Build ‘n Bash3D HD Review

Build ‘n Bash may sound like a cool thing you do with Lincoln Logs and a mallet. One of these two assumptions would be correct. You will be doing a lot of building, but there are no Lincoln Logs, and the mallet is more like fire, ice, or termites. It is almost as much fun as it sounds as well.

There is a decent amount of modes to play in this game. The single player portion will challenge your abilities to construct buildings as quickly and accurately as possible. A spin on this is a mode where beams spew forth and you just need to get them into place as fast as you can. You can also take your building skills against computer opponents. Fight against one computer AI, or take on up to four opponents in a frenzy to get your building erected quickly. The battle games all come with destructive powers that can be unleashed to set your enemies back. Fighting the computer is actually a decently fun time.

The last mode of play comes by way of two-player split screen. All the fun that is in the time battles and computer fights is brought to the friendly battles. While this is always way more fun that fighting the computer, the split screen does have the disadvantage of constantly hitting each other as you try to both unleash your super powers.

The game carries a fun visual presentation. Buildings rotate with ease, beams change from red to green to indicate they can be dropped, and explosions send parts all over the screen. Super powers range in their visuals, but when you are being attacked, it is very apparent. The sound is a bit lack luster with it almost sounding a bit too high-pitched. It is a mixed bag, but nothing horrid by any means.

There is a decently addictive and fun game here, but it all turns into to a pile of rubble thanks to cruddy controls. It is not that they are unresponsive or slow, it is that they are inaccurate. You find that sometimes you can place a beam in a certain area, and other times this is damn near impossible. The most fun I had was on the speed building as all you had to do was move the falling beams and the game did the rest. During the normal games, too much time is wasted destroying walls because the controls fought you.

Build ‘n Bash has a good amount of promise, but it is not realized in this current form. Your $3.99 is better spent other places until this one finds a bit more polish.

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