bubble pop

The title screen

 Despite the fact we've started this blog by looking at some well known clones, sometimes you get a game that shocks you. This Bust-a-Move clone is simple one of the standard out Android games and yet will have been often dismissed as simply being "another clone".

As soon as you see the title screen (look to the left) you should realise this is something that has had real time put into it. The screen is shiny, it's bright and yet it's also sharp, there isn't any sort of messiness to it...it looks likes the developers (Ezjoy Network) have put effort into making it look good, though they didn't just stop there.

The help screen

Before getting onto the actual game most players will want to know how this differs from your regular Bust-a-Move clone. If you visit the help screen from the title menu you get this very attractive and excellent little guide explaining how to play the game and also pointing out how it is different to the usual games. In the normal games of this type you need to clear all the bubbles from the screen, this time you only actually need to hit 1 bubble in particular, a bubble with a heart it that is generally hidden behind a lot of other bubbles.

In game screenshot

So now onto the game it's self, you fire bubbles from the bottom of the screen upwards trying to match 3 or more of the same colour. When you match them up they will pop and vanish from the screen moving you closer to the elusive heart bubble that marks the end of the level. To fire the bubbles you tap the screen with your finger in the place you want to (much like in Shoot Bubble Deluxe) and using the bubbles you can form combinations and collect points for high scores.

The failure screen

Where this game really separates it's self from similar games is in the way it's been packaged and made. The game doesn't only look beautiful and play like a dream with slick controls and smooth actions but also a genuinely nice musical tune in the background. The game doesn't have the big flaw of one of it's main rivals, it doesn't sit there quietly "blopping" every so often, instead it sounds happy to be played with.

Whilst I'll admit I was playing this on the brand new spanking Samsung Galaxy S2 and it may "kill" older phones which don't have the power of the phone I was using, it played like a dream with only 1 problem. If you make too many moves too quickly and clear the screen before it can catch up with it's self the game does seem to get confused  and reset it's self. This is a worrying problem though one you can work around by just giving the game a few seconds to catch up with it's self.

Addictiveness-9/10. It's Bust-a-Move, it's a classic and it's addictive very very addictive
Controls-9/10. Nigh on perfect, a minor improvement over Shoot Bubble Deluxe
Graphics-9/10 Simply glorious. A real really beautiful take on a classic
Sounds-7/10 Whilst many alternatives only have limited sound effects this has nice background music.
Originality-3/10 It's a Bust-a-move clone with a few added concepts. Nothing hugely original but a nice twist on a classic.

Total score
37/50

Overall one of the slickest most attractive and brilliant Bust-a-Move clones out there today. Whilst the game has just a single flaw that seems to force it to reset (and I'm hoping Ezjoy Network to rectify this in an update) it has a lot going for it and is genuinely a joy to play. It's simply fantastic, smooth, charming and addictive, simple to play and even simpler to enjoy.

Game mark A+

If you enjoy this game also try out:

Shoot Bubble Deluxe