Bust-A-Move DS Game by Majesco Entertainment, Taito Reviewed by Mikaa robbin12388@bellsouth.net Size: One DS Game Card Save: Battery Save, High Score and Unlockables saved Released: Late December 2005 Works with: Nintendo DS Price: US$20 Fast Thought: Not the best retro for the DS, but oddly addicting **************************************************************************** Opening Snide Remarks: I am depressed. No, not because another Christmas came and went too fast. Not because I have to go back to school this Monday. No, not because I have to wait till March for Metroid Prime Hunters or Tales of Phantasia. No, I am depressed because I have this sick feeling that I am the only person to visit DMG Ice that has actually played this in the arcades and actually spent a few dozen bucks on it. (Editor's Note: Do not be depressed, I would wager that 70% of our readers have played this game in arcades. I know I have spent a Hamilton or two on this one in arcades.) Bust-A-Move, to those that have not played a version that sucked (the N-Gage release, the GBA release, and that one cell phone version that I borrowed, I forget the provider) was a classic Taito arcade title where you controlled two chibi dinos (Bub & Bob from Bubble Bobble) as they tried to take out the bubbles at the top of the screen. To do this, you had a cannon that shot out bubbles of a color that matched one at the top of the screen. Should three or more bubbles align once the shot hits, they fall down. All the while, until the screen is cleared, the top of the screen lowers, and once the screen is cleared or the bubbles pass a set line, the round ends. Now that I have explained this, maybe I should stop ranting and get to the review, eh? **************************************************************************** Gameplay Descripion: If one thing can be said about Bust-A-Move, as a portable puzzler, it pales compared to the vastly superior Tetris, Colums, Lumines, Meteos, Polarium... OK, I think you get the point. So, why is it not as good? The main reason is that the game itself requires precision controls to aim your shots where you want them to go. True, it is kind of hard to replicate that joystick, but still, requiring such pinpoint targeting is difficult to expect of a portable. So, why am I explaining this? Because the DS release is possibly the first system on the market that can faithfully handle the targeting controls. Control comments will be further discussed below in more detail, but suffice it to say that the touch controls allow for this to actually be fun. There are a few modes to tackle, such as the mandatory puzzle mode (which somehow does not seem different from the main mode), a verses mode, a solo mode, and a multiplayer mode (which supports up to five players with either multi-card or single card modes, which is a plus). There are seven characters available from the start (with an unlockable one), but while there are probably some differences between them, I never noticed them. And since you know what the game is like (shoot bubbles, match up colors to knock them down, clear the board), that is all I can say here. The controls are a big part of the game though, and thus should be read to know if this is really any fun. Liked: Most faithful port for a portable since NGPC, still a fun game, addicting in a wierd way, and multiplayer support add up to some good qualities... Hated: ...but not enough to overlook the limited options. **************************************************************************** Graphics Description: One notable gripe on the Bust-A-Move games of late is the problem of telling different colors apart. Thankfully, this is not an issue of the DS release. And, thankfully, the animations are smooth, and never blurry. All in all, not bad. Normally, I would list this under Game Play, but because it is more of a graphical issue than actual game play problem, I do have to address one flaw: the targeting cursor (which shows you where the ball will hit) somehow does not go high enough on the screen to show exactly where the ball will hit. What makes this odd is that moving the cursor to extreme angles left or right proves that the cursor can extend far enough, but is somehow stopped by an invisible wall. Nothing that will destroy the game, but it can be annoying none the less. Liked: You can tell the difference between purple and blue, not horrible. Hated: That blasted target cursor and its limited range. **************************************************************************** Sound/Music Description: Ew. With few exceptions like Tetris and Lumines, the puzzle genre typically has few notable music tracks. Many more actually have "music" that will make you ears bleed. Thankfully, the music of Bust-A-Move DS is not THAT bad, it is still annoying and irritating. Granted, the series is not noted for music, but could it kill some one to try to be creative? Liked: Virtually no annoying voice samples. Hated: Irritating and clown-like music. Ick. **************************************************************************** Play Control/Game Design: Woo boy. Here we go. Standard Controls: The standard controls suffer the same problem as the dozens of ports before it: digital controls. True, this can be overcome with practice, but even with skill, the controls are needed to be so precise at times it kills whatever fun you might be having. I wish I could be positive about this, but the negatives outweigh the pros. Touch Controls: Here is an example of why the Touch Screen is a good part of the DS's design. Offering better precision than analog, the touch screen makes the game fun... ....except for that little issue about seeing past your hand. The lower screen, in addition to allowing you to fire your ball, shows the next ball and allows you to switch with a secondary ball. Given the fast pace of the game, not being able to see what is coming next, having to keep an eye on the lower screen to make sure you do not run out of time before the game fires for you, and that little issue of taking your eyes off the top screen add up to one headache. With patience and practice (notice how often that applies here?), this can be fixed. Still, the touch controls, even with these flaws, still make the game worth playing. Liked: Supports left or right-handeds, touch controls that actually work and were not thrown in for show... Hated: ...but can be tricky, and the main controls just suck. **************************************************************************** Improve: Options, extra modes, control options, a reason to have a choice of characters. RIYL: Puyo Pop (geez, what system does not have a version of this?), the Dr. Mario/Puzzle League pack (GBA), Meteos (DS), Lumines (PSP) **************************************************************************** Final Words: If this was more than US$20, I would not have bothered picking it up. As it is, it is the most faithful release since the NGPC port, and still a decent puzzle game in any event. Still, there are better options. **************************************************************************** Score Gameplay: *** (Three Stars) Graphics: ***** (Five Stars) Sound/Music: * (One Star) Play Control/Game Design: ** (Two Stars) Personal Opinion: *** (Three Stars) Total: * X 14 (Fourteen) Final Score: 56% **************************************************************************** Currently Known Codes: Note - the following are listed in the back of the manual (which I only found when I went back to check the credits, oddly enough) Note - Codes are entered at the Option Screen 250 Bonus Levels: If you "beat the first four rounds, and win any level in Round 5" (exactly what it says in the manual), you get a code for the "Dark World." Enter the code at the main menu, and a Dev. Icon will appear at the bottom of the screen to provide confirmation of correct input. Go back to Puzzle Mode to get 250 Dark World puzzles. Evil Troll (Hidden Character): Play and beat all five rounds of the "A" levels to activate the cheat. To activate the CHARACTER, you must turn the DS off and reboot to have the character selectable. Sound Test: Beat any letter in Round 5 to get a code that unlocks the Sound Test; entering the code brings it up. (whether or not this is a permenant option is unknown to me; I have yet to pull this off)