The premise of Soul Bubbles is relatively simple. You play the role of a shaman-in-training – basically a little flying fella with a swirly tattoo on his noggin – whose aim is to transport a bunch of tiny spirits around a hazard-strewn maze and into the goal. This is achieved by trapping them in a bubble and blowing them around. There is very little in the way of a story, other than the elder shaman popping up every now and then with advice. The gameplay is reminiscent of contemporary efforts like Locoroco, but also draws heavily from 1987 classic, Bubble Ghost - also produced in France.

As well as actually getting through to the end of level gateway, along the way you also gather stardust (think rings in Sonic) and 'Calabash' – three magical items hidden cunningly around each stage. Collecting all the Calabash from every stage unlocks a hidden level to be traversed after completing the main game. The game looks beautiful and immediately captivates with a wonderful, pastoral feel and real sense of life. Sonically, there is some gentle, unobtrusive music and effects that complement the on-screen action perfectly.

The idea of ushering the bubbles to safety is helped by the incredibly well implemented controls. The stylus is used to make the shaman blow the titular bubbles in any given direction. The d-pad has three functions mapped to the left, right and up directions. Holding up and drawing in a circular motion on the screen creates a new bubble. Holding left sees your avatar don an elephant mask, and, in this guise, touching the screen gradually reduces the size of any chosen bubble to the point where it pops. The final tool at your disposal is the tiger mask, which is used to cut bubbles and pesky obstacles. This comes into play when your bubble is too large to fit through a particular part of the course and you can split the bubble down, Asteroids-style, to squeeze through. Cutting is also used to chop back sticky vines, vegetation that hinders your progress, and even to slice through the tongues of the creepy chameleon-like creatures who attempt to chow down on your spirit-filled orbs.

In addition to the directional pad, the stylus is also used in a number of other ways. Enemies can be dispatched by tapping on the screen. Some rocks and debris can be destroyed by tapping or rubbing, and certain puzzles require turning handles using the stylus. There are also collectable fruits later in the game that enable the use of 'psychoseeds' – projectiles that can be used to shoot down enemies and remove obstacles by flicking the stylus from the centre of your bubble toward a target.

The main controls are married to a superb map and navigation system that makes solving the often tricky puzzles that little bit easier. Touching the edges of the lower screen can be used to scroll smoothly around the landscape. Hold down on the d-pad and the ever-present map which usually sits on the top of your clamshell switches places, and the stylus can be used to transport your shaman to any previously explored area of the stage.

There are 40 stages spread across 8 'worlds' – with each world introducing a new type of puzzle or gameplay mechanic. The physics-based puzzles are excellently designed and the learning curve just steep enough to keep you on your toes. One minute you are simply avoiding spikes which pop your bubble, the next you could be trying to guide a bubble through narrow tunnels in the dark. The elements are used to create new challenges: water can be trapped inside a carefully drawn bubble and then used to extinguish a fire, for example. There are also gas vents containing light and heavy gases which can be collected and used to break through into new areas or press switches that could not be moved using your bog-standard bubbles.

Sadly, it will not take you long to make your way through the stages on offer. Collecting the Calabash presents something of a challenge, and you are given a ranking after each stage which gives a touch of replay value to proceedings. It is difficult to criticise too harshly what French studio Mekensleep have conjured up here - under the guidance of veteran Frederick “Little Big Adventure” Raynal, no less - when the overall experience is so magically enjoyable.