JadeDragon's
reviews and playing tips: Pocket PC games
BOUNCE Symphony
by Escape
Factory, Ltd., Price: $19.99 Reviewed January 2003 by Tony Peak
At first glance, Bounce Symphony may seem
just like any other sphere based puzzle game on the market.
Looks can be deceiving however, as Bounce is one of the most
unique puzzle games on the Pocket PC, due mainly to its incredible
physics engine. Rather than dropping onto the screen, the
spheres simply fill the play area. Using the stylus the spheres
can be picked up, moved, tossed, caught, and squished together.
It feels just like working with your hands, and it's quite
a unique experience.
Bounce has three modes of play, the normal
arcade puzzle mode comes in two flavors, timed and un-timed.
The goal here is to manipulate the mass of spheres into lines
of five which this disappear from the field. However, unlike
other puzzle games in Bounce this takes on a whole new meaning.
The spheres don't “stick” to each other like
you'd expect in a puzzle game. It's best to think of them
as gel filled or balloons: Squishy and light, springy under
pressure, but not too bouncy against solid objects.
Making the level designs even more interesting
are solid obstacle blocks which often help as well as hinder
your progress. Special spheres come along as well, including
chameleon balls, bombs, and score multipliers. These not
only make an interesting change of pace, but are often essential
for completing a level. For example: Advancing in level is
score based, and the multiplier spheres are often the best
way of reaching that score in time. These spheres often require
bombs to reach. With over 150 levels total, its obvious serious
thought, time, and effort went into this.
The second mode, and my personal favorite,
is “Think”. In think mode, the object is to arrange
a group of colored spheres into patterns shown. The patterns
range from basic shapes, pyramids, and dexterity challenges
to detailed scenes with flowers, pedals, leaves, and sky.
With just over 50 levels, it'll keep you playing for quite
some time and its reply value is quite high. It's not the
type of thing where once you do it once it becomes easy,
as the majority of the challenge comes from working with
the psychics itself. The spheres will shift, fall with gravity,
push each other over, roll around, and everything you would
expect from a box full of springy spheres.
The controls are ultra simple, but perfect
for the game. The entire game is played by simply tapping
on a sphere and dragging it, as if you were holding it with
your hand. Even though the controls are so very simple, they're
not at all limited. All of the real work is handled by the
physics engine. If you want to do something with the spheres,
chances are you can. You can drag a sphere through a dense
group and watch them shuffle and shift, toss spheres into
the air and juggle them, catch them before they land, even
bounce and balance another sphere mid air on top of the sphere
you are holding.
The graphics really have to be seen in
motion to be appreciated. As many are quick to point out,
yes they are simply shiny spheres. But when you get 50 of
these spheres all in a moving, flowing, mass the real beauty
of it begins to show. The frame rate feels flawless and the
graphics are very easy on the eyes. The spheres are sharp
and clear, and the interface is extremely classy. The developers
describe it as a “Victorian” look, and I couldn't
agree more. And while you might expect a game like this to
be lax in the sound department, Bounce Symphony truly earns
its name. Sound and music are credited to Guy Whitmore, an
award winning composer whom has composed music for many big
name titles including No One Lives Forever and Tron 2.0.
The music is truly impressive and gives the game a great
relaxing melody, while the sound effects are equally smooth
and well suited.
Bounce is simply
unlike any other game I've played for the Pocket PC. The physics
engine is a work of art; it's just amazing how smooth it plays.
It's so convincing that more than once I found myself tilting the
Pocket PC on its side, trying to “hold” the spheres
to one side with real life gravity. If that's not the mark of a
good engine, I don't know what is. The game itself thankfully makes
full use of its technology. It's fun and challenging without being
frustrating, comes in three game modes, and boasts a huge amount
of levels each with very creative design. With top notch art, physics,
sound, control, and gameplay: Bounce Symphony's one very complete
package.
Playing Hints and Tips
-Make full use of the game's physics. Drag the
spheres by force through the others, toss them into the needed spots
while moving other spheres out of the way, and use gravity to your
advantage.
-In Think mode, it's usually a good idea to first
get all of the supporting spheres that's not actually part of the
design in place. Shift all the spheres you'll need later to the top,
so you can get to them without displacing what you've already completed.
If you have to move a sphere from the bottom, quickly replace it
before they can tumble.
-Many of Think mode's puzzles will require only
a momentary connection to complete. For shapes like pluses, hold
one sphere and use it to push another in place. Then quickly hold
it in position to complete the puzzle.
-In Relax and Sprint modes, be sure to make full
use of the special spheres and bonuses. You must meet the score requirement
to advance in level, and many times this is only possible with correct
usage of the multiplier spheres. Speedy bonuses and extra sphere
bonuses help out as well.
-To easily chain more than 5 spheres, try making
two sets of four, separated by one sphere of a different color. Then,
quickly replace the center sphere with another of the same color
as the sets. You'll easily have a 9 sphere combo. This works best
in Relax mode where you have more time, but keep an eye out for such
chances in Sprint as well. And always use more than one multiplier
sphere in the same combo if possible.
Ratings (scale of 1 to 5):
Graphics
The Victorian look of the interface,
quality of the graphics, the way the spheres spring, bounce,
roll, and toss… it's undeniably unique and impressive.
Even the simple but highly effective background graphic of
the play area adds another visual finesse.
Sound
The sound effects are exactly as they
should be, and the music absolutely shines. The relaxing
melody does much to emphasize the gameplay with distracting
the player.
Fun Meter
The “hands on” feeling
is just so unique and fun. It's the closest game I've seen
to working with your hands and just has a feeling of fun
to it. It's almost something like a dynamic digital toy,
but with an actual goal and gameplay.
Addictivity
With 150+ levels, three modes of play,
and plenty of replay value there's plenty to keep you hooked
for a long time. Since most of the challenge comes from the
dynamics and fluidness of the physics, the game never plays
the same twice. It's only a shame the highscore list doesn't
track the fastest level completion times in Think mode instead
of levels completed.
