Pop+ Solo

Genre: Arcade

Players: 1

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Review:

Pop+ Solo is an Arcade-style game first released on the Nintendo DSi via the DSiWare service in 2009, and later grandfathered into the Nintendo 3DS eShop when the Nintendo 3DS released. This game, which is a version of the 2008 game Pop, released on mobile devices and on the Nintendo Wii via the WiiWare service, has players tapping bubbles on the touchscreen to pop them.

The presentation here is simple, but decent, with the bubbles coming in a few different colors at a time and constantly floating upward in front of the dark background in a way that’s pleasant and almost even soothing. If there’s a soundtrack to this game, I can’t tell you much about it, as that will be muffled by the constant cartoony sound effect of a bubble popping. All in all this isn’t bad, especially for a $5 eShop game.

As for the gameplay, this game tries to add all sorts of nuance to the game, giving you more time for popping large bubbles, a higher score for popping small bubbles, letting you work up a point chain by popping the same color bubble repeatedly, and giving you the option to grab and shake a bubble to create an explosion that will pop other bubbles in the area.

The game tries to add depth and nuance, but ultimately this just feels like an extremely shallow experience. You’re just repeatedly popping bubbles, popping bubbles, popping bubbles, and there’s not much variety to be had here.

Again, for $5, and considering the visceral joy that comes attached with popping bubbles, this game may appeal to some players. But I suspect most will grow bored with it quickly.

tl;dr – Pop+ Solo is an Arcade-style game where players pop bubbles using the touchscreen. The presentation is decent, and there’s a fun visceral element to popping bubbles here, but this game is just too shallow and repetitive to hold your interest for very long.

Grade: C

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