How to play
BUBBLE TROUBLE is a fast 2D platformer starring a bouncy bubble-gum blob in a bright candy city. Roll to the gumball machine at the end of each level, grab candy on the way, and beat the Sour King at the end. The game drops you straight into play and picks up at the furthest level you have unlocked.
Roll with A D or the arrow keys and jump with Space, W, Up or Z. A short tap gives a short hop; hold it for a full jump. Keep holding jump in the air and the blob blows itself into a bubble and floats gently down. Press S, Down or X in the air to slam straight down. R restarts the level, P or Esc pauses and M mutes. On a phone, use the arrow buttons on the left, JUMP and SLAM on the right, and the II button to pause.
You have three hearts. Touching an enemy or the rock-candy spikes costs one, and falling down a pit costs one and puts you back at the last checkpoint. Lose all three and the blob is POPPED! and the level starts again.
Tips and strategy
Watch the gum meter. The pink bar under your hearts is your gum. Floating drains it in about two and a half seconds, and it refills as soon as you land. Run it dry and the bubble pops, so do not count on floating across the very widest gaps in one go.
Stick to walls. In the air, hold toward a wall and the gum sticks to it. Jump to kick off, then keep holding toward the wall and jumping to climb tall walls step by step.
Stomp, then slam. Landing on an enemy wraps it in gum. A gummed enemy is harmless for about six seconds and works as a trampoline. Slam it to pop it for three candy. Gumming several in a row builds a STICKY combo.
Slam the crates. Pink gum crates only break when you slam them, and some hide the golden gumballs. Each level has three to find, and the last one before the boss has four.
Use the springs. Springs launch you high and refill your gum, so you can float a long way afterwards.
Beat the Sour King with patience. He hops and sends shockwaves along the floor (jump over them), charges across the arena and spits sour drops. Stomping him when he is fresh just bounces you off with "TOO SOUR!". Wait until he charges into a wall and goes dizzy, or is busy spitting, then land on him. A stomp does one damage and a slam does two; he has twelve. Once he is down to his last four health he gets faster.
What's in it
Five levels and a boss fight: SUGAR STREET, BUBBLE BOULEVARD, STICKY HEIGHTS, SOUR SIDE, ROCK CANDY ROOFTOPS and THE SOUR KING, each with its own colours. The first levels teach each move with signs. Enemies are walking sour drops, hopping jelly beans and flying gummy bees, and the levels add spikes, pits, springs, one-way wafer platforms, hearts to pick up and checkpoints.
At the end of a level you see your candy, time and hearts left, plus a GOLD, SILVER or BRONZE time medal against that level's par time. Your best candy, gumballs and times are kept per level, and you can replay any unlocked level from the menu.
Questions
Is it suitable for children? Yes. It is a bright cartoon platformer. Enemies are candy that pop into confetti.
Do I need an account? No. Your unlocked levels and best results are saved in your browser.
How long is it? A level takes about a minute for a first run; the whole game is a short session, with medals and gumballs to go back for.
Does it flash? There are no full-screen flashes. The Sour King turns white for a moment when hit, the blob blinks for a second after it is hurt, and the screen shakes on slams and hits.