Bakugan Defenders of the Core
Bakugan Defenders of the Core Review
Bakugan Defenders of the Core is a video game that was released on October 19, 2010 for the Nintendo DS and Wii, Sony PSP and PS3, and Microsoft Xbox 360. This article reviews the game to help you decide whether it’s worth getting or not.
Plot of Bakugan Defenders of the Core
The game does not take up the story of the previous Bakugan video game. Instead, it picks up one of the storylines from Bakugan Battle Brawlers: New Vestroia, the second season of the anime.
You will be playing a new character in the story. As the only Bakugan Battle Brawler who was not affected by Vexos Crystals, you are sent to an alternate universe to join the Resistance to take on the Zenoheld, Spectra, and Vexos–the evil forces that took over Earth. Defeating the evil forces will also help you go back home to your own time and universe.
The game will take you to the different areas of the alternate Earth, including countries such as China and Egypt. You will be accompanied throughout your journey by members of the Resistance. Aside from destroying the Vexos Crystal, you will also be given tasks by the Resistance in the fight against the Vexos, including infiltrating the enemy and protecting landmarks from destruction.
Features and gameplay of Bakugan Defenders of the Core
Don’t make the mistake of assuming Bakugan Defenders of the Core is a marbles game. As one of the Bakugan brawlers, you will be able to fight using gigantic monsters to help you and the Resistance fight against the evil Vexos.
When you crank up the game, the first thing that you will need to do is to design and customize your character. You will be given a variety of choices when you customize your character, from the color of your eyes and hair, to your skin tone, to the shape and appearance of these features, to your hairstyle and your clothes. Once you design your character, the game truly begins. While the first few portions of the game serve to instruct you on the controls and game mechanics, the pace of Bakugan Defenders of the Core quickly picks up, allowing you to immerse yourself in the game.
The game itself is divided into two groups: Story Mode and Battle Mode.
Story Mode is a combination of monster battles and stealth missions, wherein you will need to guide your character to sneak past the guards. While performing these tasks, you will also need to collect Core Energy in order for you to upgrade your Bakugan. Aside from your Bakugan marble, you will also be given gadgets from time to time, such as cloaking devices, to help you in your missions. Vexos passes can be picked up occasionally throughout the game. These passes are essentially your get-out-of-jail free cards, allowing you to get past the guards even when caught. Should you get caught up in a brawl, you will need to destroy Vexos Crystals in order to proceed to the next section of the game. If you need to protect certain landmarks, you can set up hologram buildings to distract your enemies.
Battle Mode itself is divided into three different sections: Duel, Free for All, and Destruction Battle. Duel involves two Bakugan brawlers battling it out until one is defeated. Free for All involves four players battling against each other in order to accumulate the highest number of points within a set time limit. In Destruction Battle, two players compete to get the most points by destroying Vexos Crystals within a certain time limit.
Bakugan Defenders of the Core also has a Collector’s Edition that comes with different Bakugan marbles that include the Pyrus Neo Dragonoid, Haos Blade Tigrerra, Aquos Limulus, Ventus El Condor, Hammer Gorem, and Aquos Preyas Diablo.
Reviews about Bakugan Defenders of the Core
Bakugan Defenders of the Core is meant to be a simple game for kids, and it shows. The storyline is pretty straightforward and the controls are pretty easy to figure out, so kids won’t have any difficulty in figuring out how to make the game work. Moving, attacking, and changing the settings are pretty easy to do, given the simple and intuitive controls of the game. The graphics are pretty good if you’re not a stickler for smoothness. The voice-overs and audio are pretty good as well. For those who have purchased the Nintendo DS version of the game, you get to enjoy playing the game, as the dual screens of the game console are used to their advantage with this game title.
While the game talks about stealth settings, the stealth level of Bakugan Defenders of the Core is actually pretty basic, which is just right for kids. You don’t need to be a ninja to evade enemies, but you do need to be a little careful if you want to dodge the guards instead of battling with them.
Replayability of the game is pretty good, thanks to the Battle Mode option that allows players to fight against each other. Players can also collect the 20 Bakugan in Story Mode if they want the complete set.
Of course, the game also has its own share of downsides. The camera alternates between being fixed and moving on its own, which can take some getting used to and can even serve as a handicap at times, particularly during stealth missions wherein you need to watch where you’re going.
If you’re looking for a game with a profound and engaging storyline, you might be disappointed with Bakugan Defenders of the Core. As what some users have said, the storyline is pretty straightforward to the point of being predictable, so you won’t really encounter anything new in the story if you pick up this game.
Is Bakugan Defenders of the Core worth getting?
At its core, Bakugan Defenders of the Core is a children’s game, so don’t expect anything fancy or challenging if you’re an older fan. However, kids, especially Bakugan lovers, will get a kick out of the game for its ability to seamlessly combine stealth play and brawling in a single title.