Bust-A-Move II: Arcade Edition
Game by (Taito/Acclaim)
Reviewed by (Tuxedo Mask)
(tanooki@flash.net)
(http://nwjb.vintagegaming.com)
Size: (131KB)
Save: (NO Save/Passwords)
Released: (1997)
Works with: (Gameboy)
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Opening Snide Remarks: Hey wasn't Bust-A-Move that arcade game with the
dinos from Bubble Bobble and loaded with color?  How the hey could that have
ended up on a black and white Gameboy?  Well it did, relax, it works.

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Gameplay Descripion: This is a game much like Tetris was for the Gameboy as
it is something you will buy and surely play again and again.  The concept
in Bust-A-Move II is simple, match up 3 like bubbles and make them drop.  It
is best if you try and make more drop with bank shots around parts that do
extend out.  To do this may seem simple but it can be challenging.  The idea
it to move a motorized shooter at the bottom, line it up, fire, and hope
that it takes out what you want.  This game has multiple paths with various
puzzles within each which adds a lot of depth to the game, and will give a
slightly different end for each route you finish upon.

Liked: If you liked the arcade game, you can't go wrong with this.
Hated: Didn't have any problems with the game for what it is.

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Graphics Description: Here's where the game gets a little dodgy, but all in
all pulls off the game quite nicely.  Those who know that Bust-A-Move in the
arcade is a color matching game it's a wonder this was done in black and
white but a great system was devised.  For the Gameboy it was worked out to
use different shapes and shades of gray with black and white to make all the
bubbles needed.  Fortunatley once you get used to the shapes it works well.

Liked: I liked the intuitive use of shapes to make this game work.
Hated: I also hated the shapes just because I was used to the colors.

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Sound/Music Description: Simple, short, and sweet.  The tunes from the
arcade unit are captured quite decently on the Gameboy, even my favorite of
tunes, the pull over level theme from the original BAM.

Liked: The great attention to make the music sound close to the originals.
Hated: No problems, sounded nice.

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Play Control/Game Design: This is one place I feel the game does suffer just
a bit sadly with this game.  If I haven't played this game in awhile I find
that I often don't line up the shooter accurately and miss my shots.  Sadly
it's not my fault entirely as the arrow doesn't seem to aim perfectly to
where it should go, its like a pixel or two off.  One you get used to that
on the more angled shots you'll be fine.

Liked: The shooter that releases the bubbles needed to break more...but...
Hated: I didn't like how the shooter's arrow isn't exactly accurate.

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Improve: My only real gripe with the game is the play control as the shooter
is not all that accurate on more angled shots.  I'd hit the game for color
but that's not fair for the era it came out for, and the shape concept saved
it very nicely.

RIYL: Bust-A-Move '99 for Original Gameboy and Bust-A-Move 4 for GB Color.

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Final Words: If you are a fan of the puzzle genre, or more specifically the
Bust-A-Move franchise from Taito do pick this up as its worth the price.
Also like Tetris this game will have you put it down one day, and come back
to play it again and again.

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Score
Gameplay: 4 of 5 stars
Graphics: 3 1/2 of 5 stars
Sound/Music: 5 of 5 stars
Play Control/Game Design: 3 of 5 stars
Personal Opinion: 4 of 5 stars
Total: 20 out of 25


Final Score: 78%

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Currently Known Codes:

Extra Levels: On the title (that says "press start") press Up, A, Down, B.
A little icon will appear to let you know it worked and now there are more
new puzzles to play.

Time Trial Codes:
Levels  Password

1-20: 'DINO'
1-30: 'SHAM'
1-40: 'PARCK'
1-50: 'CHUN CHUN'
1-60: 'MAITA'
1-70: 'CHOKKINTA'
1-80: 'BUBLEN'
1-88: 'MADAM YAN'