Bub and Bob's Triumphant Return!
Those loveable dinosaurs Bub and Bob are back in yet another sequel to the endlessly popular Bust a Move series. While they might have found fame in arcade classics Bubble Bobble and Rainbow Islands, it's this series which has cemented their place in history and while this latest instalment doesn't do anything radically new, it remains a slick and enjoyable slice of puzzling fun. The principle as before is to fire bubbles into the screen, matching colours in order to make them disappear before the time runs out, in a similar fashion to Columns. The main additions this time around include new characters and a story mode where you win cards after successfully completing a level and which allows you to see the effects of defeating an opponent in the form of a narrative. A couple of other modes have also been included such as the Win Contest where you just have to win as many rounds in a row as possible, while if you complete the Challenge mode (where you get judged on skill and speed), you get to play around with the Edit mode where you can create your own puzzles to test your friends. For fans of the series, this is pretty much a must play and although it doesn't advance things very much, it still offers the kind of manic, fast-paced bubble popping thrills that veterans known and love. The visuals are still as bright and appealing as ever, with vibrant colours and highly appealing character designs. Sound effects are simple enough, largely restricted to just popping effects but it's the simplicity and accessibility of the game that makes it such a winner. The controls are easy to pick up while the gameplay is undeniably fun in the best possible way so if you're on the lookout for a new Tetris-style puzzler to challenge you, check this out.
