GameSpot editors' review
-
CNET editors' rating:
stars
Excellent
Detailed editors' rating
- Reviewed on: 05/20/2009
- Released on: 05/19/2009
- Originally published on GameSpot: Boom Blox Bash Party (Wii) Review
At one time in your life, you probably got a thrill out of setting up blocks and watching them fall down. Unfortunately, that was probably back when you sucked your thumb and dined on pureed food. Electronic Arts and Steven Spielberg have teamed up to make a game that brings back the joy of that simple destruction, minus the growing pains and onesies. Boom Blox Bash Party is a bigger, better, and more destructive sequel to last year's Boom Blox. Problems with the first game have been ironed out, and a ton of levels, a variety of modes, and addictive multiplayer action have been added. This sequel will bring out your (destructive) inner child and have it clapping with uninhibited glee.
The Boom Blox formula is easy to grasp, because at the basic level, your goal is nearly always the same: destroy blocks. But how you do that will differ widely throughout the more than 400 levels. The single-player mode unfolds across a cheerful amusement park, and each area offers a different theme and variety of games. Each level will set an objective for you, such as knocking down a number of blocks within a time limit or accruing as many points as possible in a limited number of turns, and then rewards you with a bronze, silver, or gold medal.
The space levels have you bashing blocks (and space dogs) into orbit.
While the original game emphasized careful Jenga-style block removal, Boom Blox Bash Party favors more destructive variations, which is great because they're a lot more fun. Destruction games include knocking down certain blocks with baseballs or bombs and using the blocks themselves in a new slingshot mechanic. There are a bunch of new block shapes and materials, and there's also a virus ball, which infects certain blocks and spreads the deterioration among other pieces. The new additions bring a lot of variety to the game and result in more challenging puzzles. For instance, levels set in space have you exploding blocks in every direction, while another draws its inspiration from Bejeweled and has you throwing paint balls at blocks to match colors. There are a few misses, like the mindless laser-shooting and the occasionally tedious Jenga-style game, but the sheer variety of modes and interesting ideas make up for any weak spots.
The large volume of challenges in the single-player game could keep you busy for a long time, especially some of the later puzzles that require a bit of finesse to nab the gold medal. Gold medals are worth collecting because they unlock more items in the creation mode. Boom Blox Bash Party features a robust level creator that is both deep and flexible. You can construct new solo and multiplayer stages or tweak existing levels to your liking, but you'll need a good reserve of patience to manage the sometimes clumsy Remote controls. Fortunately, there's a handy tutorial that makes the going a little smoother. You can share your new levels with friends online or download new levels from both EA and other players around the world. With all the new game modes and block pieces, there's potential for some amazing user-created levels.
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Where to buy
Boom Blox Bash Party (Wii):
$26.99 - $29.99
| store | price | in stock? | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
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RadioShack.com
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$29.99 | Yes |
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$27.99 | Yes |
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$29.99 | Yes |
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$28.99 | No |
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AllAmericanDirect.com
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$26.99 | No |
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