The Poppit! Show is a new edition of the popular Poppit! game available on Pogo.com, the online gaming site owned by Electronic Arts. It’s similar in concept and scope, with players popping balloons in rows to unlock prizes, but is much more so.

Easy in concept, but challenging in execution, The Poppit! Show requires players to pop rows of matching balloons, which opens up empty spaces for the remaining balloons, which will move into the empty spaces. The goal is to move the balloons up high enough so that the “prizes” have all the balloons moved off their spaces, which will release the prizes. These prizes will turn into tokens, which accumulate the more a player plays the game. The tokens can be redeemed online for chances to win jackpot drawings.

There are three difficulty levels, but even the easy level requires some planning ahead, as players don’t want to be stuck without any matching balloons halfway through the game. If a player progresses successfully through a certain amount of levels, new games are opened up. Each of these games features a special powerup, such as a stickpin, disco ball, ray gun, a tiki head and others. The tiki head can drag down columns, the disco ball can flip a 4x4 grid of balloons, and the stickpin can pop an individual balloon.

Games such as these are always fun and always addictive, but The Poppit! Show features even more fun with the ranking options online, and the chance to win cool outfits to dress up the gamer’s character. Online play allows players to chat during play, compare ranks and check out the drawings.

The game is appealing to the eyes, and features satisfying popping noises during play. The music is also pleasant and fitting, pretty cheery! I especially enjoyed the disco themes.

The Poppit! Show is a fun game to play, and while it’s not very different from most other games of this type, it is well-designed and amusing to play. The strategy involved is challenging, and players will have to think hard before popping those balloons too quickly. My only caveat is the price, which at $20 seems a little steep for this type of game. However, for those of us who won’t quibble at that price, the game is well-worth playing and is fun for the whole family.

Gameplay: 7.5
Popping balloons is a lot of fun with The Poppit! Show! A good mix of strategy and luck, along with features such as an avatar that can be dressed and online play with ranks, make this game a sure bet with the pick-up-and-play crowd.

Graphics: 7.5
The game is appealing, and while not graphically stunning, it is bright and colorful.

Sound: 7.5
The sound effects and music are well-done and pleasing.

Difficulty: Medium
Fairly easy to play, yet it offers a challenge.

Concept: 7
There’s nothing really new, but it is well-presented.

Overall: 7.5
A simple game, but one that is strategic and fun. For those who enjoy quick pick-up arcade games, this one fits the bill nicely.