Bloons
Screenshot of the original Bloons game
Genre(s)Puzzle video game
Developer(s)Ninja Kiwi
Publisher(s)Ninja Kiwi
Platform(s)Web browser
First releaseBloons
  • WW: March 2007
Latest releaseBloons Pop!
  • WW: June 2021
Spin-offsBloons Monkey City,
Bloons Super Monkey

Bloons is a video game franchise developed by Ninja Kiwi. The games involve players using monkeys, armed with various tools, to pop as many "bloons" (balloons) as possible. They include the Bloons series, the Bloons Tower Defense series, and several other spin-offs. Most of the earlier Bloons games are browser-based games that use Adobe Flash Player, although some are available on other platforms. Mobile games based on the Bloons series are distributed through the App Store, Google Play, and some through Steam. Games made by Ninja Kiwi older than Bloons TD 6 are available through the Ninja Kiwi Archive on Steam.

Development

The traditional "Balloon and Dart" carnival game provided the inspiration for the original Bloons game.

The first Bloons game was developed by Stephen and Chris Harris, two brothers from New Zealand.[1] Prior to working on Bloons, the pair had released Cash Sprint – a successful racing game that incorporated weekly prizes. After the success of Cash Sprint, they developed their own web portal for flash games, but failed to gain the necessary traffic. Instead they decided to focus on their own games, and launched a website – Ninjakiwi.com – with five of their own games. The site was a success, and this led to their work on Bloons.[2]

The basic concept for Bloons came from Stephen's wife. When Stephen asked her what would be fun in a new game, she brought up carnival games with darts and balloons.[2][3] The first version was developed quickly, and the game was released in 5th of March 2007. It proved popular, especially after being picked up by Digg, and soon reaching approximately 100,000 players per day.[2][4] By 2011 the game had been played over 3 billion times.[4]

Release timeline
Main series entries in bold
2007Bloons
More Bloons
Bloons Player Pack
Bloons Tower Defense
Bloons Player Pack 2
Bloons Tower Defense 2
2008Bloons Player Pack 3
Even more Bloons
Bloons Player Pack 4
Bloons Tower Defense 3
Hot Air Bloon
Bloons Player Pack 5: Christmas Ed
2009Bloons TD 4
Bloons Festive Fun
Bloons Blast
2010Bloons 2
Bloons Super Monkey
2011Who Wants To Be A Bloonionaire?
Bloons TD 5
2012Bloons TD Battles
2013Bloons Super Monkey 2
2014Bloons Monkey City
2015
2016Bloons Super Monkey 2 iOS
2017
2018Bloons TD 6
Bloons Adventure Time TD
2019
2020
2021Bloons Pop!
Bloons TD Battles 2

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.[5] 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 spin-offs 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 their 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 a special Bloon is hit, they provide the player with 3 darts to fire at once during their next shot. Another one has an area blast effect (again, when hit) like a bomb.[5] 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.

Games in the series

  • Bloons
  • More Bloons
  • Even More Bloons
  • Bloons Insanity Pack
  • Bloons Junior
  • Bloons 2
  • Bloons 2 Christmas Pack
  • Bloons 2 Spring Fling
  • Bloons Player Pack (1–5)
  • Bloons Pop

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 available to defend against the Bloons, such as Dart Monkeys, Tack Shooters, and the powerful Super Monkey.[6][7] There are also other types of towers introduced in later editions of the series, such as Ninja Monkeys and Monkey Buccaneers, the latter of which could only be placed on water. Every tower can be purchased and upgraded with in-game money which is earned through various means.

There are many types of Bloons, the Red Bloon being the weakest; the tougher variants each contain one or more weaker ones, released when the containing Bloon is popped.[8] For example, the Green Bloon contains a Blue Bloon, which contains a Red Bloon. Depending on the difficulty and version of the game, the player has a certain number of "lives" available. Different types of Bloons consume different numbers of lives if they escape, based on the total number of Bloons contained inside. Some Bloons have special attributes. Lead Bloons are immune to sharp things, black Bloons are immune to bombs, and white Bloons are immune to ice. There are special types of Bloons such as the infamous "MOAB-class" (Massive Ornary Air Blimp, sometimes called "Mother Of All Bloons" although that is incorrect according to NinjaKiwi) where the Bloon resembles an airship and takes many hits to defeat, an example being the ZOMG or BFB (Zeppelin Of Mighty Gargantuanness or Brutal Floating Behemoth). In general, the newer games have had more Bloon and tower types.

Bloons TD6 is the latest installment in the Bloons Tower Defense franchise and has a variety of new and improved features. The game features all of the classic tower defense gameplay with a few enhanced strategies that add even more depth and challenge.

Bloons Monkey City

Bloons Monkey City is a free multi-platform game that combines the traditional Bloons TD with a city builder.[9] Capturing more plots allows the player to place more buildings. Some buildings require specific tiles. The buildings cost in-game money, which are acquired from different buildings and by capturing tiles. Windmills and watermills create energy that is used by the player's other buildings. Leveling up allows the player to make more buildings and cities. Bloonstones, another valuable in-game resource, are used to unlock the strongest upgrades for towers. Special plots can contain MOABs, chests, camo Bloons, etc.

Bloons Super Monkey

Bloons Super Monkey (often abbreviated as BSM) is the second Bloons spin-off series to date; it is a bullet hell RPG with three installations so far.[10]

The objective of the game is to move a super monkey that shoots a stream of darts to pop bloons.[11] Popping them gives the player power blops, which are used to buy upgrades. If the monkey fails to pop the required amount of bloons for a certain level, the game is over. The super monkey wields weapons, which can be upgraded or replaced with a different weapon.

The first game, Bloons Super Monkey, was released on Ninja Kiwi's website in February 2010.[12] In May 2013, a sequel, Bloons Super Monkey 2, was released on the same website.[13] In November 2016, a refined version of Bloons Super Monkey 2 was released on the iOS App Store and Android Play Store for download.[14]

Bloons Pop!

Bloons Pop! is a spin-off mobile game of the main Bloons series that incorporates elements of the Bloons TD series, mainly Bloons TD6, with puzzle gameplay. It expands on the gameplay of the Bloons series with power-ups, merge mechanics, and a town building system.[15]

Spin-off games

  • In Hot Air Bloon, users must pop as many Bloons as possible without crashing into obstacles on their (as the name says) hot air bloon .[16] Players have the option to save their scores to the High Score List with an existing Mochi Games account.
  • In Who Wants to Be a Bloonionaire, users answer ten questions in a similar style to Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? with two hints.[17] If they are all answered correctly, then a trailer of Bloons TD 5 is shown.
  • In Bloons Pop 3 (unrelated to Bloons Pop!), users are put in a game very similar to Candy Crush Saga, where they must match 3 of the same color bloon together in order to pop them.[18]

Reception

Aggregate review scores
Game Year Metacritic
Bloons 2009

2010

PSP: 68/100[19]

Wii: 21/100[20]

Bloons TD 4 2009 iOS: 69/100[21]
Bloons TD 5 2012 iOS: 79/100[22]
Bloons TD Battles 2012 iOS: 78/100[23]

Tech media website CNET reported favorably on the Bloons Tower Defense games for iPhone, describing it as having "nearly everything from the beloved Web-based classic". The article reflects negatively on the controls, stating that "[they] are a little finicky", but overall their impression is positive, saying that the game is an ideal introduction to the tower defense genre for young children.[24]

References

  1. ↑ Phan, Monty (30 May 2007). "The Allure of Homemade Games". PC Magazine. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 Irwin, Mary Jane (25 July 2008). "Blowing Up Bloons". Forbes. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
  3. ↑ Bardinelli, John (20 April 2007). "In the Flash: Bloons". Joystiq. Archived from the original on 28 January 2015. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
  4. 1 2 South, Gill (6 February 2012). "Your Business: Monkey business leads to games success". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
  5. 1 2 "Bloons 2 Review". 24 September 2010. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
  6. ↑ "Bloons TD 5". PC Welt (in German). 23 August 2012. Archived from the original on 17 February 2010. Retrieved 27 January 2010.
  7. ↑ "Bloons Tower Defense Review". IGN. 10 November 2011. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
  8. ↑ NYBPAD 319. "All BTD 5 Bloon Types And Abilities". Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 23 December 2018 – via YouTube.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  9. ↑ agent86 (4 August 2015). "Bloons Monkey City Review: Monkeying with Free to Play". Without The Sarcasm. Retrieved 23 December 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  10. ↑ Sowden, Emily (November 2016). "Bloons Supermonkey 2 is a colourful, bullet hell RPG and it's out now on mobile". www.pocketgamer.com. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
  11. ↑ hashtagnoen (8 November 2016). "Bloons Supermonkey 2: SNAPP Review". Archived from the original on 23 December 2018. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
  12. ↑ @ninjakiwigames (4 November 2010). "Just released - Bloons Super Monkey! http://bit.ly/9Eaot2" (Tweet). Retrieved 3 June 2020 – via Twitter.
  13. ↑ "Bloons Super Monkey 2 Released – Action Gaming Just Got Awesomer! | Ninja Kiwi Blog". ninjakiwi.com. 14 May 2013. Archived from the original on 3 June 2020. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  14. ↑ "'Bloons Super Monkey 2' Shmup From Ninja Kiwi Hits Mobile This Week". 1 November 2016. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
  15. ↑ "Bloons Pop Beginner Strategy Guide – the 5 Best Hints, Tips and Cheats". 19 June 2021.
  16. ↑ "Hot Air Bloon". Ninjakiwi. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  17. ↑ "fastSWF - Free Flash and Unity Hosting". www.fastswf.com. Archived from the original on 28 December 2018. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
  18. ↑ "Bloons Pop 3, Ninja Kiwi Website". ninjakiwi.com. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  19. ↑ "Bloons (PSP)". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Archived from the original on 2 July 2023. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  20. ↑ "Bloons (Wii)". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Archived from the original on 2 July 2023. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
  21. ↑ "Bloons TD 4 (IOS)". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Archived from the original on 24 August 2018. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
  22. ↑ "Bloons TD 5 (IOS)". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Archived from the original on 21 August 2018. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
  23. ↑ "Bloons TD Battles (IOS)". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Archived from the original on 20 August 2018. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
  24. ↑ "Five awesome iPhone tower defense games". Review of 5 iPhone Tower Defense games. CNET: iPhone Atlas. Archived from the original on 3 November 2013. Retrieved 9 July 2011.
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