I haven't had a decent night's sleep in over a week. Everything was fine until Trent Ward caught me in the midst of my latest video game addiction, and now I can't play Buster Bros. Collection at work anymore. Therefore I'm forced to limit my use to off-hours, and this scenario has had me up all night, popping bubbles until Mr. Sleepy dopes me up and drags me away to Dreamland.
For those of you unfamiliar with my drug of choice, the original Buster Bros. put you in the shoes of a man armed with a harpoon gun. You, as this crazy little pith helmet-wearing guy, have to pop a collection of huge bubbles within a certain time limit. The levels start out with just you and the bubbles, but later levels add platforms, ladders, and animals that impede your progress. Super Buster Bros. expands slightly on the theme and adds a panic mode, which, like a game of Tetris, doesn't end until you blow it. The third installment, entitled Buster Buddies, features four different characters, each with a different weapon. The graphics have also been updated; each character is rendered Donkey Kong Country-style, and the backgrounds are famous works of art.
The gameplay in Buster Bros. Collection is astounding. I was heavily into Super Buster Bros. when it came out on the SNES, and I thought I had broken my habit, but this collection caused a major relapse. Sometimes I sneak away in the middle of meetings just to pop a few bubbles. People think I'm crazy, and I'm starting to think they're right - I need help.
This may be the last review you see from me for awhile; I'm planning on faking a death in the family so I can spend some time mastering Panic Mode. If you think you can handle it, the Buster Bros. Collection is a perfect example of a classic game that still has a lot to offer gamers today. It may not have the flashiest graphics or the best sound effects, but the hardcore action of Buster Bros. Collection more than makes up for these minute problems.
