Some of the most interesting puzzlers were released for the Super Nintendo. One of those games was Bust-A-Move (sometimes known as Puzzle Bobble). One of the latest releases in the series has become available on WiiWare under the title: Bust-A-Move Plus.
The premise for the Bust-A-Move series is simple yet timeless: You fire bubbles up the screen to touch other bubbles. Usually, they are hanging off of a crushing piston and are gradually heading toward you. To defeat the level, you must gather three (or more) bubbles of the same color to burst them. If you can remove the bubble (or bubbles) holding up the rest of the bubbles, it’ll fall to the ground and be removed from play. Completely remove a color from the level, and it is removed from being fired, unless you get the short end of the stick and it gets re-introduced to the level. Once all the bubbles are popped, you move onto the next level. Sound rather simple?
Nothing is ever that simple. Just like Tetris and the numerous puzzle games it inspired, the bubbles you get are randomized so you can never be completely sure. Sometimes there are special bubbles that will help, such as the Fire Bubble that will explode up when hit or the Rainbow bubble that’ll change into the color of the bubbles popped around it, letting you create massive chain combos. And you lose if the bubbles cross that ultra fine line between your cannon and the playfield.
Yet, with Bust-A-Move Plus, there are few special bubbles, and you’ll even get to fire them. Well, except for the annoying clay-brick block that just downright refuses to go away — thankfully, it doesn’t count against you if it reaches the bubble shooter. Bubbles can sometimes be bounced out of the playfield, and there is this crazy anti-gravity device that will bubble to place as it slowly lowers to your shooter. Anyway, the game has 27 zones with five stages each. It is best to think of them as tiers. The higher you get, the more difficult it gets. However, it has a very gentle difficulty curve. In fact, it is so gentle that by the time you reach the last two tiers, the challenge significantly increases so much that Bust-A-Move Plus is almost ... unbalanced. For example, Y-2 is shaped like a giant spider with the front legs and fangs, a few eyes, and the mouth as those clay bricks. And right behind the mouth is a bubble that cannot be reached. I swear it is IMPOSSIBLE to beat without several Fire bubbles. There is another level that has you racing against the clock to deflate all bubbles as the piston lowers quicker than usual. The main reason it fails here is because of the randomization of the bubbles. You need certain bubbles, and if you don’t get them, it is game over before it even begins.
Controls are solid. The Wii-mote does a wonderful job of imitating an SNES controller. Plus, pushing up on the d-pad brings the cannon straight up. And the game supports the classic controller. It really comes down to what feels more comfortable to you. In no time, you’ll be practicing those geometry angles that you haven’t seen since high school.
But, I do have a major problem: There is no fine-tuning mechanism. You have to gently push the d-pad. The manual promises this with the classic controller using the L and R buttons, but it is essentially the same as pushing the d-pad. Furthermore, there is really no reason why the Wii-mote could not do it on its own. Just set the B and A buttons for left and right (respectively) fine-tuning. All Tatio has to do is send purchasers a patch (and correct the file on download) to fix the issue. In a game in which perfect angles are required, there is no excuse for something like this.
Graphically, Bust-A-Move Plus is by far one of the nicest looking puzzlers to be seen on WiiWare. Bubbles shine with a gleam that I have never seen before. Backgrounds are “screensaver worthy” or wallpaper cool, gorgeous. Certain aspects gently move from one side to another. Bubbles pop with little gleaming stars, and Bub fires kisses at you whenever you win.
Audio is rather solid, and the music is diverse. Bubbles pop and sometimes with a little jewel gleam effect. The cannon can be heard moving from side to side. The music has a nice mellow coffeehouse vibe. Other times, it is has an intense feel with the string section tightly weaving the melody together. While it will be quickly forgotten, it perfectly sets the mood for each tier.
Overall, Bust-A-Move Plus is a very solid WiiWare title. The gameplay is classic and has an almost perfect difficulty curve. It also looks and sounds great. Furthermore, there are 135 levels available for 600 Wii points (about $6) that allow you to choose your own path each time you play. Add in additional two sets of 135 levels for 200 Wii points each, and you’ve got one of the best introductions into the series for novices. However, long-time fans will probably miss the ultra fine tuning of the original. Those interested will get their money’s worth. But for me, Bust-A-Move Plus quickly ended up collecting dust. And that is a shame because it is such a blast to play when it perfectly flows together and allows me to explore my soapy dreams. It really busts my moves that it doesn‘t expand properly like a good bubble.
