Big Bang Mini
Ooohhh….. look at the pretty explosions…
Tags: Big Bang Mini Categories: DS Reviews, Reviews
Posted by Daniel "monk" Pelfrey on Mar 4th, 2009
The biggest problem I have with Big Bang Mini is that you are unable to move and shoot at the same time. Completely driven by the touch screen, players move by using the stylus or shoot at objects on the top screen by using the stylus. Still, despite this problem, Big Bang Mini is an enjoyable if flawed game.
In a way I was reminded of Asteroids, where players need to avoid objects while shooting at others – and sometimes both at the same time. In Big Bang Mini players control a small “ship” that needs to avoid the projectiles being shot down from above. Using the bottom screen players use the stylus to direct their own shots to the foes on the upper screen.
This gameplay mechanic seems pretty basic, and it is, but Big Bang Mini comes with a major twist. Being able to shoot from anywhere on the screen seems like the biggest change-up to the game but it isn’t. More importantly, however, is the shots that miss their mark will explode – like fireworks. The ensuing residue will float down and take out the players just as well as the regular shots that are coming down.
Along the way a couple of power-ups help to make the stages easier to navigate, but the crippling effect of having to choose between moving and avoiding the shots coming down or shooting at enemies above hampers the fun. This means at times there will be some pointless deaths. The stages aren’t too long but the “one hit” deaths which could have been avoided is more frustrating than need be.
Still, despite my frustration I kept coming back to Big Bang Mini time after time partly because the game could be played in short bursts. This is a great game not for playing on the bus while commuting to work, but standing in line or during commercial breaks while watching television.
Completing the game’s Arcade Mode gives the player access to the Mission Mode. Arcade Mode is pretty straight forward, where players simply go through each level one by one. Mission Mode is simply the same thing but with even more of a twist each time. Sometimes players need to complete a level under a certain time. Other requirements include never missing a shot or the like.
I need to make mention of the game’s visual flare, which really adds a lot. Each group of levels is arranged by environment, each of which has their own distinctive style. Mention should also be made of the music as it is simplistic but complimentary to each level. It might even stand on its own, so yes, I would like to see the music available to download.
Versus Mode has players going against each other directly. It’s not a bad mode, but not enough to make this one of the multiplayer games that the DS is known for.
Big Bang Mini packs in a lot of game, and more depth than your simple run of the mill shooter. Doing all of this at a bargain price makes the game worth picking up. It would be a much better game had the D-pad been employed to enable the player to move and shoot at the same time, but still, the price to gameplay ratio is quite high.
| What Works | Score |
|---|---|
|
+ Playable is short bursts + Good graphics and music + Price |
8.0 |
| What Doesn't | |
| - Not being able to move and shoot at the same time | |
| Under the Shrink-wrap | |
| Well worth the price of admission. | |
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Tags: Big Bang Mini
Posted by Daniel "monk" Pelfrey on Mar 4th, 2009 and is filed under DS Reviews, Reviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can post a comment, or trackback from your own site.
