New Bust-a-Move Review

New Bust-A-Move builds upon the success of the original Bust-a-Move game, hoping to entice you into spending another $5 on the simplistic yet addictive concept. Within 30 minutes of playing it, it's easy to realise that this is a worthy purchase for fans of the genre.

The same old gameplay is there. Players have to match up coloured bubbles with each other by firing bubbles from the bottom of the screen. Speed and accuracy are vital for quick success. There are however some twists to the tried and tested formula. Exploding bomb bubbles appear which can clear large areas of the playing area as well as the usual power ups that Bust a Move veterans will recognise such as the flame bubble and a bubble that wipes out all bubbles of the same color. There's also now a Hold Box that means you can save bubbles for use later in the game which can be rather useful during some stages.

While the classic levels are still here, there's a bit more variety too. Some levels turn into a form of vertical shooter with the need to fling bubbles upwards as quickly as possible in order to wipe out the foes coming at you at speed. Boss battles also feature that require a bit more thought than the average level and break up the structure a bit. Jump shots have also been added to New Bust-A-Move enabling you to fling bubbles over obstacles with a deft touch of the screen. It takes a little getting used to and it might not seem immediately useful but it will indeed come in handy in further stages of the game.

Two control systems are available whereby players can either tap where they want the bubble to go or drag and let go. A huge arrow makes it easy to see where you're throwing but this does feel a little too easy. Previous conversions suggest where the bubble will go rather than make it so obvious and it does add to the challenge that the game can offer.

Despite this slight blip however, New Bust-A-Move is great fun. Besides the campaign mode, there's an Endless mode to keep you hooked. Game Center support provides you with global leaderboards as well as an impressive 55 achievements to attain.

All in all, New Bust-A-Move is a sound game indeed. While it is a little easy for Bust-A-Move veterans thanks to the huge arrow directing your aim, it still provides you with just what you want and the addition of boss battles and the Jump Shot ability is bound to enthral fans.