Big Bang Mini (DS) Review

Posted by Ramon Aranda on 04.09.2009

Everybody loves fireworks, and I love Big Bang Mini!




Title: Big Bang Mini
Publisher: SouthPeak Games
Developer: Arkedo
Players: 1-2
Genre: Arcade Shooter
Rated: E for Everyone

When I had a chance to preview Big Bang Mini I came away pretty impressed. Now that I’ve had a chance to play the full version of the game, I’m even more impressed. Arkedo has created an addicting shooter that has a touch of Asteroids, Space Invaders, Galaga and other old school arcade shooters. Simply put, it’s a pretty fun game. The objective is pretty simple in that you’re trying to destroy a wave of enemies which bombard you with projectiles as you use your quick reflexes to dodge out of the way while collecting stars. Now let’s get into how that all is put together.

Gameplay

So you know your objective but how do you control this puppy? Well you’ll use your stylus to point and drag your ship to move around the bottom screen while your enemies are shown in the top screen. One thing I noticed during my preview and was glad to see it in the final version was that the game allows you to get pretty damn close to a projectile without hitting it. So for instance in some games, there’s like an invisible box or around an object and if you get close to it, you die or take damage. In this game though, there is no box and so unless you’re literally and visibly touching it, you can avoid it. When you take the stylus off the ship, you can drag your stylus in an upward motion to fire off your shots which can also be done diagonally. As you hit your enemies above, they release a colorful star which you’ll need to collect. After you’ve collected enough stars (you’ll have a meter on the left side of the screen to show you), you’ll pass the stage and move on to the next. After each new world, you’ll also get new power-ups; some of which you can keep and others that are only for use in that world. Not before getting to the bonus stage of course. The bonus stages make you trace stars in numerical order which becomes tougher as you get further into the game. If you lose, it’s no biggy as it doesn’t affect your game but getting all of the bonus stages complete will allow you unlock the Relax mode which I’ll take about later.

The game has 9 different worlds, each with 9 different levels and a boss battle. The boss battles are different than a normal stage as you don’t have to worry about collecting stars. All you gotta do is beat the boss down. Some of them are intimidating like the Pharaoh while others like the Rock n’ Roll Walrus are downright hilarious. I should note too that while you’re playing in a particular world, you can play any of the first five stages in whatever order you choose. You’ll just unlock the second set of stages (the final 4) after beating the first five.

There’s a few other modes in the game such as Versus, Challenge and Mission. Versus is played with two people and can be done with one single cartridge thankfully – I wish more developers allowed this! You’ll choose between three arenas and then commence to firing on your opponent. The DS will then be held book style so you can see the other player directly across from you. You then unleash bullets across to the other screen to try and destroy the other person while also avoiding not only their own bullets but other environmental obstacles such as bats or falling ledges. You can fire back your opponent’s bullets by tapping on them and you can also activate four power ups (assigned to either the d-pad or A/X/B/Y buttons). It’s a short and simplistic game mode but it’s pretty addictive. I played with my brother on many occasions and although sometimes the matches can be over quickly, it made us want to play over and over. It’s also a lot tougher to win that it seems and you have to be fast with the stylus to survive. The Challenge mode basically asks you to stay alive as long as you can with only one life and try to attain the highest score. This was pretty cool too and it really tests your skills. You’ll notice that you have a multiplier to help with your score if you’re nailing your enemies without missing. Your scores can also be uploaded onto an online leaderboard through Nintendo Wi-Fi.

Mission mode takes it even further by asking you to complete tough stages with certain challenges such as not having your weapon for a certain amount of time. Essentially there’s a ton of obstacles to overcome and only the highly skilled need apply.

Graphics

What a beautiful game – seriously. It has an old school look to it but with plenty of color and flare. Each world has a theme to it like Hong Kong, Luxor (an Egyptian themed world), or New York which was one of my favorites. In the New York stage, the look of not only the backgrounds but my enemies and my own ship took on a comic-inspired styled. It was cool to see cheesy lines like “POW” show up on screen when I defeated an enemy and it really gives the game a unique feel since each world looks so much different despite the same gameplay.

Some of the enemies also look funny such as clowns and snowmen while your bullets that turn into fireworks sometimes forced me to stare at the screen (though I sometimes got killed for it!). It’s just a gorgeous game to look at and I have to tip my hat off to the artists for taking such a unique approach. You don’t see many games like this and so to me it stands out.

Once you’ve unlocked Relax mode (remember I said I’d talk about it later?) by finishing all of those bonus levels in Arcade mode, you’ll be able to do all the staring you want without repercussions. This mode lets you check out all of those firework displays by simply launching them with the push of a button. Or if you feel like watching from a distance, you can set it to autofire so that it does it by itself. There’s been a few times when I leave it sitting on my desk at work just for kicks. I’ve had people walk by and stare at it too.

Sound

Just as the look and style of each world is unique, so too is the music. Most are pretty gentle themes but they’ve got a certain jingle to them that seem to fit each world. For the most part, I’d describe is as a techno-y beat that puts you in a good mood. I’d recommend playing the game with some headphones so you can really here it good, especially some of the music which has a little bass to it.

Lasting Appeal

The game isn’t that easy, at least not once you start getting into the 5th world and beyond so you may not beat Arcade mode quickly, but once you do, you’ll likely not play it again. However, Challenge mode will keep you coming back for more if you’re really intent on improving your scores. Add to that the online leaderboard which allows you to also check your friends’ scores, and you’ve got a reason to keep on playing. Relax mode is cool unto itself but another mode is kinda cool – Alarm Clock. Yes if you complete the Mission mode, you’ll unlock an alarm clock that lets you put up your favorite song from the game to wake your ass up. You can set the time and actually close the DS before you get into bed! Talk about a meaty package!

The 411

In simple terms, the game is fun, addictive and deep. Plus when you take into account the different game modes and essentially a free alarm clock at only $19.99, it’s not just a bargain price, it’s a steal! Save for maybe Orange Box from Valve, I haven’t seen a game with this much content in one little package. Pull out that $20 bill out of your wallet and head to the store right now (and maybe another buck or two for tax) – you won’t regret it!

Graphics	10.0	Colors are vibrant and flashy - urging you to stare. The mix of 2D and 3D works great.
Gameplay	10.0	Tough to master but easy enough to pick up and play. The challenge keeps you coming back.
Sound	8.0	Easy on the ears with a distinct flavor for each world. Firework sound effects could've been louder though.
Lasting Appeal	10.0	Seriously, the online leaderboards will keep you playing. The alarm clock can be used daily and multiplayer is addicting.
Fun Factor	9.0	I had a good time playing the game though multiplayer could've been a little deeper in options. Once you're good, you'll probably find the first couple of levels boring though.
Overall	9.4   [  Amazing ]

Screenshots
All 23 Big Bang Mini Screenshots