Review by: sigmb

I was surprised to find only one review of Bust-A-Move 2 over the internet that is why I'm adding one of my own. Please bare with me since it is my first time to do a review.

Bust-A-Move is a puzzle game involving the player to connect three or more of the same colored balls together until there are no more balls before the ceiling drops or the balls goes over the line. It is not like Baku Baku, or super puzzle fighter, in which you can make accidental connections. Bust-A-Move requires precise control, good judgment, a little bit of trigonometry, a pinch of quickness and strategy to finish the levels . Levels range from very easy to very hard. Some levels are so easy that one single connection is all that it takes to finish the level. Some levels gets really difficult that it's nearly impossible to finish the level even with the help of the target pointer (it's like a laser beam that fires off the arrow and the player can see where the ball will end up). It really requires lots of practice. There is more than sufficient levels in the game, actually there is so many; and if the levels gets really tiresome(I don't know how that will ever happen) you can create up to 30 levels yourself(playable by one player only) with the included edit mode.

There is two playable options in Bust-A-Move 2 arcade edition. One is Bust-A-Move 2X, the other is is regular Bust-A-Move 2. Bust-A-Move 2X and Bust-A-Move 2 offer different screen maps for twice the challenge. You can play one-player by yourself, one-player versus the computer, and two-players. There is a practice mode, normal mode and hard(single player) or variety mode(two player) options. Two players is very good because they made it like Baku Baku such that the second player can attack the other player. It makes the game more challenging(or frustrating). You could do this against the computer too. Another nice thing Taito added is a handicap adjustment level for two player mode; this makes the game playable against your little brother, sister, or what have you.

There is virtually no loading time; its like playing in the arcades. YOU HAVE TO GET THIS GAME(especially if you're a puzzle lover).My only complaint about the game is the colors tend to mesh a little with the background and it makes some balls hard to see; but this is easily fixed by tweaking the picture and brightness setting of your TV.

I have played Bust-A-Move 1 in the arcades but this one is really a step up. I don't know how can they make another sequel for this game because as it stand out its top notch. The BGM is very catchy and well done(although I think they have only a couple of them replayed every other game--not sure). If I were to compare this game to Baku Baku, I'd give it a higher grade. Since Baku Baku is a great game in its own rights, I have to give this game 10/10. If you include the price factor to this(I got it for a cheap price--new), then it has to be +10/10(Gotta have it).

If you need more information please email me at sigmb@ucla.edu. By the way I got mine from TRU for only $20.00.