Tingle's Balloon Fight is a great collector's item that doesn't add anything to the game it's based on.
In TBF, and the original, the main goal is to pop all of your opponents' balloons by floating above them and kicking them. Everything is handled with just the D-pad and the A or B button. Keep tapping the buttons to ascend, and move with the D-pad. It's very simple, but it can get very addictive.
There are 3 modes to play with in TBF: you've got the basic Mode A, which is the game mentioned above; Mode B, which is a multiplayer version of Mode A; and then Mode C, known better as Balloon Trip. In Balloon Trip, Tingle automatically floats to the left, and you have to maneuver him around a course filled with dangerous lightning balls. The mode is basically endless, but it stops every few minutes to let you catch a break.
Actually, every mode seems to be endless. One new feature in Tingle's version is auto-saving. This makes playing through the game much less of a hassle, and adds to its playability. The only other new features are the options of using old and new sound effects/music and looking at odd pictures of Tingle in some sort of art gallery. Japanese humor is weird sometimes.
All in all, Tingle's Balloon Fight is a worthy addition to anyone's DS library. It may be difficult to track down, but collectors and old-school gamers should find it worth the price of admission. The game generally goes between 25 and 40 dollars on eBay, so it's not all that much more than a normal DS game. It was clearly designed to be a free games for the fans, so that allows one to forgive most of its shortcomings.
Breakdown:
Presentation: 6/10- Screams Tingle. Very odd, but still silly. Stylus use is only for menu navigation.
Graphics: 5/10- nothing that you couldn't see on the GBA; bland, but it certainly isn't ugly.
Sound: 5/10- The new stuff is instantly forgettable, often as you play, too. The old-school soundtrack is the only place you can hear the cIassic theme, but only in the bonus levels; the other retro tracks all sound like they have no real order, as if someone just slapped together a few high-pitched beeps and boops.
Gameplay: 8/10- The cIassic Balloon Fight formula is still just as fun and addictive today. Technically only 2 different modes, but they're both fun. Could have used power-ups, or something
Lasting Value: 8/10- Every mode is endless, there are a few pictures to unlock in the gallery (if you really want them), wireless single-card multiplayer for up to 4 people. Perfect for pick-up-and-play sessions, or bathroom trips.
Verdict: If you're a collector, retro-fan, or Tingle-obsessed maniac, it's worth it.