It's never anything I'd consider serious story.

Gameplay:

I've always enjoyed the way this game feels. It is fast and arcade-like. It really feels like you're lining up a shot, letting it go, and firing away. The point of the game is to line up a colored shot so that you are hitting two other connected color pieces of the same color. This eliminates them from the playing field. in most stages, you are starting at the bottom of the stage and working your way up, as you blast these colored pieces away.

Aside from the colored pieces, there are also special pieces, like a bolt that eliminates all horizontal pieces. Arrows rotate around the board, and are launched when you make contact with them. There are pieces that shoot out rockets and eliminate random pieces on the board. All kind of different little things to keep the game fun and engaging.

You'll also encounter white pieces, that turn the color of the pieces next to them that you eliminate. So you have to use these white pieces strategically. You want to chain together a long combination. It's hard to explain in writing. But if you've played this game, you know exactly what I am talking about.

There are a few different types of stages. In one type of stage, you simply have to eliminate every playing piece on the field. For another type of stage, you have to blast away pieces to raise a ghost up and out of the level exit at the top of the stage. For another type of stage, you have to eliminate all the colored owls.

As you play, you get special items, like an item that eliminates all of one color on the screen. Another one is like a bolt of lightning that blasts away all the pieces it touches, in a straight line. There's one that knocks out about six horizontal pieces. Another one that blasts away pieces like a grenade.

The game offers special events, where you can earn items. You can also explore areas on a new map, like a graveyard, and unlock hidden items. You can participate in challenges (like save 30 ghosts) that other players are also participating in. You can work together to get extra items. There's a dice rolling game. There have probably been so many more little games tossed in over the years that I have forgotten about. It's a game that is always evolving and always changing for the better.

It may be the game I am most addicted to at the moment. And I've been playing it for eight years. The fact that it still hasn't gotten old speaks wonders about it.

Graphics:

One of the appealing things about this game is its theme. I love the ghosts, owls, witches, cauldrons, bats, etc. The colors on the screen really pop. The characters are vibrant and cartoon like. It's a really good looking game.

Sound:

This game has great music. The sound effects are perfect. Everything fits the witch theme to a tee. Unfortunately, I have to say that I muted the game's music and sound effects years and years ago. I always play this while watching TV and doing other things... and I play this a lot! So it makes sense to have it muted at all times.

Overall:

This is a truly fantastic game. I know that people like to poop on mobile games, but if you are going to play one to pass the time, I can't think of a better game than this. It looks good, it sounds good, it's fun, it's addicting. The fact that this game has kept me glued for eight years is just wild - especially if you are familiar with me and my gaming habits. I don't linger on individual games for too long, and am often eager to move along so I can try the next big thing. But here I am. Playing this since 2016.

I think what might be the most impressive thing is the way the game continues to evolve. I'm sure if I went back and looked at what the game looked like in 2016, I almost wouldn't recognize it. It's been modernized and updated, and kept up with the times. The continually added new content is impressive. There are lots of ways to earn lives and items. It's just a super fun, super addictive game. I can't recommend it enough.

I feel this review may earn some scorn, because if you are someone who looks down on mobile games, you are going to think I'm giving this game a score that is too high. But if you are like me and you consider all games to be on equal ground, no matter the platform, you hopefully can see where I am coming from. I mean, I've been playing this for eight years and show no signs of stopping. What other game can I say that about?

THE GRADE:

A+

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