Getting Started  
 

From the start screen, select a screen resolution, then click “Play”.

Tips:
  • For slower computers and computers with video cards with 8 MB of RAM or less, choose 640x480.
  • Once in the game, you can further optimize performance by disabling the "background" option in the options menu from game menu.
This will bring up the game menu where you can further customize your options, start a one player game, or a two player game.

Playing the Game

Once you are in the game, basic gameplay is simple:
  • Your bucket at the bottom of the screen can be moved left and right, under one of the six columns of bubbles. Pressing the grab button will grab all consecutive bubbles of the same color from the column that you are currently in. Only one color of bubble can be held at one time. So, if you are already holding blue bubbles you can grab more blue bubbles from other columns, but not bubbles of any other color.
  • Pressing the release button will throw all bubbles that you are currently holding back onto the board, into the column that you are currently in. In doing this, if you have created a match of three or more bubbles of the same color in that column, those bubbles and any bubbles of the same color that they are touching will be removed from the playfield.
  • A row of bubbles is automatically added to each board every few seconds. Pressing the drop button will force a new row of bubbles to the playfield. Additionally, creating multiple color matches on your board (combos) will drop columns on your opponents board.

Hints

  • The best way to win is to create combos because they change your opponent's board by forcing their bubbles closer to the bottom of the screen.
  • If one of your columns is getting close to the bottom of the screen, make that column your priority by removing bubbles from it and placing them elsewhere.
  • Every time bubbles are removed from the board, all empty space is removed and the board is again checked for matches. If another match is immediately found, then you have just made a 1x combo! After removing those bubbles, if another match is found then the combo gets upgraded to a 2x combo, and so on. The bigger the combo, the more damage will be done to your opponent's board.
  • When you create a match, the bubbles that are about to be removed flash for a few seconds. During this time, try setting up another match in either the same column or another column to get a combo.
  • The joystick defaults to off. It can be turned on in the options menu. Make sure is has been properly calibrated by using the Windows control panel.
  • If the default keyboard setup isn't to your liking, then the game keys can be changed in the Options->Key Config menu. Having a keyboard configuration that is just right can make all the difference.