Bakugan enjoyed a period of popularity in my house, what with all the boys running around, and from time to time the little marbles that turn into monsters still get pulled out of the toy box. The thing is, none of us ever really figured out the aspect of the Bakugan game itself, involving different types of cards, battle arenas, and the whole nine yards. The kids just liked the marbles and pretending to fight with them. So, when the first Bakugan Battle Brawlers video game came out, based on the hit TV series of the same name, we had to pass since there wasn’t any interest in the actual game itself.

That could change this fall however, with the release of Bakugan Battle Brawlers: Defenders of the Core. Bakugan fans were asking for more action and more direct control over the brawlers, and they’re going to get it. The game will put you in the shoes of the human characters and the creatures themselves. There will be a mix of level navigation and real-time large scale battles in destructible environments between the massive creatures, giving almost a Rampage-like feeling.

In my hands-on at E3, I can tell you that it’s definitely taking a more action-oriented approach. The level that I played involved navigating my player through a maze of boxes, spotlights, and guards, trying to not be spotted. It had a kind of Metal Gear Solid vibe to it, until I got to the battle area. There, my Bakugan creature was thrust into battle in a 3^rd person fighting perspective. You had your standard weak, strong, and chargeable range attacks. You also have two cards you can equip for your brawler, but unlike the card game, these signify special attacks that charge up over the course of the fight. Unleash the special attacks for significant damage. Combat felt pretty good in both single and multiplayer Vs Battle, even if I did get a solid schooling from the booth rep. There will be other multiplayer modes available as well that weren’t on display at the show.

All in all, Bakugan Battle Brawlers: Defenders of the Core is shaping up to be a more accessible and enjoyable game that a larger number of fans of the show (and the toys) will be able to enjoy. The controls and battling are not too difficult to pick up, so the six and up crowd will have some fun with this one.

Bakugan Battle Brawlers: Defenders of the Core is published by Activision and is scheduled to release this Fall on the PS3, 360, Wii, DS, and PSP.