
Madballs... they were a true product of the mid-80's with a signature 'gross' factor common to toys marketed to boys and the inevitable tie-in to modern media resulting in a TV series, a video-game and even comics. Thanks to a modern revival of the products a successful 3D shooter was developed for the Xbox 360 and instead of dropping a scaled down version on to the App Store, developer Playbrains have tried their hands at a three-match instead.
To match the energetic and spectacular brawls of the 3D title, Babo Crash relies on players using standard three-match gem controls to generate large combos thanks to the various 'heroes' of the Madball world. Lining up four gems in a row will generate a hero of that color, with each one having a specific special 'attack' to help clear the board. Larger matches result in a special character that can be instantly deployed. The screen can be rotated to change the game's gravity, making it easier to trigger bombs and make the most of some hero special attacks.
The standard mix of colored gems are clearly designed and are paired with the various heroes and worm-like chompiis to provide a lot of variation on screen. Matches can be made at any time and if you're not tilting to steer your activated hero you can continue matching to generate larger bonuses. Recent updates have added native iPad support for HD visuals.
Babo Crash is more than your average three-match title and its action-packed gameplay is well worth picking up.
The days of Bejeweled ruling the roost are long gone and while many other titles may be fighting for the crown, Babo Crash remains a solidly addictive title that rewards casual and veteran gamers with its action-packed gameplay.