Bust-a-Move Bash! (Wii) Review
Posted by Cory Moore on 06.05.2007
Majesco hops on the Wii bandwagon and attempts to create a puzzler that could break new ground with its eight-person multiplayer. Does it live up to the hype, or is yet another Wii game that fails to capitalize on the system's party atmosphere? Find out inside!
First introduced as an arcade game in 1994, Bust-a-Move (Puzzle Bobble in Japan) has been delivering a solid puzzle experience for well over a decade. The series has appeared on seven different home consoles, numerous handhelds, and mobile devices. Now, the puzzler attempts to return to basic gameplay while incorporating some new elements to take advantage of the next generation’s capabilities. Will this Wii version succeed in its promise to give Wii owners a solid multiplayer experience they have been yearning for, or will the new features prove to be too much to comprehend? Read on to find out!
Graphics:
The graphics in Bust-a-Move Bash! are standard puzzle game fare. The design is top notch. Ranging from a winter wonderland to an amusement park, every level has its own unique scenery and animations. The downside is that the scenery isn’t interactive, thus failing to add any gameplay flavor to individual levels. The Wii may not possess a great graphics engine, but this game’s visuals could’ve easily appeared on the original Playstation. Thankfully, there’s no clipping or lagging issues to be seen, so that’s a big plus.
The backgrounds are wonderfully designed, but some sort of interactivity would’ve boosted their value ten-fold.
Gameplay: Bust-a-Move Bash! returns the series to its roots with basic, straightforward gameplay. The objective in Bust-a-Move is to destroy bubbles that are intertwined and descend from above. By lining up three or more of the same color, these bubbles disintegrate and eliminate any bubbles that may be connected to them. Once all bubbles have been disconnected from the nodes that bind them, the puzzle stage is completed.
Bust-a-Move’s primary and most interesting challenge, Puzzle Mode, takes the above formula and cycles through areas including 50 stages each. In Endless Mode, the goal is to destroy as many descending bubbles and special jewels as possible before running out of real estate. The final single-player mode, Shooting Mode, is a glorified target practice, with the goal being to destroy as many independent bubbles that rapidly move across the screen in every direction.
The single-player experience is the most enthralling portion of the game. Each area in Puzzle Mode takes almost an hour to complete, which is a great way to pass time while you’re sitting around bored. Endless Mode is exciting because chains – activated by excess bubbles eliminated with a larger, three-bubble link – give the mode certain unpredictability. The only real flaw in the single-player experience is Shooting Mode. It sounds fun in theory, but any strategy of the mode is pretty much thrown out the window when changing the color setting with the D-Pad becomes a chore and the player simply opts to aim for a specific color while disregarding the others. Thankfully, the mode doesn’t deter from the overall package because it is not integral to any major success in the game.
In previous Bust-a-Move titles, versus mode consisted of split-screen action. When a player would score, the eliminated bubbles would travel to the opponent’s screen, thus frustrating him or her in the effort to clear the playing field. BAM Bash’s versus mode – which supports up to 8 players via nunchuk/classic controller attachments – is closely related to the game’s Endless mode. The only difference is that versus mode does not end when bubbles reach the breaking point – they simply fall off – and the winner is determined by the number of jewels destroyed in the set time limit. For the first few times, this mode is really fun. Then, you realize the best way to eliminate jewels is to randomly fire away, which more often than not scores more chains than if you were slowly calculating your next move. This is unfortunate, because it really disrupts the competitive nature that the series is known for.
Bash!’s multiplayer ditches strategy and relies on frantic gameplay that can get downright confusing for first timers and veterans alike.
The central part of any Bust-a-Move game is how one controls the bubble cannon. Bash! provides a variety of control schemes. Some work, some do not. It’s that simple. The gun with the target sensor is the most accurate. To control your gun, you point your Wii remote to the screen and shift it left to right. If you kick up the control difficulty one notch and disable the sensor, you get sketchy results. The gun mode can be sensitive, but once you get a feel for it and avoid jerky motions, you’ll feel right at home. The baton control scheme is meant to replicate the on-screen action, as you hold the Wii remote in front of your face and tilt it accordingly. Unfortunately, this scheme is sluggish, stiff, and just doesn’t work well at all. In multiplayer mode, you have the option of using the classic controller (a traditional aiming with the D-Pad) or the Nunchuk (the flawed baton system described above).
Sound: Bust-a-Move continues the tradition of happy, fun background tunes and childish voiceovers for in-game accomplishments. The music loops after a minute, and your patience could wear thin depending on your mood. If you’re having a stress-free week, this game’s music could likely convince you to join a world peace campaign. If you’re having a bad day, though, you’ll probably want to hurl something at your stereo system, even if you’re winning. Let’s just say boy bands have more masculinity than Bust-a-Move’s audio, and leave it at that.
Lasting Appeal:
With 500 levels to conquer in Puzzle mode, this game will keep you occupied for a good while. Like any puzzle game, the endless number of situations makes for a fresh experience every time. There’s a wide variety in the size of levels, too. If there is one complaint, it’s that the game doesn’t reinvent the series in any way. It’s classic Bust-a-Move through and through, which will please just about any puzzle enthusiast. Players who are itching for a new way to experience the series may be disappointed, though.
Bash! has a plentiful assortment of single-player puzzles, but lacks the completeness of other great titles in the genre.
Fun Factor: Bust-a-Move’s charm has always lied in its simple, colorful and energetic personality. You can easily sit down with this game and look up at the clock two hours later wondering, “Where did the time go?” Puzzle game fans will adore its classic single-player situations. The only missing component lies in the multiplayer mode’s lack of direction. It’s bound to get a rise out of those looking for sheer chaos, but most gamers will put down their Wiimotes in head-scratching confusion.
The 411: Bust-a-Move always delivers the goods in the puzzle genre, and Bash! is no exception to this rule. As a next-gen game, though, it isn’t especially impressive. It is a loaded single-player experience, but the Wii has plenty of those already. Instead of attracting new audiences and giving a worthwhile eight-player experience, its multiplayer mode is more confusing and pointless than it is competitive and fun. Though it is flawed, the game still offers a tremendous experience in short or long spurts. BAM Bash! doesn’t offer enough to justify its steep price tag ($39.99), but when it hits the budget racks, it’s definitely worth your time.
Graphics
6.5
Backgrounds are as colorful as ever, but still don’t interact with the puzzling action. The series hit its graphical peak two console wars ago.
Gameplay
7.5
Classic Bust-a-Move gameplay will have any fan feeling right at home. The Wii remote acting as your cannon works best control-wise, but stay away from the baton selection altogether.
Sound
5.0
Looping tracks and repeated sound effects don’t add originality to the series, but still perform their functions well.
Lasting Appeal
6.5
Four modes of play look impressive from the outset, but the Shooting and Versus modes are flawed by design. 500 Puzzle mode stages and the unpredictable Endless mode make up for the game’s other problems.
Fun Factor
8.0
A solid single-player experience means you can snag a quick fix or be roped into playing this title for hours. Just don’t expect much competitiveness from the multiplayer mode.
