Bust-A-Move Islands Review

There's a strong sense of familiarity while playing Bust-A-Move Islands. That's hardly surprising given how many years worth of Bust-A-Move games there have been, but it also reminds you of games such as Candy Crush Saga. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but it should remind you to not play 'spot the innovation'.

Across the 200 levels available, you'll be popping bubbles with lovable dragons Bub and Bob. Many of the levels involve clearing all the bubbles, however you’re restricted to a set of bubbles to do this with. It's a simple premise but one that offers some level of strategy. While sometimes you can get away with clearing them in an obvious manner, other times you're better off being sneaky. Many bubbles are arranged in a way that means you can cut off a bunch of them by planning ahead.

Other levels invoke a time limit, while still others give you an objective relating to rescuing some of Bub and Bob's friends. The same principle remains, though: pop bubbles. Obstacles also arise in the form of things such as bubbles that subtract a number of moves if you clear them, meaning you have to plan around dropping them rather than popping them. It's a good way of keeping things varied rather than playing it too safe.

Bust-A-Move Islands does enjoy its plethora of in-app purchases, though. You're restricted to a set number of lives, meaning you can only play for so long before having to wait. Also, there are many power-ups that can make all the difference but frequently require the use of a premium currency. It can be earned in-game but it's slow going, even when the game offers a discount for failure.

Still, as an entertaining enough bubble-popping game, Bust-A-Move Islands is pretty fun to dive into when you've got a few minutes spare. I certainly found myself gravitating towards it any time I wanted to achieve something quickly. It might not be spectacular, but sometimes you just want satisfying.