Nintendo DS Bust - A - Move
Posted January 22, 2006
Ahh Bust-A-Move. Quite possibly the most popular Tetris clone ever made. Now after countless iterations the game finally makes a huge splash on the DS platform, featuring one of the best examples of old gameplay being reinvigorated with the new DS touch technology.
Gameplay:
The game has very simple rules. You throw colored balloons upwards at a stack of balloons that are steadily and slowly moving downward. If you can connect three or more of the same colored balloons then they all explode and more take their place. Your object is the explode and clear all balloons on the screen at once. If the balloons reach you, your game is over.
The DS version, of course, has a new twist on the gameplay. You pull the bubble back like a slingshot and aim it and let it go. At first I thought this was very inaccurate, but then I played a few games and at some point I realized the new style is a lot more precise. You'll find yourself getting the balloon to places you'd never imagine. The game is more immersive too, you feel like you are really slinging those balloons. After a while your hand might become cramped so pause it and take regular breaks to stretch your fingers.
There are several modes for good replay value. Including single & multi-player modes.
Multiplayer has a DS wireless mode (hook up to different people with DS's in the same room who also have the game) and also DS download mode to play with others players who don't have the game. I didn't play any multiplayer games, but judging by the VS CPU mode (see below) I don't think this is where the game really shines.
Single Player mode also has a variety of modes:
Puzzle Mode - There are 25 different puzzle stages you must defeat. Each stage is a different puzzle scenario where the balloons have been placed strategically throughout the stage. It doesn't seem to get more difficult as you go on, just different, but at least it makes for good variety.
Endless Mode - just like Tetris, this mode is never ending. The better you do the more the backgrounds will change graphics and the pace speeds up. It is very entertaining though with the different elements they have incorporated into the gameplay, such as a special balloon that will burst all of a single color on the stage. You really have to think quickly in this mode, it will really challenge you. Every single balloon you place will effect your future choices so place each balloon carefully.
Vs. CPU Mode - compete against the computer. The CPU has a tiny screen in the corner to see how they are doing and if they lose first you win. It's hard to keep track of them due to the tiny map showing their progress and you don't really seem to directly effect them. I didn't find this mode very interesting and definitely the biggest letdown.
There are also a bunch of characters to choose from as your avator. This aspect of the game is also pretty boring. The avators have different stories and looks but all play exactly the same and no one has any special powers over the other. If they could incorporate some style element to the characters this might be interesting.
One minor quibble with the new control scheme is I wish there was a larger touch area for pulling the bubble back, adding even more control and preciseness. For example, side banking is relatively tricky since there isn't a ton of room to pull it to the side.
This has to be stated: this game is addictive. I found myself playing really long sessions and afterwards never thinking I'd play again. Then the next day I had a strange urging to play it again.
Graphics:
The graphics are typical of the SNES era in all its 2d goodness. Bright, fresh 16-bit colors with great pixelated animation make it super fun to play. It looks exactly like the arcade version of the game which is a very good thing.
The only problem I had at all with this game's graphics is they are a little hard to see at times, especially during the day. This is due to the split screen angle making the bottom screen â€" which is very important for the gameplay - look washed out and hard to see. Since this is where you see the color of your balloon, you will often mess up on which balloon you think you are seeing. Especially between the orange and the red, they look almost exactly alike when the screen is washed out, and causing you to slow down by tilting the screen to make sure you know the color will make you lose a lot faster. This is more a DS problem than the game's problem, and will hopefully be rectified with the newest version of the DS. Just play it in a dark room and it should be no big deal.
Audio:
A very catchy song is constantly playing during the game and, yes, it will get stuck in your head for as long as you play this game. You'll hum it at work, in the car, while you shop, and others will think you are insane. What they don't realize is that you are insane. There's nothing much to the audio other than the blips, bleeps and other old school array of sounds found here.
Conclusion:
Bust-A-Move DS is a fantastic example of how to create an old game on a new platform. The employing of the DS touch technology with classic Bust-A-Move gameplay is genius. This game is wickedly addicting and will keep you entertained for hours on end. Long story short, this game is a real treasure that you shouldn't be without if you own a DS.
Gameplay:
The game has very simple rules. You throw colored balloons upwards at a stack of balloons that are steadily and slowly moving downward. If you can connect three or more of the same colored balloons then they all explode and more take their place. Your object is the explode and clear all balloons on the screen at once. If the balloons reach you, your game is over.
The DS version, of course, has a new twist on the gameplay. You pull the bubble back like a slingshot and aim it and let it go. At first I thought this was very inaccurate, but then I played a few games and at some point I realized the new style is a lot more precise. You'll find yourself getting the balloon to places you'd never imagine. The game is more immersive too, you feel like you are really slinging those balloons. After a while your hand might become cramped so pause it and take regular breaks to stretch your fingers.
There are several modes for good replay value. Including single & multi-player modes.
Multiplayer has a DS wireless mode (hook up to different people with DS's in the same room who also have the game) and also DS download mode to play with others players who don't have the game. I didn't play any multiplayer games, but judging by the VS CPU mode (see below) I don't think this is where the game really shines.
Single Player mode also has a variety of modes:
Puzzle Mode - There are 25 different puzzle stages you must defeat. Each stage is a different puzzle scenario where the balloons have been placed strategically throughout the stage. It doesn't seem to get more difficult as you go on, just different, but at least it makes for good variety.
Endless Mode - just like Tetris, this mode is never ending. The better you do the more the backgrounds will change graphics and the pace speeds up. It is very entertaining though with the different elements they have incorporated into the gameplay, such as a special balloon that will burst all of a single color on the stage. You really have to think quickly in this mode, it will really challenge you. Every single balloon you place will effect your future choices so place each balloon carefully.
Vs. CPU Mode - compete against the computer. The CPU has a tiny screen in the corner to see how they are doing and if they lose first you win. It's hard to keep track of them due to the tiny map showing their progress and you don't really seem to directly effect them. I didn't find this mode very interesting and definitely the biggest letdown.
There are also a bunch of characters to choose from as your avator. This aspect of the game is also pretty boring. The avators have different stories and looks but all play exactly the same and no one has any special powers over the other. If they could incorporate some style element to the characters this might be interesting.
One minor quibble with the new control scheme is I wish there was a larger touch area for pulling the bubble back, adding even more control and preciseness. For example, side banking is relatively tricky since there isn't a ton of room to pull it to the side.
This has to be stated: this game is addictive. I found myself playing really long sessions and afterwards never thinking I'd play again. Then the next day I had a strange urging to play it again.
Graphics:
The graphics are typical of the SNES era in all its 2d goodness. Bright, fresh 16-bit colors with great pixelated animation make it super fun to play. It looks exactly like the arcade version of the game which is a very good thing.
The only problem I had at all with this game's graphics is they are a little hard to see at times, especially during the day. This is due to the split screen angle making the bottom screen â€" which is very important for the gameplay - look washed out and hard to see. Since this is where you see the color of your balloon, you will often mess up on which balloon you think you are seeing. Especially between the orange and the red, they look almost exactly alike when the screen is washed out, and causing you to slow down by tilting the screen to make sure you know the color will make you lose a lot faster. This is more a DS problem than the game's problem, and will hopefully be rectified with the newest version of the DS. Just play it in a dark room and it should be no big deal.
Audio:
A very catchy song is constantly playing during the game and, yes, it will get stuck in your head for as long as you play this game. You'll hum it at work, in the car, while you shop, and others will think you are insane. What they don't realize is that you are insane. There's nothing much to the audio other than the blips, bleeps and other old school array of sounds found here.
Conclusion:
Bust-A-Move DS is a fantastic example of how to create an old game on a new platform. The employing of the DS touch technology with classic Bust-A-Move gameplay is genius. This game is wickedly addicting and will keep you entertained for hours on end. Long story short, this game is a real treasure that you shouldn't be without if you own a DS.