Reviewed: February 22, 2006
Reviewed by: Mark Smith

Publisher
Majesco

Developer
Happy Happening
Taito

Released: December 13, 2005
Genre: Puzzle
Players: 1-5
ESRB: Everyone

9
6
5
9
8.2

Supported Features:

  • Wireless Single-Card Play (5 Players)
  • Wireless Multi-Card Play (5 Players)

    		•
    Bust-a-Move DS might just be the most addicting NDS puzzle game since Zoo Keeper. This time Bub and Bob return to center stage as they fling bubbles from the bottom screen to the top in an attempt to match 3 or more bubbles causing them to pop.

    Game Play Features:

    • Over 250 puzzles to complete plus tons of secret puzzles to open (500 in all)
    • Strategically use special bubbles like Bomb, Star, Rainbow and the grief causing Nuisance bubble
    • Multiplayer tournaments via wireless link with up to 5 people
    • Perform attacks, defense and counter attacks during multiplayer via the touch screen
    • Stock special bubbles and save them for the right moment to get the maximum points
    • Pull back Bub and Bob’s slingshot with the Nintendo DS stylus to control where your bubbles hit
    As always, the gameplay is simple in premise but can get extremely challenging as you advance your way through hundreds of fiendishly clever puzzle screen.

    Bust-a-Move DS brings all of the bubble bursting, puzzle fun onto the Nintendo DS, but unlike most puzzle games that require logic and reflexes, Bust-a-Move also requires a bit of geometric and dexterity skills in planning and lining up complex bank shots. And with the manual slingshot aiming system, even the straight shots can get a bit tricky.

    Fans of the original game design can opt for the more traditional button aiming system, but I have to admit that the use of the touch screen really brings this franchise into a whole new light. You now have much more direct control over each shot and skilled players can speed up the pace of the game greatly. Without the touch screen, you just have a handheld version of a game that has already been done to death.

    Regardless of your aiming method, you have to act fast because with each second you waste deciding your next move, the cluster of bubbles get lower and lower, plus each bubble shot is also timed and if you don’t make a shot your current bubble with launch regardless and usually not where you want it.

    Bust-a-Move DS integrates a bit of strategy by allowing you to keep a bubble of your choosing in reserve. You can swap your current bubble with this extra one at anytime, which can often mean the difference between a record time or failing a level entirely.

    You’ll also need to examine the boards quickly to determine key attachment points. Often, an expertly placed bank shot can burst a bubble cluster and win the level only a few moves into it. There are also special “rainbow” bubbles that will adapt to the same color as any attached cluster that is removed, and special “star” bubbles you can fire to remove all bubbles in the puzzle of that same color. There is even a black bomb you can fire into the cluster destroying anything it touches.

    The presentation for the game is pretty basic, even for handheld standards. You simply pick Single or Multiplayer from the title screen. Single player offers a Puzzle mode, Endless mode, and a VS CPU mode.

    Puzzle mode is divided up into 5 stages you access by scrolling sideways, and within each of those are 5 levels lettered A-E. Each level is comprised of 10 puzzles and your finishing time is added up for each as well as your score. All levels start off with a 30-minute par time that shouldn’t be too hard to beat.

    Endless mode gives you an infinite series of puzzles and tracks your time to finish each while VS CPU recreates the multiplayer experience by having you play against computer controlled opponents. This is not only highly challenging but also great practice for when you do link up for real multiplayer.

    With a multiplayer mode allowing 5 people to play via the Nintendo DS’ wireless link, this Bust-a-Move will prove to be the ultimate battle party game. There are modes for both download play and multi-card play and the Tournament mode supports up to five players including human and CPU mixes.

    Multiplayer is basically the same as the single player game only clearing clusters of bubbles earns you power-ups you can use against your opponents. All other player screens are tracked in miniature views along the edge of the two DS screens.

    Bust-a-Move DS is certainly a colorful game but not all that imaginative. The stage select screens are rather boring having you pick your levels by clicking on seashells or some other object specific to the theme of the screen. You can also pick from nearly a dozen charming characters but this does nothing for the actual game. It only determines the sprite image that will be used to fling the bubbles into the playing field.

    The actual gameplay screens fare a bit better than the presentation visuals. The bubbles are colorful with subtle touches of animation. There is a helpful dotted line that shows the trajectory of your next shot based on your current stylus position. This targeting line gives you just enough information on your shot without spoiling the gameplay.

    The music can get a bit repetitive but oddly, not annoying. It’s charming old-school tunes with a few familiar themes tossed in from previous games in the genre.

    Sound effects are equally as simple and even a bit retro with simple “popping” sounds as the various bubble clusters are removed from the playing area. Simple sounds for a simple game.

    With 500 puzzles divided into 50 levels, each of which can take anywhere from 10-30 minutes, Bust-a-Move DS can take several weeks of casual play to complete. I’ve had some puzzles that can take ten second and others up to three minutes each. If you fail a puzzle you have unlimited continues to try again from that same place.

    The multiplayer is fantastic fun and the single-card play will easily allow you to share the game with your friends and probably entice them to buy their own copy.

    Bust-a-Move DS is all about the gameplay as clearly evident by the total lack of any fluff leading up to it. The selection screens are as basic as it gets and the character designs, while charming, have no real bearing on gameplay.

    But glitz and glamour aside, this is one challenging and addictive puzzle game that will keep you highly entertained for weeks and months to come. A definitely recommendation if you love puzzles games rooted in logic and skill.