Buka review

Damien McFerran

We review Buka for Android, an asteroid-themed game

Published on Apr 26, 2010

The ever-present threat of global annihilation from asteroids may be something that keeps our greatest scientists awake at night but for most of us it’s an event which is thankfully confined to Hollywood disaster movies, at least for the time being.

Sadly for poor little Buka, the prospect of being pummelled by floating debris is all too real; wandering the vast expanse of space she wants nothing more than to return to her beloved homeland – known as “The Happy Place” – but between her and this objective lie many cruel and destructive asteroids, all hell-bent on making an impression on Buka’s delicate skin.

Granted, the plot to this title is rather wacky but thankfully it provides just enough impetuous for what is one of the most refreshing and engaging experiences currently available on the Android platform.

The aim of the game is simple: keep Buka safe. She floats around in the middle of the screen but can be moved using either your finger or your phone’s tilt control. This tactic will only get you so far however, and you’ll need to rely primarily on your defensive powers to keep her protected.

Incoming asteroids can be deflected by tapping the screen; doing so creates a brief force field which repulses the unfriendly rock. The faster the asteroid is moving the more taps will be required to divert it fully and ensure it doesn’t come in contact with Buka.

Another option is to destroy the asteroids by holding down your finger on the screen to charge up your explosive spark attack. This results in a massive blast which can take out several objects at once; the catch is that some of the larger rocks will split into smaller ones which are just as deadly.

Therefore you’ll need to pick the right strategy depending on your current situation; spark explosions may eradicate several enemies at once but they could potentially cause even more problems if the asteroids fragment into smaller pieces.

There’s also a risk and reward aspect to the game, as exploding asteroids gives you more points than simply deflecting them. If you want to go for an impressive total then you’ll need to blow a few things up. Facebook connectivity allows you to publish your finest achievements for posterity.

Buka is a pretty simple concept but it’s so slickly produced that it draws you in; as is the case with Hexage’s other titles, the presentation here is truly impressive. The visuals are bold and colourful and Buka’s constant chattering is highly endearing. In short, you’ll have to go a long way before you find a game that is as charming and appealing.

As you might imagine repetition can be a problem, especially on the latter stages where furious tapping is a must if you want to achieve your goal. In fact many gamers may find that the lack of variety will be something of a dampener on their overall enjoyment of this title.

However, taking in small bursts the game has considerable appeal and the simple concept ensures that you can drop-in and drop-out with relative ease, which makes Buka the ideal gaming companion on your Android handset.