DESCRIPTION

With his favorite bubbles, Bub is back to challenge various opponents and puzzles found in Bust-A-Move 4! This bubble-busting puzzle adventure features two different stories and five modes including Puzzle, Player vs. Computer, Player vs. Player, Challenge and Edit.

The Puzzle mode involves various characters tackling puzzles; it contains two other options including the Arcade and Story modes. In the Arcade mode, one must trod through the letters of the alphabet to win increasingly difficult puzzles. On the other hand, the Story mode will have puzzle fans traveling across the Dream Dimension and collecting Kronea's enchanted deck of tarot cards. After defeating a puzzle, you'll unlock a different card from the mistress of time's deck.

In the Player vs. Computer mode, your character must battle the computerized AI through two options: the Story and Win Contest. The Win Contest is a single elimination contest between the character and the computer; you will face each opponent in sequence until defeated. The further one progresses, the more a special picture is revealed. In the Story portion, you must challenge the world's Master to obtain Rainbow Bubbles scattered throughout Timespace. Once these items have been gathered, you'll restore dawn to the mystical Bright World. Each character has their own planet that must be defeated — a different bubble is contained on each.

The Player vs. Player mode is a heated bubble competition against a friend or rival adversary. Each person can change his or her personal Handicap; this determines how difficult or simple the competition is. This feature can be used when an experienced bubble expert has challenged a novice gamer.

The Challenge mode consists of five levels that act as tests. If a particular level is not defeated, you'll still be able to continue as progress is evaluated in three areas including speed, technique and strategy. Clearing the board faster will result in a higher score in the former area while trick shots and combos affect the latter two. Once the five levels have been completed, you'll access a statistics screen that shows an overall evaluation rating and how well you performed.

Last but not least, the Edit mode involves creating customized puzzles from scratch. You'll also have the option of randomizing elements within your own creations so that it'll keep changing. Once the puzzle has been created, go to the Test mode and check it out!

In order to make bubbles disappear, you'll have to connect three bubbles of the same color; special bubbles have their own rules. While Star bubbles clear all items in a cluster that are the same color as the bubble that touches it, Rainbow bubbles switch to the color of bubbles that burst next to it. Blocks are items that cannot be broken — clearing these is not needed to complete a level. On the other hand, there are clearable obstacles that will disappear when the bubbles touching them are busted; unlike Blocks, these must be cleared in order to complete the round.

Other items include Elevator bubbles that transport adjacent bubbles to the highest level possible. One can utilize chain reactions and dropping bubbles to clear more than one area at a time. Bust-A-Move 4 also features a pulley system that requires both sides of the screen to be balanced until all bubbles are cleared.

Bub, Develon, Alkanet, Marino, Kurol, Tam-Tam, Cleon, G, Bramb and Gigant all require assistance in becoming the ultimate bubble champion. Gather your wits and keep your cool to bring one of these characters to puzzle master status! ~ Nick Woods, All Game Guide