After a relatively enjoyable Bakugan: Battle Brawlers on the XBox 360, its creators have released the next instalment in Bakugan: Defenders of the Core and if you’re a fan of the cartoon series, toys or game, than you’ve come to the right place for your virtual enjoyment. As opposed to just another sequel, the developers have actually improved this game considerably that offers more gameplay choices as a variety of genres have been melded together. These genres include strategy, tower defence, fighting and stealth... think Metal Gear Solid but not as good.

The story revolves around the player’s avatar who has been given the arduous task of collecting all the Bakugan in order to defeat the Vexos. Unfortunately for the Bakugan Brawlers, they have been stripped of their powers which has basically left their world powerless against the onslaught of the Vexos. This game mimics the TV series quite well and you’ll see all your favourite Bakugan characters appearing in Defenders of the Core such as Cross Dragonoid or Mega Nemus which really does compliment the story well.

Like the TV series and similar card games, the main crux of the title generally involves battling one Bakugan against other monster with classic fighter controls that also allows you to explore the area (ala Final Fantasy). Add in some tower defence strategies and some cutscenes and this game is more than just a button smasher as some strategy is actually involved. There is even a Metal Gear Solid type area where you need to sneak around town, avoiding guards and cameras that does break things up from all the fighting.

The battles however are all over the top and quite fast and generally don’t last that long. There are some certain tasks that you may need to perform but all in all, it’s a fighting game and your enemies can range from one to many. You also have the ability to collect core fragments which are used to “level” up your Bakugan and use certain cards in battle to super charge your monsters.

One issue with the gameplay is the annoying camera angles, especially during the stealth levels... I was like... what the! Fortunately the different Bakugans at your disposal does lend itself to find out what's next, even with that weird camera. The game also contains some multiplayer options (albeit basic) in the Battle Arena where two players can duke it out via split screen. Online would have however been the way to go.

Graphically, the title is reminiscent of the previous game with good looking characters, albeit simplistic that mimic their cartoon counterparts well. The sound effects are a little too loud but the voice acting is fun and at times quite amusing. The soundtrack has been taken directly from the TV series and has this really pumping atmosphere to it! It's not the most flash game but it does work.

Final Thoughts? This game is definitely for the younger gamer and if you’re not a fan of the series, you might want to look elsewhere for your gaming enjoyment. The game is a little on the easy side but Activision have definitely hit their target audience right in the bull eyes with this title. It just needed some more refining to make this a better game.