Bombastic is the sequel
to the Playstation puzzle game Devil Dice where players manipulated dice in such
a way to make the numbers match; kind of like Tetris with dice. Bombastic on the
Playstation 2 stars half-angel, half-devil critters called Aqui. In Bombastic,
you control the little Aqui as they walk on the dice. Each step rolls the dice
on to the next side. You then have to arrange the dice corresponding to the face
on top. For example, if there is a dice with a 3 on top, you want to try to
match two more 3’s with it to make them explode. It’s a bit confusing at first,
but ends up an entertaining and intense game.
The controls are
extremely simple, since all you do is control the Aqui. Up, down, left, and
right roll the dice in each direction. The graphics have a light-hearted cel-shaded
look, making the game feel happy and fun. Sometimes the perspective can make you
think you’re on a different dice sometimes, but other than that the game looks
and controls great. The soundtrack is full of upbeat techno that fits great with
the game. They’re usually set to a steady beat and provide excellent background
music to the gameplay.
The Quest Mode is kind of
the main mode in Bombastic. It follows the Aqui as they embark on a journey
through different environments riddled with enemies and puzzles. Each level is
full of monsters and various scenarios to navigate your way through. It’s not
too tough to just rush through to the finish, but if you die or leave enemies
behind you won’t get as good of a score. The trick is to try and get a Perfect,
meaning you didn’t die and you eliminated all the enemies in the level. This
feature adds some replay to the game for those anal gamers (like myself) that
need to unlock everything.
Aside from Quest Mode,
Bombastic offers various modes for one or more players. The ones available from
the start are Trial and Wars. Wars is an all out battle royale in which up to
five players using a multitap share a board and try to score the most points.
This mode gets extremely hectic and more frustrating than any of the other
modes.
Trial Mode is made up of
three different modes. Trial Modes are meant for one to two players, and include
Standard, Limited, and Attack. In Standard mode, players try to survive until
level 100 while also competing for points. So players must work together to stay
alive, but at the same time compete for combos and chains.
Limited is a timed mode
where one or two players attempt to score as many points as possible in three
minutes. This is a good mode for honing your scoring skills and getting used to
creating combos quickly.
Attack mode is a unique
mode where you are given certain criteria to beat a certain mission. The twist
is that when you enter this mode, there aren’t any missions. Capcom has set up a
system where players must visit their website and receive a password. Once you
enter that password into the game, a mission is unlocked. This is a great idea
in my opinion, and keeps the game fresh and new each time a new password is
released.
Bombastic is a simple,
yet mentally involving puzzle game. It’s a great multiplayer game and will
finally give that multitap that’s been gathering dust some use. The different
multiplayer modes get pretty intense and rivalries flare as friends steal
friends’ combos; it’s all in good fun, though! Bombastic is definitely one of
the best puzzle games I’ve seen in awhile, so anyone who’s a fan should give it
a shot.
Gameplay: 8.5
The single player
mode can get pretty boring after awhile, but the multiplayer modes last for
hours. The simple concept and controls allow for anyone with hands to learn the
game quickly and easily.
Graphics: 7
The backgrounds
aren’t too detailed, but that gives them a cartoon-style look. The whole game
feels like something out of Toontown, which isn’t a bad thing at all. The Aqui
and various monsters you encounter look excellent in all their cel-shaded glory.
Sound: 9.5
From the pounding
beats to the exploding dice, Bombastic is full of appropriate sound effects. The
Aqui all have cute little voices when they celebrate a victory or cry in defeat.
The music definitely keeps the pace of the game, slow and steady as you get
started, but building up faster and faster as the action grows more frantic.
Difficulty: Medium
Bombastic isn’t
really difficult, but it may take some people awhile to get the dice properties
down…luckily there are tutorials to give you tips on how to manipulate the dice.
Concept: 8.5
Matching sides of
dice was a brilliant idea for a puzzle game. When all you can do is roll it, it
takes intelligence and fast thinking to beat your opponent to the next combo.
It’s the perfect balance between thinking and simple play mechanics.
Multiplayer: 9
The different
multiplayer games can last for hours. My favorite is definitely Standard mode;
you have to work with your opponent to continue, but at the same time compete
with them to get more points. When you start stealing each other’s combos back
and forth it can get pretty intense.
Overall: 8.2
While the single
player modes are fun, the multiplayer modes are one step better. Bombastic is a
great game for puzzle game fans or people with lots of friends. It’s smart,
intense, and simple; making it a great game to just pick up and play. And for 30
bucks, how can you go wrong?
