Casual gamers will love this game, especially if they want something to introduce them to the puzzle genre and the DS
The formula worked and it led to various sequals on multiple systems ranging from the good ole' Super Nintendo to the present day systems like Xbox, and more receantly, Nintendo Wii. Most of this versions played the same with the exception of the obvious cosmetic face lifts made to the visuals.
So getting back to the review, this version of Bust-A-Move is different to the rest in the series. It is different in that it tries a innovotive style of control involving both of the major features in the Nintendo DS: It's touch capabilities and two screens. So just how exactly do these changes actually peform when in action? Well, fantastic.
Bust-A-Move isn't famous for it's graphics and it doesn't try to make tech demo out of it's 3D visuals either. At best, you're looking at a bright colourful and whacky game that we've come to expect from the series, which is all good even if it looks more like a GBA game with two screens.
The game runs fast and smooth, which is always good, even in a puzzle game and the visual style is just wonderful to stare at.
It is the same case with the audio. Bust-A-Move DS has a very energentic soundtrack, it isn't something that is perhaps as memorible as in other puzz;e games like Tetris, but you'll like it's unique take on music also.
Gameplay is obviously how Bust-A-Move DS attempts to sell it's copies, atleast to more serious gamers anyway. The gameplay of Bust-A-Move was likeable to begin with although never in a way that makes it stand out from the rest of the puzzle genre.
Be glad that Nintendo invented the innovotion of the touch screen however because Bust-A-Move DS uses it really well. The touch screen makes precision much easier on Bust-A-Move DS which is both a positive and negative thing.
It's positive because newcomers will be able to easily pick up and play this game even if they're very casual gamers. Puzzle games try desperatly hard to suit all gamers and Bust-A-Move DS has come pretty close to totally delievering that experience. It's also negative though because Bust-A-Move DS can sometimes be too easy and that applies to everyone who plays it.
Let me explain, because of the touch guidance added to Bust-A-Move DS, control is much more free compared to it's predessors, there is even a line pointing to where the bubble you're about to shoot is expected to land which was never used throughout the entire game of the prequels.
Also Bust-A-Move DS benefits from unlimited continues, once again unlike it's predessors, which makes the game even less of a challange than you've originally expect.
Of course also, the game can become cheap and while there is swap feature for storing an extra bubble for when it's needed, the game tries to make you lose by purposly giving the wrong colour which could lead to possible fustrations.
Gamers who don't wish to be part of the touch revolution also have the option of using the buttons and control pad although unfortunatly it isn't designed anything like the old Bust-A-Move games and is fiddly because of it.
There is also little variety in modes and no real story mode which is a real blow if you expect to see the next adventures of Bub and Bob, although Bust-A-Move does make up for this.
It is a really long game! Boasting 500 puzzles in total (counting the secret ones). Also Bust-A-Move contains a variety of secrets, not just the levels, including an extra character, sound test and many others.
In the end, Bust-A-Move is a likeable game thanks to mainly to the uniquely different control making better use of the DS than other titles at the time of it's release. However it fails to truely bring a Bust-A-Move sequal to DS despite these changes and could also be compelted alot faster than the previous games in the series again, simply because of how easy it is in comparison.
Casual gamers will love this game, especially if they want something to introduce them to the puzzle genre and the DS itself, but other gamers are better off finding themselves Mr Driller or Bomberman if they want a real challange instead.