Bright & Colorful – Bubble And Squeak

Bubble and Squeak is one of those games that really goes all in — packed with clever ideas and gameplay twists, perhaps even too many at times.

From the very beginning, it’s clear that the developers focused heavily on detail and solid game mechanics. Despite featuring three distinct gameplay styles, the game blends them together seamlessly without compromising on either design or execution.

Visually, it starts off with a classic platformer vibe — imagine a cross between James Pond 3 and Super Mario World. The animation is silky smooth, running at what feels like a solid 50Hz, with no stuttering or jerky scrolling in sight.

The game was released in three versions on the Amiga: ECS, AGA, and CD32. Unfortunately, the differences between them are fairly minor, mostly limited to a few extra graphical layers and small visual tweaks. Interestingly, the Sega Mega Drive version is almost identical to the AGA edition, though, as expected, it suffers from the system’s typical lower-quality audio.

Excellent Mechanics, Sweet And Jolly…

Bubble and Squeak is a highly polished and charming platformer that’s bursting with personality. The visuals are packed with delightful little details, and while the Amiga versions might not push the hardware to its absolute limits, the overall experience more than makes up for it.

What really stands out are the small, clever touches that elevate the gameplay and make it memorable:

• Blow chewing gum bubbles to float or interact with the environment

• Piggyback your quirky alien friend to reach new areas

• Issue commands like “Stop,” “Hello,” and “Come” to your companion

• Tense, timer-based levels where rising water adds pressure

• Bubblegum vending machines you can actually use

• Dynamic sound effects and music that change when underwater

…and that’s just scratching the surface. Bubble and Squeak is packed with charming, creative features that make it a standout platformer well worth revisiting.

Shoot ‘Em Up Sections With Superb Music…

The screenshots above highlight the shoot-’em-up sections of Bubble and Squeak, and once again, the attention to detail is impressive — clean, crisp visuals with a polished look throughout.

At first glance, the levels might appear a bit simple or even dull, but don’t let that fool you — once you start playing, it’s a completely different story. The gameplay is engaging and well-paced, keeping things fun and far from boring.

The music deserves a mention too — it complements the action perfectly and adds to the overall atmosphere.

Big Box CD32 Version…

The game box is a bit of a letdown, to be honest. While it certainly looks decent, it has that budget title vibe when viewed today — not exactly the most premium presentation.

The CD32 version was released in two different formats: a standard jewel case and a larger big box edition (as pictured above). My copy is the big box version, and I haven’t come across many of these over the years, so it might actually be somewhat rare — though I’ve never looked into it properly.

The Stuff Inside The Box…

The Big Box edition of Bubble and Squeak didn’t include a jewel case for the CD — instead, it came in a simple plastic sleeve. A bit underwhelming for collectors, but at least it kept the disc safe.

There are a few fun facts about the game that might surprise you:

• The original title was actually BubbleGum & Squeak.

• Early versions of the game featured three different titles across the packaging and materials: Bubble And Squeak, Bubble & Squeak, and even Bubble(gum) And Squeak.

• In 1997, Amiga Computing magazine gave the game away on their cover disk with the amusing tagline: “Be a bald baby in the cutest platformer ever from Audiogenic.”

• Interestingly, the CD32 version was the first to be released, with the A500 version arriving about a year later.

YouTube Ain’t Always The Best Representative…

Bubble and Squeak can be surprisingly challenging at times, mostly due to the pressure of time limits and some tricky puzzle mechanics. The game doesn’t always make your next objective clear, so when the clock starts ticking, it’s easy to panic and make a mistake.

As for the longplay video above, the framerate seems a bit off. It’s likely an issue with the recording or YouTube itself because the game runs silky smooth on my own setup.

I do wonder how many practice runs the player had before recording that longplay — completing it that fast is seriously impressive!

If you haven’t played Bubble and Squeak yet, now’s the time. It’s absolutely one of those must-play Amiga platformers that deserves a spot on your list.