Bubble Bash 1.3.7 iPhone iPod Touch

Puzzle Bobble, more recognizable in America as Bust a Move, stole too many hours of my gaming life with its simple, addictive match-three gameplay. So many versions have been released since 1994 that you can hardly blame gamers that push back against another version of the famous formula. But in its newest incarnation, Gameloft's Bubble Bash, the Bust-a-Move recipe feels fresh again.The game is played just like Bust-a-Move; aim your bubble shooter and fire colorful spheres into the playfield above. You pop balloons by matching three or more of the same color. Aim by sliding your finger across the bar at the bottom of the screen. Once you get the hang of it after just a few moments, it's really accurate. You can either let go of the bar to release your bubble (the option I prefer) or tap the aim bar to launch. You can also tilt your phone left and right to move the shooter, but I preferred to just use the aim bar and keep the shooter in the middle.

Arcade mode is where you spend most of your time. You choose between islanders Kale or Malia and then push through 100 stages with the goal of piecing together a long lost treasure map. Crab Fever is a high score challenge with unlimited bubbles on the playfield. There's also an excellent in-game tutorial to walk you through every aspect of gameplay if, for some reason, you're a newcomer to this sub-genre.
In Arcade mode, there are different goals than just clearing a single screen. Some levels require clearing the playfield before your platform rises to the top, shooting down birds with your bubbles, time trials, or popping balloon clusters. It's this variety that keeps the game fresh and prevents burnout. Once you complete five levels, the next five unlock, allowing you to play the stages in any order you choose. Every ten levels, you encounter a boss fight. Beat the boss with your balloons to grab a piece of the treasure map.