First Look At Bakugan

Bakugan has already dominated store shelves and television sets, so it’s no surprise that the mega-popular toy is coming to the world of video games, too. From what we’ve seen of it, it looks like a nice version of the physical game without the mounting expense of collecting toys or the risk of stepping on the little buggers.

The game, developed by NowPro and published by Activision, is faithful to the fundamental workings of the original, though it adds in plenty of extras that would only be possible in a video game. After tossing the Bakugan cards onto the playing field, players take turns shooting their Bakugan balls. If two rival Bakugan balls roll to a stop on a single card, it’s fighting time. Players can then play cards that add extra effects, and then hash it out in battle. Certain Bakugan characters are stronger against specific element types, and they can have special abilities. Unlike the card game, the video game adds a series of minigames. You might have to match buttons in a Guitar Hero-like game or spin a disc as quickly as possible. The minigames don’t appear to add enough weight to matches to completely overturn the outcome in a blowout, but they can help even the score.

The design mantra behind the game is “Depth if you want it,” and Bakugan looks set to deliver on it. On its surface, it’s a simple game. Dig into the menus, and you’re likely to discover some hidden complexity. You’re welcome to launch Bakugan into one of the six battle arenas and let momentum take over, but where’s the fun in that? An aftertouch system lets players maintain control of their balls as they zip through levels, exploring hidden corners and acquiring powerups. All the while, their opponents can do their best to interfere, trying to knock rivals out of the ring entirely.

The game’s coming out on just about every conceivable system, and we got to see the Wii and DS versions in action. Each features the same storyline, written by the same people behind the anime series. They also include 40 different Bakugan and hundreds of different collectible cards. It’s kind of cute to see the toys’ magnet-powered balls popping open once they land on a metal lined card, but the game offers an experience much closer to the show—with roaring dragons and menacing beasts.

Fans in search of an interesting bridge between the show and the card game can look for it this October.