The Bust-a-Move franchise debuted on the PSP with the release of Bust-a-Move Deluxe, the second installment in the series. In a gameplay that is faithful to the tradition of classic puzzles, players start by shooting bubbles of varying colors from the bottom of the screen to clear out sections of the playing field by matching at least three colors of the same kind. This edition includes various new game modes in addition to the 300 problems that are available in the Classic way.
In the Ghost mode, bubbles will flow through any objects until they come into contact with a wall, at which point they attach themselves to another orb. If you cannot pop a certain number of bubbles, a heart meter will continue to fill up. The round is over when the score hits five. When you pop enough bubbles, a ghost will emerge on your opponent’s screen and cover over the colors. In addition, there are eight different Challenge Puzzle game modes, each consisting of six rounds. These modes add a layer of strategy by rebalancing the board, concealing colors for some time, placing a cannon on a conveyor belt that moves horizontally, varying the shades, offering single-shot puzzles, distorting time and speed, or putting emphasis on skill shots by having players compete for points. Additionally, the capability for multiplayer is included.
In addition to the established characters Bub, Bob, Monsta, and Dorank, there are a total of six new playable characters that can be unlocked. These characters are Goon, Chick’n, Banebow, and Propella.
