Gamertell Review: Big Bang Mini for DS

Title: Big Bang Mini
Price: $19.99
System(s): DS
Release Date: January 21, 2009
Publisher (Developer): SouthPeak Games (Arkedo Studio)
ESRB Rating: “Everyone” for Mild fantasy violence
Pros: Bright, colorful, doesn’t seem to get old, affordable, innovative shooting method
Cons: You’ll definitely need a screen protector, no D-pad support, only 1 life per level
Overall Score: One thumb up, one sideways; 86/100; B; * * * 1/2 out of 5

Big Bang Mini is atypical. It’s a shoot’em up along the lines of Space Invaders, sure. But it also is a relaxation device and alarm clock, and has an intriguing multiplayer mode. Somehow, it manages to be everything you expected, and at the same time nothing like you expected, all at once.

It’s a bright, colorful and addicting game. It has level challenges that will satisfy hard-core shooter fans, but at the same time has charming ambiance and attitude that will appeal to casual gamers.

Big Bang Mini is a bit reminiscent of Tetris, in that each time you play you’re trying to achieve the same goal, yet each playthrough can feel totally different.

Take down enemies and light up the sky with a very special fireworks display.

Big Bang Mini sets out to accomplish its goal of “destroy everything on the top screen” in an unconventional manner. You don’t position your ship under opponents, then fire up and hope they stand still long enough for the shot to hit them. Instead, you slash your stylus across the touch screen, from top to bottom, to launch a firework up.

After that, you have to get moving. You have to not only touch and drag your ship out of the way of falling debris or enemy attacks, but you also may have to collect stars that appear and plummet to the bottom screen after an enemy is defeated. Many of the Arcade Mode stages don’t end unless you capture the stars, so you have to hurry.

Don’t play without protection.

First thing you need to know – you’re going to need a screen protector. Good thing Big Bang Mini‘s only $19.99. See, everything is done with the touch screen in this game. And while in the initial, easy levels, things are almost relaxed, they don’t stay that way. Before you know it, you’ll be frantically slashing, trying to send off fireworks and make your ship dart out of the way.

A D-pad control option would have been a blessing, though. See, you have to shoot off fireworks by striking up in the direction of an enemy on the top screen to eliminate them. But, they shoot back, and sometimes your firework misses. Then you’ve got debris hailing down, and you have to quick find the ship and move it. Had Arkedo Studio had given players the option to control the ship with the D-pad, it would have made playing much simpler – especially since you have to restart that stage if your ship is hit.

The basic game modes are pretty standard. Arcade Mode, Mission Mode, that kind of thing. Despite that, the multiplayer Challenge Mode, deserves special mention. It’s only local multiplayer (sadly), but it is very well executed. Well, there is an online leaderboard for one Challenge Mode option, but that isn’t the same. The true multiplayer has you competing against a friend who doesn’t have to own the game. You hold your DS like a book, and shoot off fireworks on the touchscreen to try and hit him. He, in turn, is doing the same thing. You basically have to avoid being hit. A nice twist is, you can touch opponents fireworks and they’ll ricochet back at him.

Oooooh! Aaaaah! Look at that one!”

Aside from the constant focus on the touch screen, which really needs a screen protector if you plan to work Big Bang Mini into your regular game rotation, the game feels very fresh. Each “stage” is pretty short – you’ll finish it in under five minutes, easy. The opponents all have personality, even the faceless minions. It’s a great deal for $19.99.

I’d even go so far as to say that Big Bang Mini deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as Space Invaders Extreme if people ask for a portable shoot’em up. It’s catchy with a good gimmick, and remains fun even after you “beat” the main Arcade Mode. It has the makings of a classic.

Site [Big Bang Mini]