Puzzle Bobble 3D: Vacation Odyssey is a straightforward but pleasant puzzle game that gives you a bit of that summery feeling. It’s not especially complex and can be a bit repetitive when played for a while, but what’s here is fun if you’re looking for a simple puzzle game.
Puzzle Bobble 3D: Vacation Odyssey
Developer: Survios
Price: $20
Platforms: PS5 (reviewed,) PS4, and PC
MonsterVine was provided with a PS5 code for review
I like a good puzzle game now and then, especially one with a summer theme as we enter the beginning of another fierce Canadian winter. That, plus the 3D-oriented puzzle mechanics, made me want to try Puzzle Bobble 3D: Vacation Odyssey, and I’d say it was worth my time. If you’re into puzzle games, it may just be worth yours too.
If you’re deeply invested in the lore of Puzzle Bobble, there’s a bit of a story in Vacation Odyssey. Bub and Bob’s pals have been taken by the mischievous Bonner (known in Japan as Drunk,) so the duo set out to solve puzzles to bring their friends back. The images used to convey the story give you a quick and cute break in-between stages, so I don’t really mind there being a minor story in Vacation Odyssey.
In Vacation Odyssey, you’re presented with a variety of different bubble-filled puzzles on a 3D plane. As Bub, you have to shoot multi-colored bubbles at bubbles of the same color to eliminate them. Sometimes you’re trying to reach the core of the stage within a set period of time or with a certain amount of bubbles, while other times, you need to free all the little creatures trapped in some of the bubbles. The momentum behind your shot bubbles can make the puzzle rotate and sometimes even separate, leading to unique perspective-based challenges that can only be done thanks to the 3D approach.
“The backgrounds are great too, as the chill beaches and tropical locales really sell that Summer feeling, along with the catchy tunes.“
On top of that, there are additional mechanics throughout Vacation Odyssey to keep it fresh. There are items that can be used to blow up groups of bubbles or freely rotate the stage, but the best changes are the different types of bubbles. Some give you additional bubbles for a stage, while others take them away, and others stop you from swapping bubbles with Bob. These boons and hazards being contained in bubbles forces you to play carefully and strategically, which I rather liked. While these additions do make it more interesting, the basic gameplay loop hardly changes, making longer play sessions drag a bit. There are 100 levels plus an online Duel Mode to dig into if you’re feeling competitive, so if you dig the general gameplay, there’s plenty of it.
Vacation Odyssey has a charming visual style that hammers home how cute the mascots of Bubble Bobble are. The bubbles are all clearly defined colors, which helps to make each shot feel fair and informed. The backgrounds are great too, as the chill beaches and tropical locales really sell that Summer feeling, along with the catchy tunes. The volcano and storm levels are visually appealing too, but those tropical levels just hit that Super Mario Sunshine vibe that I love so dearly.
The Final Word
Puzzle Bobble 3D: Vacation Odyssey is fun enough for its price point. It can get a bit stale if you play for too long, but the straightforward gameplay and variety of unique mechanics are enough for me to say that it’s worth checking out if you’re into puzzle games.
MonsterVine Rating: 3.5 out of 5 – Fair
