Forgotten Gaming- Bust-A-Move

Name- Bust-A-Move

Platform- NeoGeo MVS (Arcade), NeoGeo CD

Developer- Taito

Released- June 1994

Arguably one of the most popular arcade games in the US next to Ms. Pac-Man, Bust-A-Move is a 90s arcade staple. This game (and the series it spawned) is known more by its original Japanese name of ‘Puzzle Bobble,’ but I’ll refer to this game by its American renaming simply because… I’m American. The name ‘Bust-A-Move,’ though completely inappropriate for what this game actually is, somehow still sounds right. Maybe because we’ve grown to accept it for the past 20 years, who knows…

Bust-A-Move is actually a spinoff from an earlier game known as Bubble Bobble. In that game, you controlled a green dinosaur in single-screen platform stages, and rid each stage of enemies by blowing bubbles onto them and then popping them. (Gotta love Japan.) In this context, the Bust-A-Move spinoff makes a whole lot more sense, as here you’re in control of the said dinosaur(s) and popping enemy-filled bubbles in an effort to clear the screen. 

Don't tell me you've never seen this game before.

That’s really all there is to it. There is no story or exposition whatsoever, not even a text box, and that adds to this game’s strength. Any story they could have shoehorned in would have been unnecessary and otherwise horrible. You control the launcher at the bottom of the screen, and aim randomized bubbles at the playfield. Matching at least three of the same color will pop the bubbles. Match colors and pop bubbles until no more remain. We don’t know why we’re doing this, but we also don’t care. We’re doing it because it’s fun.

After a few bubble launches, the stage will start to shake, and then the ceiling will lower by one notch. Here is where the challenge comes in, since the game is lost when any bubble reaches below the launcher line. Strategy is introduced when you realize you can bounce launched bubbles against the side walls, and bubbles stick to themselves in a hexagonal fashion.

Bank shot off the wall, all bubbles drop off, instant win.

Strategy (and high scoring) continues when you realize every bubble is somehow connected to the ceiling. If you pop a cluster that was keeping another cluster in the air, it will drop off. This is the key to clearing stages quickly and securing yourself on the high scoreboard. For many stages, the trick is to look for weak spots in the bubble setup. Sometimes all it takes is a single shot in the right place to drop off everything with finesse.

Bust-A-Move earns its popularity because it never feels unapproachable. After starting a new credit, a helpful guide line will show you exactly where each bubble will go. Subsequent rounds will remove this guide, but already you will feel empowered enough to make those tricky bank shots using your mind’s eye. After blowing through a few rounds you will feel on top of the world.  Partly because those rounds were intentionally easy, but also partly due to your rising skill. Similar to slot machines, Bust-A-Move allows the player to feel self-rewarded but also keeps the player from exploiting the system.

Dropping combos and it feels so good...

Each of the 30 rounds start off innocently enough, and most of the stages are relatively simple once you find the weak links in the chains. But like every good arcade game, Bust-A-Move’s main reason for existing is to take your money, and take it the game will. Each credit only costs a quarter, but a dedicated playthrough will have you dropping serious bank into the game to get past the several intentionally difficult rounds. Despite this deceit, the player’s skill can still rise, and the mythical ‘one credit clear’ will still feel more and more attainable with each play.

The simple elegance of Bust-A-Move extends from its gameplay to its presentation. The graphics are minimal but quite colorful. Each bubble’s color is well-defined, and your dinosaur avatar (known as Bub) is just detailed enough to convey emotion and overall cuteness. Though the game’s assets never change, the backgrounds change every few rounds to keep things somewhat interesting. They are not animated (save for the penultimate background which scrolls upward) but the backgrounds serve their purpose and do not distract from the gameplay. 

Things can get pretty tight if you let them.

The soundtrack consists of a single song: a relentless earworm you’ll be humming for days, weeks, and even years after playing. Each round starts with a childish chorus saying ‘Ready… Go!’ and each round concludes with a happy jingle ending with the same ‘Go!’ as before. As minimal and quirky as the audio is, it is also absolutely perfect. (As an aside, I’ve been known to use the round clear jingle as my text alert, it’s that endearing.) The music also speeds up when you are close to death, a nice and subtle touch.

Bust-A-Move is one of those games that’s been ported to death, with versions appearing on nearly every console around its launch and sequels/reboots finding their way onto more modern consoles. The original arcade version is still somewhat easy to find; any arcade, bar or pizzeria still holding onto a NeoGeo cabinet is very likely to have Bust-A-Move as an option. All of the home ports were compromised in some way, due to the advanced nature of the NeoGeo, so if you want to play the real deal at home then emulation is your best bet. For those that prefer to play on authentic hardware, you will have to invest in a NeoGeo CD. Curiously, Bust-A-Move was one of the few NeoGeo MVS games not to see a home AES (cartridge) release. Instead it was intentionally released on the NeoGeo CD home platform, to spur sales and interest for the NeoGeo CD. As a relatively simple game, Bust-A-Move translated well to the console, with minimal load times and otherwise arcade perfection.

Can you see what that optimal plan of attack would be here?

However you play it, Bust-A-Move is and remains a classic. Simple enough for anyone of any age to get into, and challenging enough to keep them interested. It’s also a game with absolutely no violence whatsoever, a rare feat in this industry. Find the CD, download the ROM, or pop in a quarter. Whatever you need to do, take a break from today’s tiring gaming scene and enjoy some old-fashioned bubble popping fun. 

Ready… Go!