Brick & Bubble Revolution

Perhaps Digital Chocolate deduced it would have an easier time selling two blatant clones of classic releases it if packaged them together in a bargain basement '2-4-1' deal.

After all, as a race, we're suckers for anything perceived to be a money saver. We'll happily open our wallets for any old trash found at the local car boot sale, as long as it costs less than the petrol burned up to get there.

It'd be unfair to describe Brick & Bubble Revolution in quite the same harsh terms, however.

The 'revolution' hinted at in its handle may be a vast exaggeration, but this attempt to merge Breakout-style play with a take on the Zuma, Luxor, or Puzz Loop model (take your pick) is solid enough.

Not that 'merge' is really the right word. Indeed, both sides of the game remain distinct at all times, with each half having previously been released in separate form.

The 'Brick' side of play, for instance, is actually a rehash of 2009's Brick Breaker Revolution 2 and, of the two, offers the most compelling play.

To differentiate itself from many of its rivals, it provides a more expansive playing field, opening up the maps and flooding them with what's often a larger proportion of bricks than the norm.

As a result, taking them out with your ball - launched with the '5' key - is a more hectic experience, owing to the smaller gap between your bat at the bottom of the screen (keys '4' and '6' sending it darting left and right) and the mass of blocks above. Indeed, if the gameplay has one weakness, it's that it may be too manic for newcomers.

Nonetheless, the whole affair is spruced up by the addition of bonus levels that bestow goodies aplenty to keep you interested.

Bubble Revolution – which launched last year – is by comparison lacking.

The right structure is in place: match up coloured bubbles in lines of three or more by shooting your own out of a bubble gun at the bottom of the screen.

As you fire, those in the queue snake towards your base in the middle. The key, depending on the mode you're playing, is to match up lines of bubbles in chains, clearing the line before it edges its way around, or simply for as long as you can.

To Digital Chocolate's credit, the addition of boss battles adds a level of distinction from the (numerous) alternatives out there, but there's no real fire behind Bubble Revolution's take on the familiar setup.

It does what it needs to in order to deliver a suitable experience, but nothing to make you recommend it over those that have come before.

Combined, Brick & Bubble Revolution form an engaging package that admittedly does little to further the exploits of their respective genres, but will still sap up much of your time.