M&M's: Break'Em (Nintendo DS, 2007)

I bought this game for my grand-daughter because we love to eat real m & m's. This is a fantastic, challenging game and she enjoys it very well. It has islands that have to be completed and she loves the challenge. The color of the m & m's are beautiful. Amazing features. Love it. Thanks. The seller sent the game very quick and arrived in excellent condition

When last we heard from Italian developer Frame Studios, they released Princess Natasha: Student Secret Agent Princess on the GBA and DS: an ugly, mediocre beat 'em up. Before that they were butchering classic arcade games like Marble Madness and Paperboy on the GBA for DSI. But long ago, way back in 2003, Frame Studios created an incredibly fun little action puzzler called Gem Smashers for the GBA. In it, the player controlled a ball constantly bouncing around vertically. It was up to the player to avoid hazards with their ball while knocking out colored orbs in order to exit each level safely. Fortunately, after a slew of forgettable games, Frame Studios has returned to that formula for an M&Ms-branded version of Gem Smashers. Unfortunately, the developers seem to have lost a lot of the magic that made Gem Smashers work as well.

In M&Ms: Break 'Em, the player controls (you guessed it) a bouncing orb that pinballs vertically off objects in order to knock out like-colored stationary orbs and find the exit to each level. There's a story here, something about M&Ms space agents tracking down a criminal named Mr. Runch, which doesn't help with the game's first major issue: it has almost nothing to do with M&Ms candy. Granted, there isn't exactly a well-developed M&Ms backstory, but aside from a distracting cartoon character on the right of the top screen, and a massive candy image on the bottom, this game has nothing to do with that candy-coated brand. Everything takes place underwater or in forests, and even the anthropomorphic orbs that need to be cleared out in each level aren't M&Ms. The playable orb does appear to be a piece of chocolate-coated goodness, but the developers rotate the sprite so constantly that it more resembles a mushy pile of pixels.

So, the game barely touches the license. But is it fun? It is, but it's nowhere near the polished effort that Gem Smashers was. The gameplay itself is still a nice blend of casual controls and deeper gameplay mechanics. To control their candy, the player only has to worry about moving left or right on the +control pad. To complete each level, though, they must bump into color pots to change their color, then knock out all like-colored orbs, collecting powerups and avoiding skull tiles until the exit door pops open and can be accessed. Powerups (some negative) cause the candy to speed up, slow down or temporarily reverse controls. Because the player can't ever stop their candy, things can get pretty crazy at times. Strategy comes into play frequently, like cutting a bounce short by ricocheting off a floating tile or sliding across multiple orbs in one bounce to save time. In later levels, color pots are frequently hidden behind orbs, forcing the player to go after specific colors in a specific order. A level timer is always counting down at the right of the screen, but it's hard to play so badly that it matters.

Boss battles make a welcome appearance every 10 to 15 stages and really break up the monotony of the main game. In these battles, the player controls their candy the same way, but must bounce against oversized bosses at strategic moments in order to weaken and kill them. One example is a creepy angler fish, which can only be hurt by bumping into its lure when it's the same color as the playable candy. There's a little too much repetition in these battles (get ready to fight the same boss over and over), and gi

As a adult gamer trying out games, I thought I'd try this one out. The game is cute. Turns out it's like Break Out puzzle game somewhat where you have to hit the ball to eliminate certain colored circles (instead of blocks). You have to make sure that the ball is in certain color by hitting a special block that turns it to, lets say, red, then you hit red circles only and eliminate them, then move on to another color and do the same.

It's a cute small change of pace from Break Out. It's very similiar to Break out or any of those ball hitting blocks puzzle games. If you like those types, it's good. I haven't gone that far yet. I will update this review as I get further to see if anything happens such as unlocking games or gets more difficult...

UPDATE: This game is fun!! Here is a better explaination now that I've played more...It is just like Break-Out. Except you control the ball in a different way than Break-Out. With Break-Out, the ball bounces off your paddle, whereas with M&M Break Em, the ball moves up, down or left & right with your + pad on the DS. There is absolutely no stylus usage in this game which is fine. The stylus wouldn't work good for this type of game anyway.

Yes you do have to unlock some games after you've reached certain levels. I've finished the first level and am moving on to the next. This is an unique break-out type of a game that I've never played before. It's a bit difficult but with practice, I passed the levels. I think some stages get bit harder than the last. It took me 2 days to beat one level! Man is it hard! Then there seems to be a boss at the end of the level which is a bit challenging. Also I think this game is too hard for kids under 8? I'm an adult and having a hard time finishing some levels. I'm now 71% complete!

I am not sure about the replay value which is why I gave this rating a 4 rather than 5. Once I beat the game, I doubt I would want to go through it again.

I just got a DS Lite and im just open to try games, especially fun clorfull games and that's what caught my eye, but at the same time it seams too easy to play.

I bought mms break,em like 6 weeks ago i love my game the seller is excellen and fast i will use him agend thanks

My son received this as a gift because he loves m & m's. He has been playing with it and he seems to like it. He is still new with it yet.

EXCELLENT QUALITY.FIRST TIME TO BUY NINTENDO DS GAME.GOOD PRICE.DELIVERED ON TIME @ CHRISTMAS. I WOULD ORDER AGAIN.

My ten year old and his friend have a lot of fun with this game, so I bought it for the friend for his birthday. He loves it!

my little girl wont put the game down she is always playing it. The game works very good. nothing is wrong with it at all. hopefully she wont wear it out!!!!!!!!