When the cogs rotate, things get trippy

3DS is receiving its fair share of massive-selling, action-packed franchises – we've already played Super Street Fighter IV 3D Edition, Resident Evil: The Mercenaries and Pro Evolution Soccer – but what about something a little more sedate and thoughtful? Square Enix is lining up just the thing with a new entry in its venerable bubble-popping series, with Bust-a-Move Universe heading to 3DS in Spring.

We had chance to spend a little time with the game in Amsterdam this week, and what do you know – it's Bust-a-Move in 3D! While the basic gameplay benefited little from the shift to a third dimension, the rotating stages and backgrounds brought a little extra visual panache to proceedings.

Judging from the press release below the game won't be making use of any of the 3DS's more advanced features, but with a retail price set at $29.99 you may not mind so much. Plus, y'know, it's Bust-a-Move – if it's not broken, don't fix it.

SQUARE ENIX ANNOUNCES BUST-A-MOVE UNIVERSE FOR NINTENDO 3DS

Classic Puzzle Series Includes Enhanced Features and Vibrant 3-D Effects

LOS ANGELES (January 20, 2011) — Square Enix, Inc., the publisher of SQUARE ENIX® interactive entertainment products in North America, today announced BUST-A-MOVE® UNIVERSE for the Nintendo 3DS™ hand held system. The popular puzzle game will be reborn in full 3-D on the Nintendo 3DS system and will be available this spring.

BUST-A-MOVE UNIVERSE is the next iteration in the popular puzzle series that has remained a fan favorite since it first appeared in 1994 as a TAITO® arcade game. While the standard gameplay mechanics remain the same – connect three or more colorful bubbles to make them disappear – several enhanced features will also make their debut in BUST-A-MOVE UNIVERSE.

Features
ENDLESS BUBBLE-POPPING FUN: Clear round after round in Puzzle Mode with its explosive boss battles, or take on 100-second, 300-second or Nonstop Bubbles in Challenge Mode
SIMPLE GAMEPLAY MECHANICS: Shoot, connect and burst bubbles of the same color
FULL 3-D EFFECTS: Engaging gameplay in a vibrant, 3-D universe
FAMILIAR CAST: Iconic characters Bub and Bob are instantly recognized by gamers as the heroes of BUST-A-MOVE and BUBBLE BOBBLE®

BUST-A-MOVE UNIVERSE is rated "E" (Comic Mischief). Please visit the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) website at www.esrb.org for more information about ratings. BUST-A-MOVE UNIVERSE will be available in Spring 2011 for a suggested price of $29.99.