Boom Blox Bash Party [Wii]

28 May 2009 at 11:49:28 by
Systems used to review this title: (WII)

The worry with Boom Blox Bash Party (BBBP) was how it was going to better its predecessor.  Boom Blox went pretty much under the radar last year.  There wasn't much of a song and dance about it, but anyone who'd played the game would sing its praises.  Those who own the first title were both excited and apprehensive about the sequel when it was announced (we surveyed six people), but speaking to Amir Rahimi, the game series producer, we were assured the game would be bigger and better.

Then we got our hands on the preview, and we realised that Rahimi was not wrong.  Not only has the game morphed and grown up, but it has retained that charm which had made it the brilliant game it was.  There were no new control systems; the developer had a platform and a mechanic that worked beautifully and saw no reason to change it.  I mean, you can't get simpler than chucking, pulling or shooting things can you?

And instead of changing the game modes, new modes and worlds have been introduced.  These worlds, whether you're playing co-operatively, competitively or even in the solo mode, offer different game types and options.  What's great about this version is the inclusion of team-based challenges, which is really the only new addition to the already comprehensive game modes.

After you've chosen how you're going to play (on your own or with others) you'll be taken to the main hub, which is a bit like a circus setting.  Based around a hub, which randomly chooses a game and world if you can't decide what to play, are the different worlds, which offer different game styles.  Unlike the previous game, each world has up to three different game modes, and six levels.  So, for example, in the Pirate world you have a bashing game mode, where you throw a bowling ball to get to gems, a canon firing mode where you have to destroy your enemy's ship and a grabbing, Jenga-type mode, where the objective is to save gems from an underwater location.

Each world is themed, and there are four to choose from; Space, Pirate, Heroic and Showtime.  The Space mode deals with anti-gravity worlds, planets and invading alien ships (you get to shoot them with a laser gun), the Pirate mode is as discussed above, the Heroic mode sees a return to the point blox in an attempt to score big and includes multipliers for even bigger points; and Showtime which introduces paint balls and colour puzzles to the mix.  If you can't get a medal on your first, second and third attempt, you have the option of buying the next level.  You acquire money as you complete games, as well as medals of course.  This can be a huge benefit if you're stuck and can't progress, but in fairness, it's really unnecessary for you to buy these levels.  The beauty of Boom Blox is its addictive nature, and trying to complete the games within the limits you've been given.  So don't buy levels...persist!

As well as the varied game modes, and the sheer size of the game compared to its forerunner, BBBP offers new block types (cylinder and wedges), new characters and new balls and toys to fling blox around with.  And it's not only the game modes and new blox and toys to play with which are new, the game's physics engine has been revamped.  When you're playing underwater, blox move slower.  Equally in space, the blox move as you'd expect in a place with no gravity.

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