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Basic Setup
1. With the power off, the host loads the game cartridge into their Nintendo DS system.
2. The host powers their system on, then taps on the "Warning" screen and then on the graphic for the game.
3. The game will be set to have the game played using the touch screen (touch controls) by default.
3a. The guest(s) will always use the touch controls.
3b. If the host would prefer to use button controls, the host taps on Options twice when the main menu comes up.
3c. The host can then tap "Button" on the line next to "Play Configuration" to switch to button controls.
3d. Which buttons do which actions can also be affected by tapping on "To Configuration" on the line next to "Button Configuration".
3e. When all of the options are set comfortably, the host taps on "Exit" in the bottom left corner to return to the main menu.
4. When the main menu comes up, the host taps "Start" on their lower screen.
Downloading
1. The host taps "Multi-Player" on their lower screen twice.
2. The host then taps "DS Download" on their lower screen.
3. The guest(s) will power on their Nintendo DS system.
4. The guest(s) tap on the "Warning" screen and then on the "DS Download Play" button.
5. When the graphic bar appears saying "Bust-A-Move DS", the guests tap on it.
6. The guests' DS systems will ask "Would you like to download this software? Tap "Yes".
7. When the host's DS lists the names of all guests trying to connect, the host taps "OK" in the bottom right corner of the lower screen.
8. The guests' DS systems will appear to reboot and enter a menu.
9. Guests select an opponent by tapping on their name on their lower screen.
10. The other players then tap "OK" in the bottom right corner of the lower screen.
Game/Feature/Options Selection
1. Each player can choose their character by tapping on that character's picture twice (the guests will have no volume here).
2. The host can then assign computer characters (up to five players total) by tapping on (one of) the "No Entry" symbols.
3. When each player's final character selections are complete, they tap "OK" in the bottom right corner of the lower screen.
4. After the host taps "OK", they will be asked to confirm by tapping "Yes" near the top center of their upper screen.
Game Controls / How To Play
1. The goal in Bust-A-Move DS is to pop the balloons on the upper screen by shooting baloons of matching colors at them.
2. Near the top of the lower screen, you will see two of your selected character holding a slingshot catapult between them.
3. The colored bubbles on the upper screen will be set up in a random order.
4. Over time, the colored bubbles on the upper screen will shudder and then drop down one bubble's height at a time.
If any bubbles ever get pushed down below the line near the bottom of a player's upper screen, that player loses.
5. To remove the bubbles on the upper screen, you will need to shoot the bubble in the slingshot catapult at similarly colored bubbles.
5a. Bubbles will stick to other bubbles and, in multiplayer games, to the ceiling.
5b. When three or more bubbles of the same color (at least one launched by you) come in contact, that group will drop.
5c. When a group of bubbles drops, any connected bubbles that were touching only the removed group will fall with the group.
6. To shoot a bubble while using touch controls...
6a. Touch the bubble in your slingshot catapult with the stylus.
6b. Without lifting the stylus from the screen, drag the stylus toward the bottom of the lower screen.
6c. A dotted line will eminate from the bubble about to be shot indicating the path of the soon-to-be launched bubble.
6d. To aim the bubble in a different direction, move the stylus to the left or right (without lifting it from the screen).
6e. When the path is set to where you want the shot bubble to go, lift the stylus from the lower screen.
6f. If you aim a bubble at a wall, it will bounce off the wall at the same angle and continue its path.
7. To shoot a bubble while using button controls...
7a. The bubble in the slingshot catapult will already be set to go.
7b. To shoot the bubble along the path, press the "A" button.
7c. To aim the bubble further to the left or right, press left or right on the direction pad.
7d. If you aim a bubble at a wall, it will bounce off the wall at the same angle and continue its path.
8. Below the slingshot catapult and to the left is the backup bubble.
8a. The initial backup bubble is a special Star Bubble.
8b. Each time you switch to the backup bubble, the current bubble in your slingshot catapult will become the new backup bubble.
8c. To switch to the backup bubble while using touch controls, tap the backup bubble with the stylus.
8d. To switch to the backup bubble while using button controls, press the "B" button.
9. In multiplayer mode, you also have the ability to attack your opponents.
9a. Attacking an opponent causes the bubbles on their upper screen to drop down quicker.
9b. In the bottom center of the lower screen is a Power-Up Meter (going across the top border of the oval).
9c. When the meter fills (from left to right), a diamond will appear.
9d. You can have up to four diamonds at any one time.
9e. Each diamond can be used for one attack against one opponent.
10. To attack an opponent while using touch controls...
10a. Touch a diamond with the stylus.
10b. Without lifting the stylus from the screen, drag the diamond to the picture of the opponent whom you want to attack.
10c. Lift the stylus from the screen, dropping the diamond onto the picture.
11. To attack an opponent while using button controls...
11a. Press the "X" or "Y" button to prepare an attack.
11b. Use up, down, left, and right on the direction pad until the diamond is over the picture of the player you want to attack.
11c. Press the "A", "X", or "Y" button to perpetrate the attack.
11d. Press the "B" button to cancel the attack.
12. There is no option to pause the game in multiplayer mode.
What To Look For
1. On the upper screen, your playing field is on the left half of the screen.
2. On the upper screen, each of the other players' playing fields is shown on the right half of the screen.
3. On the lower screen, your shooting field is on the left half of the screen.
4. On the lower screen, each of the other players' character portraits in displayed on the right half of the screen.
5. On the lower screen, your slingshot catapult is on the top edge of your shooting field.
6. On the lower screen, your backup bubble is below and to the left of your slingshot catapult.
7. On the lower screen, your next upcoming bubble is below and to the right of your slingshot catapult.
8. On the lower screen, your Power-Up Meter (and diamond cache) is near the bottom center of your shooting field.
Overall Goals
1. Drop groups of bubbles.
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