2D screenshots of 3D-capable game: Due to technical limitations, the screenshot shown in this review is a 2D image of a game that can display its graphics in 3D. The game is fully playable in either form, but only the 2D method can be shown here.
Bust-a-Move Universe is Square-Enix’s debut game for the 3DS, and it retains the series’ classic formula of matching colored bubbles to clear the playing field. Players have to think fast and have a plan to launch the right bubbles to the corret place, or else risk the stage filling up with bubbles and ending in your defeat. This is a very long-running series of games, and whether you know it as Puzzle Bobble or Bust-a-Move you have probably tried at least one of them before.
Everything a competent Bust-a-Move experience should have is here. The playing field is colorful, with very light and ’happy’ music keeping the player tuned in as they aim their shots and launch bubbles toward the top of the stage. Matching three or more bubbles of a color removes them just as well in this game as any other in the series, and the controls are great; the d-pad or circle pad provide your general aim while the shoulder buttons offer fine tuning to get the exact angle you wanted. Depending on whether you play Puzzle mode (which is closest to a traditional 
Bust-a-Move session) or Challenge mode (which tasks players with racking up a high score within either 100 or 300 seconds, or playing until they lose), you’ll see a few twists to the formula.
Puzzle mode does not provide very many special bubbles, and those you do get are received by trading in part or all of a special meter that fills up for playing well. Instead, its primary gimmick is having you play through several normal stages before confronting a boss that requires you to line up multiple ’bomb bubbles’ in order to damage them. It’s an interesting touch, and one that thankfully isn’t over-used. Challenge mode is essentially a ’score attack’ mode of regular stages, and it does provide several special bubbles with all sorts of ways to clear the stage when they are triggered. Both modes let you also spend some of a special meter to load other bubble types, including one that basically fires a ’laser cone’ that cuts through a narrow but deep chunk of the stage.
So far, most of what has been described is pretty close to a typical Bust-a-Move experience; that’s because Universe plays pretty close to the established formula, and most of its big changes are to the presentation. The most obvious of these is a series of in-game accomplishments, awarded for tasks such as completing a level within a certain amount of time or scoring a special amount of points. That said, these are much like most Xbox Achievements; they serve little function, rarely unlock anything of note, and are mostly there as a small acknowledgement of what you have accomplished. The other big change is the inclusion of 3D graphics; they’re the obvious reason why Universe is on the 3DS. Using the 3D display certainly makes this game’s visuals stand out, making their color and general sense of ’life’ all the more prominent... but this is all they do. In a Bust-a-Move/Puzzle Bobble game such as this, 3D presentation is unnecessary since the game mechanics are strictly 2D. This isn’t to say the 3D visuals are bad, simply that they aren’t a huge selling point.
Overall, Bust-a-Move Universe is a decent entry in the series and sticks to its traditional strengths well. However, there is one big problem with this: Several other Bust-a-Move titles are readily available, offering the same core game at a much lower price. Universe is $30 USD, while other Bust-a-Move games that are just as good or better can be found on WiiWare, Xbox Live Arcade, or even the regular DS (and the 3DS can play normal DS games) for far less. Bust-a-Move Universe is thus a decent game but offers poor value for your money, and I would recommend you pick up a version on one of those other platforms instead. Failing that, this could be worth buying when the price comes down. Until then however, it is competing with its own less expensive brethren.
