Big Bang Mini
Big Bang Mini is a video game that consists of 2 releases
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Developed by indie French developer Arkedo Studios (the team behind Nervous Brickdown), Big Bang Mini is a top-down shooter fashioned after classics such as Space Invaders. Unlike those classics, Big Bang Mini utilizes the DS hardware in unique and exciting ways, providing for a shooter only the DS can handle.Presentation
Big Bang Mini has no story to tell, but it does have a lot of great 2D art and catchy original tunes (the original soundtrack is free to download at the Big Bang Mini official website). There are nine worlds, each with their own wacky enemies, sylish HUDs, hummable songs and insane boss battles; long story short, Big Bang Mini's presentation is very appealing for anyone all any age.
Core gameplay - Arcade mode
Big Bang Mini utilizes the DS' hardware well, the most obvious ways being the dual-screen presentation and excellent touch screen controls. Enemies are positioned on the top screen, while your ship and HUD are on the bottom. Controlling your ship is as simple as touch and drag; the twist here is that in order to shoot, players must make a different gesture on the touch screen (flick upwards to send default bullets at the top screen). This means that the player cannot shoot and evade bullets simultaneously.
Not everything is DS-specific, of course. Enemies can be powerful, using classical attacks such as homing missles and large beams of death. Even had Arkedo made a control scheme easier to master, Big Bang Mini would be a challenge.
Despite the fact that most of the player's time is spent taking down enemies, the main objective is to collect the stars that they drop. Collecting stars fills up the meter on the left hand
side of the touch screen; once a portion of the meter is full, the game will present the player with a new wave of enemies. It is an interesting take on the genre, but what is even more engaging is this:
You are your worst enemy.
Stray bullets that do not hit enemies come back to haunt the player, as when a bullet hits the edge of the screen, a few more bullets come back right at the player's ship. Now, take into account all of the previous twists mentioned; you may not move and shoot simulaneously, the main objective is to collect stars and the game is very difficult. This makes for a refreshing and very difficult experience that only the hardcore need apply for.
Big Bang Mini also features several upgrades. A few of these powers are time dependent, as represented by a battery. These upgrades include...
Fireballs - Hold the stylus still anywhere on the screen, then let go after the ball has charged to its fullest extend. Three fireballs will fly out from your location, killing anything in their path. Watch out for fireball recoil. No recharging necessary.
Homing missles - Hold down L/R and flick upwards on the touch screen. A homing missle will direct itself towards the nearest opposition. These missles are very weak.
Aurora - Draw a spiral with the stylus. Bullets that enter this no-man's land will be absorbed. Keep an eye on the battery, which needs to be charged after a single use.
Shield - The mirror shield can offer you temporary shelter. Simply draw a dash as horizontal as possible and Luxor will form.
Additional modes
Big Bang Mini includes numerous unlockable modes of play, including...
Challenge - A neverending mode where players do their best to destroy as many enemy ships as possible before losing. Online ranking gives players incentive to score well.
Versus (2 player, requires only one cartridge) - Both players hold their DSes like a book, with their ship on the touch screen and the other player's represented on the top one. Each direction on the D-PAD is a different attack that assaults the enemy player. There are three levels to play in, each with their own unique twist on Versus mode.
Relax - A mode of play solely devoted to the player watching bullets explode in the sky.
Mission mode - A collection of 40 challenging, bite-sized missions for the player to conquer.
Alarm Clock - Self explanatory. Who doesn't want an alarm clock app for their DS?
A shooter which features touch screen swipes instead of rapid button presses. Fireworks are your main ammunition and a each level features beautiful visuals unique from the rest of the game.
Overview
Big Bang Mini has distinct visuals and sound.
Presentation
Big Bang Mini has no story to tell, but it does have a lot of great 2D art and catchy original tunes (the original soundtrack is free to download at the Big Bang Mini official website). There are nine worlds, each with their own wacky enemies, sylish HUDs, hummable songs and insane boss battles; long story short, Big Bang Mini's presentation is very appealing for anyone all any age.Core gameplay - Arcade mode
Big Bang Mini utilizes the DS' hardware well, the most obvious ways being the dual-screen presentation and excellent touch screen controls. Enemies are positioned on the top screen, while your ship and HUD are on the bottom. Controlling your ship is as simple as touch and drag; the twist here is that in order to shoot, players must make a different gesture on the touch screen (flick upwards to send default bullets at the top screen). This means that the player cannot shoot and evade bullets simultaneously. Not everything is DS-specific, of course. Enemies can be powerful, using classical attacks such as homing missles and large beams of death. Even had Arkedo made a control scheme easier to master, Big Bang Mini would be a challenge.
Despite the fact that most of the player's time is spent taking down enemies, the main objective is to collect the stars that they drop. Collecting stars fills up the meter on the left hand
The game constantly throws new twists at the player.
side of the touch screen; once a portion of the meter is full, the game will present the player with a new wave of enemies. It is an interesting take on the genre, but what is even more engaging is this:
The game constantly throws new twists at the player.
You are your worst enemy.
Stray bullets that do not hit enemies come back to haunt the player, as when a bullet hits the edge of the screen, a few more bullets come back right at the player's ship. Now, take into account all of the previous twists mentioned; you may not move and shoot simulaneously, the main objective is to collect stars and the game is very difficult. This makes for a refreshing and very difficult experience that only the hardcore need apply for.
Big Bang Mini also features several upgrades. A few of these powers are time dependent, as represented by a battery. These upgrades include...
Fireballs - Hold the stylus still anywhere on the screen, then let go after the ball has charged to its fullest extend. Three fireballs will fly out from your location, killing anything in their path. Watch out for fireball recoil. No recharging necessary.
Homing missles - Hold down L/R and flick upwards on the touch screen. A homing missle will direct itself towards the nearest opposition. These missles are very weak.
Aurora - Draw a spiral with the stylus. Bullets that enter this no-man's land will be absorbed. Keep an eye on the battery, which needs to be charged after a single use.
Shield - The mirror shield can offer you temporary shelter. Simply draw a dash as horizontal as possible and Luxor will form.
Additional modes
Big Bang Mini includes numerous unlockable modes of play, including...
Pure, unadulterated chaos.
Challenge - A neverending mode where players do their best to destroy as many enemy ships as possible before losing. Online ranking gives players incentive to score well.
Versus (2 player, requires only one cartridge) - Both players hold their DSes like a book, with their ship on the touch screen and the other player's represented on the top one. Each direction on the D-PAD is a different attack that assaults the enemy player. There are three levels to play in, each with their own unique twist on Versus mode.
Relax - A mode of play solely devoted to the player watching bullets explode in the sky.
Mission mode - A collection of 40 challenging, bite-sized missions for the player to conquer.
Alarm Clock - Self explanatory. Who doesn't want an alarm clock app for their DS?
Reception
Big Bang Mini's reception has been varied among critics, ranging from perfect scores to marks half of that. It has a 79 Metascore, earning high praise from most American sources yet receiving low marks from European ones. Big Bang Mini earned an Editor's Choice award on enormous American video game websites Gamespot and IGN, with the appealing presentation, excellent control scheme and low price tag being cited as the best aspects of the game. Popular British sources Eurogamer and EDGE did not enjoy the game nearly as much, bashing its high level of difficulty.
| Game Name | Big Bang Mini |
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| Publisher(s) | |
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| Original US Release |
Jan. 21, 2009
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| Original US Release |
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| Aliases | |
| ESRB |
ESRB: E
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| PEGI |
PEGI: 7+
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We don't have any info about Big Bang Mini's franchise games.
