Bust-A-Move Universe
© 2011 Square Enix, Inc.
Fun, addictive but marked by frivolous use of 3D, Square Enix’s Bust-A-Move Universe is a graphically rich adaptation of the popular casual game, made specifically for the Nintendo 3DS. In case you've never played Bust-A-Move, the goal is to aim and shoot little colored balls, one at a time, into an approaching mass. If you can hit the same color, the balls pop, giving you more time and points. You beat the level when all the balls have been popped. When in the puzzle mode, there are 8 stages with 10 levels per stage, each represented by a planet. As with other versions of the game (there are thousands of Flash based editions on line) the game is simple enough for a four year old to play, but some of the later levels require a surprising amount of nuance, including using angles. While the 3D looks good, it adds little to the game play. In fact, we had just as much fun with the game with the 3D turned off. While the stages get progressively harder, they never really add anything new, so things can get stale. Still, the successful rendering of the Bust-A-Move game mechanic in 3D is evidence of just how far games have come, since Taito released the original version in 1994. Just make sure you have a 3DS.
$30, Nintendo 3DS
Teaches: logic, timing
CTR Rating: 82.5%