It's not just many gamers who want to return to simpler times (and concepts) these days -- designers are feeling a little nostalgic as well, it seems, if the first DS project by new French studio Mekensleep is any indication. And you know what's simple? Bubbles. Specifically, Soul Bubbles.After struggling in the increasingly crowded and complicated world of MMOs, Mekensleep founder Olivier Lejade wanted a break. A return to days gone by ... perhaps even something childish and simplistic, and that's where the bubbles came in. It was a simple concept: blowing bubbles and moving them around. But how to turn such a simple concept into a fully-realized game? For that, Lejade turned to legendary French designer Frédérick Raynal. They worked along with Omar Cornut to produce something that was a little bit Loco Roco, a little bit Super Monkey Ball, and all DS.
The game, which has been picked up by Eidos for a debut next year, features tiny spirits encased in bubbles, and players must navigate them through various levels. They can bounce, shrink, grow, and split their way through and around various obstacles. It may sound simple enough, but Lejade and the newly-formed Mekensleep have been working on the game for more than three years, all in an effort to make something fun that would stand out in a field dominated by training games and remakes.
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