Retro Lookback: Bust-a-Move 99

Developer: Taito
Publishers: Taito, Acclaim
Platforms and Release Dates (US): Sega Saturn (December 31, 1997), Playstation (February 28, 1999), Nintendo 64 (April 30, 1999)
Genre: Puzzle

Bust-a-Move 99 (known as Puzzle Bobble 3 outside of North America) is the third main entry in the Bust-a-Move series, and it continues the Bubble Popping Puzzle Action.

Originally only an Arcade release in Japan, Bust-a-Move 99 was ported to a few systems years later. The gameplay remains largely the same, you shoot colored bubbles at the bubbles on the field, align 3 of a like color next to each other to clear them. You can also drop hanging bubbles to get extra points by clearing bubbles that causes them to drop. The single player Puzzle Mode tasks you with completing various puzzle up tiers of letters of the alphabet to reach the end, with 5 Rounds in each. There is a new type of field now, an Endurance filed. This field is 5x longer than a standard round, you have to clear all the way to the top to clear. This also constitutes 1 letter, so you can play 5 standard rounds or 1 endurance round to advance. The standard rounds are also slightly different. This game introduces nodes into the mix. Instead if the bubbles connecting to the Top, they connect to nodes. When all the bubbles attached to a node are destroyed, the node vanishes, destroy all nodes on the board to clear it. The top is no longer sticky, and bubbles will bounce off it like walls. Bubbles can also bounce back down out of the play field, which there is no penalty, but it still constitutes a move towards making the field drop 1 empty line. You can also play in Version 2.5, which takes the Puzzles from Bust-a-Move 2 and remolds them around the node idea. You can also play against the CPU, which is a series of Battle matches to reach the final boss. You can build attack by clearing more than 3 bubbles at once or by dropping bubbles, the more cleared at once or dropped at once, the stronger the attack. Unlike previous entries, you can choose a character, each with their own bubble attack pattern. Some attack by throwing bubbles up from the bottom, pushing the field down another level from the top, or both. If your character can throw bubbles up, as soon as you build an attack and your opponent shots, they will be launched. However, if you character can push the field down, you can build up the attack to a Red Bubble for that attack. If your character can do both, it will do the push down first (if there is enough attack power), then the rest get thrown up. There is also the 2 player version in which 2 humans play. Other modes from the arcade mode includes a Contest mode that tasks you with getting the highest win streak you can without losing against the CPU, a Challenge mode which gives you 6 sets of 5 rounds to complete with each set having a different goal and gives you a score at the end, a mode that has 1000+ Puzzles submitted by various people for free play, and the Level Editor which allows you to make your own Puzzles. The puzzles are nicely designed and are a challenge, but not too frustrating..the Endurance puzzles are a nice change of pace as well.

There is also 1 new bubble type, the Rainbow bubble. These bubbles are initially clear, but when bubbles next to them are cleared, they will take the color of the cleared bubbles. You can also make the Rainbow bubbles cascade clear for big points and a strong attack, as in they change color, pop, make more change color, make them pop, and so on. Rainbow Bubbles cannot be cleared out by Star Bubbles.

The N64 version also contains a 4 player mode. This works like the 2 player mode, except expanded for 4 people. There are 2 modes with 2 ways of scoring. This can be played with 2-4 players, with CPU players being able to fill in for non-humans if you choose. Arcade mode is the Battle mode, where the last one standing wins. You can select which player to attack using the C-Buttons or let the game decide which opponent it feels like attack. Time Trial is a contest to see who can clear their field the fastest, you cannot attack other players in Time Trial. The Wins system keeps track of Wins, reach the number of Wins first to win the match. The Points system gives out points for placement, 1st gets 5, 2nd gets 3, 3rd gets 1, and 4th gets nothing, the first player to get the requires points first wins. The Multiplayer is fun with 4 Players, either with the CPU or other Humans, just make sure your TV is a bit larger for the smaller play areas.

The graphics are bright and colorful, and the animations are nice. The music is good, it reminds me of Remixes from Bust-a-Move 2 myself.

Bottom Line: Bust-a-Move 99 is another good addition to the series, with small nuances that make it different enough from the others. The N64 version has a slight advantage with the 4 Player Mode, but all versions are a blast to play. This is worth a Play or Buy.