Bloons

Bloons (a creative spinoff of "Balloons") represents multiple flagship video game series developed by the game maker Ninja Kiwi. There are various groupings, including the Bloons series, the Bloons Tower Defense series, and various other spinoffs on the original games. Mainstream development occurs for browser-based games using Adobe Flash; but various games in are also available on other platforms, such as Bloons, Bloons TD, and Bloons TD 4 for iOS devices.[1][2][3] Devices using Google's Android OS can also play the Bloons games as long as they are equipped with Adobe Flash Player, usually downloadable from the Android Market.

Contents

Main Series

Bloons

The Bloons series is the original grouping of games developed under the "Bloons" name. In all of the main games, the goal is for the player to clear the playing area of all Bloons (which, as implied, have similar traits to Balloons) using a limited number of darts. The player is able to choose the power, aim, and other factors involving the launch of darts; and hence the path it will follow and what Bloons it will pop. There are many sequels and spinoffs of this series, with large fan support (indicated by the "player packs" discussed later).

Gameplay

The games consist of various levels, each with a different and unique layout of Bloons. On each, the player is given several darts used to pop the Bloons on the screen. The fewer darts the player uses, the better his or her score for that level. There is much strategy involved; especially since some Bloons have special powers or affect the player's darts in both helpful and hindering ways. For example, when some Bloons are hit, they provide the player with 3 darts to fire at once during his next shot. Others have an area blast effect (again, when hit) like a bomb. As new games in the series developed, more and more aspects of the game were expanded upon with many new Bloons and levels being introduced. There are also several "player packs" - groups of levels developed by players of the Bloons series.[4]

Games in the series

Bloons Tower Defense

In the Bloons Tower Defense series (often abbreviated Bloons TD or BTD), the main objective of the game is to pop the enemy Bloons before they reach the end of the path on the game screen. The player has various types of towers at his disposal to defend against the Bloons; including Dart Monkeys, Tack Towers, Ice Towers, Cannons, and the powerful Super Monkey.[6] There are also other types of towers, introduced in later editions of the game. All of the aforementioned towers are purchased with in-game money which can be earned through various means. There are many types of Bloons, with the tougher variants usually containing several weaker ones. For example, the Yellow Bloon contains a Green Bloon (which it releases when it is popped), which contains a Blue Bloon (released when popped), which contains a Red Bloon (released when popped). Depending on the difficulty and version of the game, the player has a certain amount of lives available to him. Different types of Bloons consume different amounts of lives (if they reach the end of the path); with tougher Bloons consuming additional lives.

Games

Bloons TD

The original game in the series was released in late 2007. It is limited to six Bloon types, red, blue, green, yellow, black, and white. All Bloons with the exception of Red have several smaller Bloons inside of them, while others (namely Black and White) had certain invulnerabilities. There are five towers to choose from to pop the Bloons; including the Dart Monkey, Tack Tower, Ice Tower, Cannon, and the Super Monkey. Players have 40 lives to beat 50 levels.

Bloons TD 2

Bloons TD 2 was the sequel to Bloons TD, and was also released in 2007. It added Lead and rainbow Bloons, and multiple defensive additions for the player including a new tower, road spikes, and monkey glue. Road Spikes can be placed on the track to pop several Bloons which pass over them, until they wear out; Monkey Glue is used to slow down Bloons that pass over it until it is used up. There are also new tracks; each with its own difficulty level. These difficulty levels affect the number of lives a player has, and the cost of towers. In this game, players are provided with 50 to 100 lives (depending on the difficulty).

Bloons TD 3

Bloons TD 3 was released in 2008. It added ceramic Bloons and M.O.A.B.s, both of which have many hard to pop bloons inside of them. There were now four courses available the first time the game is played, but four more can be unlocked by beating courses. Bloons TD 3 added another tower and a monkey beacon that strengthen nearby towers. There are also four tower upgrades instead of two. There is also a freeplay mode if level 50 is beaten in each course.

A version for iOS called Bloons TD was released on October 2, 2009 and can be downloaded from the iTunes App Store

Bloons TD 4

Bloons TD 4 was released in October 2009.[7] The gameplay underwent fairly major changes, including the ability to save the current game (which requires a MochiGames account) and the introduction of an unlocking-based system; which made it so that towers, upgrades, and the new Sandbox and Apopalypse modes were unlocked over time. A leveling system was also introduced, which directly corresponds to the unlocking system. The more Bloons the player pops, the higher his level climbs; and hence the more features become available for use. The player's current level status is kept persistently even if the player closes his browser, which improves aspects of long-term gameplay. In the new Sandbox mode (unlocked at rank 26), the player can practice strategy and tower placement with virtually unlimited money and lives (10,000,00 and 100,000 respectively). In Apopalypse mode (unlocked at rank 31), there are no breaks between levels. Bloons come in constant, unending waves. The game graphics were also completely revamped.

Bloons TD 4 introduced five new tower types, with each receiving additional upgrades including a final, powerful (and expensive) super-upgrade. New Bloons were also added, including Pink, Camo (cannot be detected without specific upgrades or towers), and Zebra Bloons (containing several black and white bloons). The B.F.B (Brutal Floating Behemoth) also made its first appearance, which contains M.O.A.Bs (Massive Ornary Air Blimp). The number of possible lives the player can have also increased from 100 to 200. However, this number can be further increased if a Banana Farm is used with the Healthy Bananas upgrade (which is premium content). The new Dartling Gun tower was also introduced in an update of the game, a tower that fires a stream of darts in the direction of the mouse pointer. It can be upgraded to become a laser cannon also.plus,an update to ninjakiwi the spike tower.

A version for iOS called Bloons TD 4 was released on December 7, 2010[8] and can be downloaded from the iTunes App Store.

Current status and sequel

Bloons TD 4 Expansion (2010), is the latest version in the Bloon TD series. As implied, it is an expansion upon the already existing Bloons TD 4. The game series was actually retitled as Bloons TD in January 2010 due to infringement on the TowerDefense trademark owned by Com2uS.

In July 2011, Ninja Kiwi added 2 challenge modes to Bloons TD 4, offering a different type of gameplay.[9]

It is stated Bloons TD 5 is to be released in december 2011 on the game Who Wants To Be a Bloonionaire.

Spinoffs

Bloons TD is a game where towers are set to pop incoming Bloons.

Bloons Pop Three

Bloons Pop Three is a game in which Bloons must be swapped to assemble a line of 3-8 same-color Bloons.

Bloons Super Monkey

This game is about moving the super monkey and popping Bloons to get power blops. Power blops are used to buy upgrades.

Hot Air Bloon

In Hot Air Bloon, users must pop as many Bloons as possible without crashing into obstacles. Players have the option to save their scores to the High Score List with an existing MochiGames account.

Who Wants To Be A Bloonionaire

In Who Wants To Be A Bloonionaire, users answer ten questions in a similar style to Who Wants to be a Millionare with two hints. If they are all answered correctly, then a sneak preview of Bloons TD 5 is shown.

References

  1. ^ "iTunes Webpage for Bloons". Bloons for iOS. Digital Goldfish. http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/bloons-td/id331271904?mt=8/. 
  2. ^ "iTunes Webpage for Bloons TD". Bloons TD for iOS. Digital Goldfish. http://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/bloons/id310251116?mt=8/. 
  3. ^ "iTunes Webpage for Bloons TD 4". Bloons TD 4 for iOS. Digital Goldfish. http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/bloons-td-4/id404553553?mt=8/. 
  4. ^ "Bloons Player Packs". Bloons Games (Player Packs mixed in with other titles). Ninja Kiwi. http://ninjakiwi.com/Games/Bloons-Games/. 
  5. ^ "Bloons Games". Bloons Games. Ninja Kiwi. http://ninjakiwi.com/Games/Bloons-Games/. 
  6. ^ "Bloons TD" (in German). PC Welt. 23 August 2007. http://www.pcwelt.de/unterhaltung/spiele/strategie-spiele/91574/bloons_td/. Retrieved 27 January 2010. 
  7. ^ "Here it is: Bloons TD 4". Bloons TD 4 Release Text. Ninja Kiwi. http://ninjakiwi.com/blog/here-it-is-bloons-tower-defense-4/. 
  8. ^ "Bloons TD 4 Review". A review of Bloons TD 4 for iOS. Gamezebo. http://www.gamezebo.com/games/bloons-td-4/review. 
  9. ^ "Ninja Kiwi". @ninjakiwigames on Twitter. http://twitter.com/#!/ninjakiwigames/status/95319097008586752. Retrieved 4 August 2011.