''Tumblebugs'' is a fast-paced puzzle game developed by

Wildfire Studios Wildfire Studios is an Australian video game developer that was established in 1995. It is based in Brisbane, Australia. Wildfire has developed several pinball games for video game publishers, but their most recent games are released through R ...

. It was released for a number of platforms, including

Windows Windows is a group of several proprietary graphical operating system families developed and marketed by Microsoft. Each family caters to a certain sector of the computing industry. For example, Windows NT for consumers, Windows Server for serv ...

Mac OS X macOS (; previously OS X and originally Mac OS X) is a Unix operating system developed and marketed by Apple Inc. since 2001. It is the primary operating system for Apple's Mac (computer), Mac computers. Within the market of ...

iOS iOS (formerly iPhone OS) is a mobile operating system created and developed by Apple Inc. exclusively for its hardware. It is the operating system that powers many of the company's mobile devices, including the iPhone; the term also includes ...

and

WiiWare WiiWare was a service that allowed Wii users to download games and applications specifically designed and developed for the Wii video game console made by Nintendo. These games and applications could only be purchased and downloaded from the Wii S ...

. An updated version for Windows, Tumblebugs Remastered was released for sale in April 2018.

Gameplay

The objective is to save all of the bugs rolling round the screen, before they reach the opening to the Black Bug Empire's underground lair. When one bug reaches the opening, the player loses a life and the other bugs in the line quickly rush underground. The player can save the bugs by firing a coloured bug from Tumble's back towards a group of two or more of the same coloured balls. When three or more of the same colour come in contact with each other, they are set free, possibly triggering other bugs to escape as part of a chain reaction. Occasionally, Powerup indicators will appear on bugs in the queue. If you complete the group while the Powerup is active, you'll collect that Powerup. If you don't collect it, the Powerup will flash quickly, and eventually disappear.

Game modes

''Tumblebugs'' has a choice of Story Mode or Time Trial Mode. In Story Mode there are four backyards where the Black Bugs have taken control, and a total of 12 levels. The level selection screen shows all of the levels you've unlocked so far. Each round is numbered to show where you are up to. For example, if you're on 3–2, this is the second round on level 3. Time Trial Mode is a test to see how long you can last on your favourite map, while the difficulty is gradually increased. You can choose from all of the maps you've already unlocked in Story Mode - as you progress through Story Mode new maps will unlock in Time Trial Mode.

Powerups

* Rewind: The Tumblebugs are briefly able to push back against their captors and move away from the lair. * Fast Forward: Bugs move more quickly toward the lair, but 500 points is scored which can help a great deal with reaching 100% complete. This powerup did not appear in Tumblebugs 2. * Stop: The bugs stop moving forward briefly, making shots easier. * Ballistic Bugs: For a limited time, you can launch bugs right over the top of the queue to reach the bugs at the rear which were impossible to get to before. * Wild Bugs: These multi-colored bugs match with any color they touch, even two at once! * Star Bug: Can bust through several lines of bugs, freeing each one it comes into contact with. Very useful for collecting other powerups! * Blossom Bug: Bugs are freed all at once in a circle around the powerup. * Color Burst: In a circle surrounding the powerup, bugs are all changed to the same color. * E-X-T-R-A Letters: Collect all of the letters to spell out the word EXTRA to be awarded an extra life.

iOS Version

The

versions of the game (the iPad version was called ''Tumblebugs HD'') were released to the Apple App Store on July 9, 2012. The games were offered for free with in-app purchase to unlock the entire game. These versions include minor enhancements such as an aiming target which appears shortly after touching and holding on the device screen and Game Center integration.

Sequel

''Tumblebugs 2'' was released on March 3, 2008.

Tumblebugs Remastered

In April 2018, Wildfire released ''Tumblebugs Remastered'' for Windows, an update to the original game featuring HD graphics and audio, performance enhancements, widescreen support, and Windows 10 compatibility.

References

{{reflist

External links

Official Tumblebugs homepage
MacOS games Puzzle video games Windows games WiiWare games 2005 video games Wii games Video games about insects Video games developed in Australia Single-player video games Big Fish Games games Wildfire Studios games