How to be bubblific - Bubble Witch Saga 2 tips, hints, and cheats

Ever wanted to play a version of Taito's Puzzle Bobble that is stuffed with endless in-app purchases and features all the charm and joy of a cinder block?

Then, King has you covered with bubble-popping puzzle sequel Bubble Witch Saga 2, which came out on iOS and Android this week.

The game isn't terribly good, but it has predictably shot up the App Store charts. So, we reckon there's a good chance some of you lot will be playing it, and will be in need of some advice.

Here, then, are some handy tips for getting the most out of this free-to-play game. I can hardly contain my excitement.

Aim for the weak spot



Sometimes, you'll notice that an entire branch of bubbles is being held in place by just a few like-coloured bubbles. Match those support bubbles and you'll notice that all the lower bubbles will fall down.

Not only will you get lots of bonus points as the bubbles drop into the buckets below, but you'll also clear away big chunks of the level in no time.

Bounce off walls



Firing a bubble straight up won't get you very far in Bubble Witch Saga 2. To hit weak spots or to lodge a bubble in a tight gap, you have to bounce a bubble off the side of the level.

Use the trajectory line to see where the bubble will travel. This line is quite short, though, so you'll have to guess the rest. But take your time - outside of Hot Pot mode, there's no need to rush.

And remember that in all levels except 'Clear the top' you can also bounce balls off of the ceiling for extra tricky shots.

Combos



You can start racking up a combo by making matches of three or more bubbles in a row. You'll notice a little counter in the corner after your third match that reads "3 Hits!"

Get to six hits, and you'll enter Hot Pot mode. Here, any bubbles that are dislodged and drop into the buckets below yield you double points. Work fast, though, as those buckets won't stay hot for long.

Use line blast and Hot Pot



Line blasts, which are introduced in Level 26, are a perfect complement to Hot Pot. Get six matches in a row to start the score doubler, then use the line blasts to topple loads of bubbles into the buckets below.

Save your boosts



Your boosts, like rainbow bubble and fire bubble, are limited. You'll get a few for free, then you'll need to spend gold to get more. So, use your free supply very carefully and only when you'd lose a precious life without a boost.

Concentrate on the task at hand



If your goal is to removes bubbles from the ghost, or animals, or the top of the screen, focus your efforts on achieving that goal above getting loads of points.

You have a limited number of bubbles. And they should all go towards the main objective.

Change your mind



Started aiming but decide you'd rather switch ball?

You can cancel a shot by aiming at the bottom of the screen and letting go. If you're in landscape mode, you can swipe your thumb off to the side of the screen to cancel.

Play something better



Want a better time-wasting puzzler for your commute? Something original, charming, and not reaching out for your wallet at every turn?

Try cheeky number cruncher Threes!, imaginative water fiddler Where's My Water?, celestial multi-touch multitask game Eliss Infinity, relaxing paper puzzler Kami, and hidden gem Super 4.