Customer Reviews

Bakugan

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to mix pokemon, yu-gi-oh, marbles, Mario Party mini-games and, ummm, jumping in rain puddles? No? Well, neither had anyone else until Bakugan came along.

Here's the basic premise: two monsters fight it out on a board, and the one with the higher HP wins. That's it. However, the process by which you get to this point is almost utterly incomprehensible, requiring you to build decks of cards, use sixaxis motion control, exploit certain field advantages, and even use a modicum of strategy. You see, before this battle even starts, you have to lay out certain cards on the field (called "gate cards"), and, by using a variety of motions on the sixaxis controller, you have to throw and steer your bakugan onto these cards. During this process, you can collect a number of power ups, depending on the battlefield, and can also be hit with certain status effects, etc. Once you land on a card, you can claim it in one of three ways...blah blah blah.

Here's the weird thing: despite the huge number of things you need to do to set up a battle, battles are remarkably repetitive. I mean, no matter the field element, no matter the rules, everything feels...pretty much the same. And ultimately, this is the downfall of Bakugan - there isn't enough other stuff going on to break the monotony of these battles. I mean, no one will deny that pokemon is incredibly repetitive, battle-wise. Yet, you still have the ability to explore a world. In Bakugan, you are pretty much limited to four environments, two of which offer nothing but battles, one of which is a store, and the last one is your room. You don't actually move your character - the environments are static, and you are offered choices (in your room, e.g., you can "change clothes," "check personal stats," "check rankings" and "save".).

Another problem with this game is that it is very, very easy. I have no problem making a game accessible to a younger audience (and since this game arises from a television cartoon series, it's clear that this is the target audience). But there is little to nothing even approaching strategy in this one. If you aren't strong enough, you just fight in the park against opponents until you can power up your creatures or deck. Even a poorly made deck can win a lot of battles (and since there are only 9 cards in a deck, three of which are the creatures you fight with, it's not so hard to figure out what's going on). You are already two tourneys into the game before the enemies even become normal difficulty.

There is a story in the game. It is completely forgettable.

There is one big plus: the cel-shaded graphics look quite nice. Pokemon should take a cue for its next outing on the Wii.

There is a kernel of a good idea here: this is one of the very, VERY few titles that the sixaxis controls actually improve (although I don't know if that's merely because everything is so repetitive). The weird mix of things to do is oddly charming, but it just never comes together. Sure, you can roll your bakugan around the arena collecting powerups, but why would you? Most battles can be won without them (particularly since the minigames power up your character incredibly, and you will ALWAYS beat the computer). As a multiplayer game, this might be OK. But I don't play multiplayer, and since it lacks an online component, most others won't, either.

I would say give this game a rental before you purchase it. That's probably all you'll need, anyway.

My boys love this game, It allows for more than two players and it allows them to share in the game.

This game is really good. I really liked because it is very addictive and while is kind of hard it's not impossible.

This is one of those game like megaman ect... that is made to be hard and only one certain way to play to win. Even when you have all the best stuff the game is still way too hard. I mean I've been playing for days and I still get beat. I'm no light weight.

It's just crazy. It could have been a really good game, but man did they fall short. Its more of a hard luck game than a fun game so beware when buying.

Using the code for half a million bucks doesn't turn off trophies, but good luck getting them all.

Pro-
A fun game for a while
really a challenge

Con-
Way too hard
Not for kids
Frustrating

this game was nothing compared to what the season was. i am a very big fan of the season. i want to use saurus and falconeer for my other two bakugan. i couldnt cause when you upgrade there power they lose when you get to the second and the last tournament cause there to weak. i was hoping for it to be like the season 1 like i read it was going to be. the same like battle system and the special ability cards. i guess they cant make a game of a season like they use to. one thing i do have to say is that they did screw it up bad. before you play the game let it sit there and it will show a preview of the game but the game is nothing like it. thats how the game is suppose to be. if they make a second one the better follow the battle system if not then they screwed another one up. in my opinion do not buy this game not even for your kids. it has nothing to do with the serious.

pros
create your own guy
buy your bakugan
buy your cards
change your look in the middle of the game
to get all bakugan have to beat them in battle same with the cards "beat a bakugan on them"

cons
you don't get to choose your strongest bakugan "like the battle brawlers have"
you have to upgrade your bakugan beside it getting stronger by it self.
game is way to short "beat it in 7 hours"
have to win gate cards to beat your opponent
dont have to beat all 3 bakugan to win
winning a battle is easy
even though your bakugan loses you can still us it
no special ability card for your bakugan
mini game that you do in battle "i won a battle when i was 250 behind my opponent cause of the mini game"
you evo once when there some bakugan that should evo twice
all you do is go to tournaments to beat the game.
your partner makes you lose "i lost twice and both times my partner lost the three battle"
stand on the same card you get it
no gate card where it makes you Battle 2v1 or 2v2
cant go around and fight random people "not the set people you face"
story line "what story line" all its is to be a one of the bakugan battle brawlers
its easy for kids until you get half way in then it gets to hard for them. they didnt makes it for kids.