Believe it or not, next year marks the 40th anniversary of Bomberman, Hudson Soft's iconic demolitions expert who turned a simple concept into one of the greatest multiplayer games of all time. In those four decades, our bomb-throwing hero has seen installments published by everybody from Nintendo to Sega to Ubisoft to Activision. With so many different Bomberman games out there, I wanted to take a look back at what Electronic Gaming Monthly's review crew said about the sequels, spin-offs and more.
In case you're wondering, EGM managed to review 18 games in the Bomberman franchise between 1989 and 2009. This includes a wide assortment of action games, platformers, puzzlers and even racing games on a whole bunch of different consoles. From the early 16-bit days all the way up to the modern era, EGM weighed in on most of the biggest Bomberman games. What we're going to do is countdown the best and worst Bomberman games using Electronic Gaming Monthly's own words and scores. There's no editorializing here, we're going to focus on what the critics said back when these games first came out. Join me for this explosive episode of EGM Ranks Bomberman.
Bomberman: Act Zero (Xbox 360)
#18
"Hardcore Bomberman fans like myself recognize only a handful of games in the series as being great, with the rest being mostly missteps. And Act: Zero is the biggest misstep of all – more of a misleap, really. Where, exactly, is the logic in a full-price, single-player only Bomberman game that requires an internet connection for multiplayer and saving stats? (It doesn't even support single-screen multiplayer.) The core game is still enjoyable, but no attempt was made to flesh out the single-player mode. And the camera is either too zoomed in or out (and hard to see without an HDTV) depending on the mode. Basically, you have to be really desperate for some form of Bomberman to pick up Act: Zero." (2.7 out of 10)
Bomberman Hero (Nintendo 64)
#17
"Bomberman Hero is fantastic – as long as you haven't hit puberty yet. The game's ultra-cartoony graphics and, for the most part, easy gameplay may turn off older gamers. That's not to say you should steer clear. The performance-rating system and collectible items up the replay, and this is a fun little adventure if you're between games. The lock of multiplayer is a drag, especially after the disappointing Battle Mode in Bomberman 64." (5.9 out of 10)
Bomberman World (PlayStation)
#16
"Yawn. Hudson's beginning to get on my nerves. They're milking the Bomberman franchise to death, and as a result, we're getting totally stale, unoriginal titles like this one. Bomberman World is uninspiring to say the least, with completely generic stages, lame bosses and a 3D viewpoint that does nothing for the game aside from making it look a little flashier. The game's only saving grace is, of course, it's battle mode." (6 out of 10)
Bomberman: Fantasy Race (PlayStation)
#15
"Although it superficially looks a bit Mario Karty, beneath the cartoon visuals, Bomberman Fantasy Race is actually a pretty strategic racer. Managing your weapons is vitally important, as is keeping an eye on your finances to open up new tracks ... which I can't decide if I like or not. Don't think I do. If you're any good at this kind of thing, you'll probably open the whole thing up in a few hours ... which is a bit limp. Two-player mode is a bit crap, too." (6.25 out of 10)
Pocket Bomberman (Game Boy Color)
#14
"I guess it's kind of cool that Hudson decided to try to make a “different” kind of Bomberman game, but they forgot one thing: To make the game fun. Pocket Bomberman is a decidedly average borefest of a platformer that offers nothing innovative whatsoever. The only bit of challenge lies in the boss battles; everything else seems like it's there just to pass the time away. To make things worse, there's no multiplayer mode. Yawn." (6.25 out of 10)
Bomberman (PSP)
#13
"See, it IS possible to make a Bomberman without balls. So, what if this portable bombarder's saccharine appearance lacks Act: Zero's forced future crap? You don't need grizzled visuals and smokin' bomberbroads to have a blast. But you do need some variety, something this offering fails to pack. Don't expect as many options as in previous Bomberman games ... or players – only four peeps can make each other go “ba-boom.” Sure, it's fun, but it's hard to plop down your dough considering last year's Bomberman DS allowed eight-man fragfests." (6.3 out of 10)
Mega Bomberman (Genesis)
#12
"This game surprised me, simply because how good it looked. Mega Bomberman suffers a bit from the control, but it does let you play with the latest assortment of items and power-ups. Bomberman is a fun game in itself, and its levels are larger and more complex. Bombermen will either love it or hate it. If you don't own the Super NES version of Bomberman, this would be worth picking up." (6.5 out of 10)
Bomberman MAX (Game Boy Color)
#11
"This second set of Bomberman games for the Game Boy Color tries to take the Pokemon route, offering two different versions – Red and Blue. Each game contains different characters and missions that are unlocked by – SURPRISE! – trading with another copy of Bomberman. The biggest shortcoming of Bomberman Max, however, is being unable to play battle mode unless you can find another Game Boy Color. The ability to create and battle your own characters using the infrared port is a great idea, but there should still be link-cable support to provide a more reliable connection. Overall, Bomberman Max is a quality title with a few shortcomings." (7 out of 10)
Bomberman Tournament (Game Boy Advance)
#10
"Activision was smart when they named this Tournament instead of Adventure. Seasoned Bomberman fans already know that the REAL meat of this game is battle mode. Blowing your friends into smithereens is as addictive as ever, benefitting greatly from one-cartridge multiplayer. Lay down bombs, destroy obstacles and opponents, and collect as many power-ups as possible – you can't get more old school than that. Unfortunately, the main game, the one-player quest mode, isn't so good. In the end, the quest is dry, but multiplayer is plenty fun." (7 out of 10)
Bomberman GB (Game Boy)
#9
"2D Bomberman is 2D Bomberman. You've played it all, you've seen it all. This one, however, adds a great new idea: The ability to choose how you want to beat each level. Depending on which option you pick, you can play each level in a unique fashion, greatly adding variety and replay. The game is also challenging, so veterans won't get bored. Bomberman on the go? Hey, you won't find me complaining." (7.4 out of 10)
Bomberman (Nintendo DS)
#8
"Ubisoft's promise of “100 puzzle-filled stages” in this latest Bomberman adventure is misleading. Yes, the single-player mode does feature 100 stages of play, but to call them “puzzle-filled” is an insult. Aside from the boss battles, not one of those stages offers any kind of depth or variety; 10-year-old Bomberman games were more interesting. Multiplayer, however, delivers. Eight-player wireless play rocks, and this version's got more modes, options and levels than any other in recent memory. As a multiplayer party game, Bomberman DS simply can't be beat." (7.5 out of 10)
Bomberman: Party Edition (PlayStation)
#7
"You just can't keep a good Bomberman down. After a few disappointing appearances on the N64, and the isometric Bomberman World for PlayStation, the series returns to its roots – quirky, simple, and highly addictive gameplay. Party Edition proves that top-down bombin' is the only way to go, and if you've played any of the SNES games, you know what to expect. It would have been nice to have more multiplayer levels (and at least one “plain” level). Otherwise, the only weak link is the atrocious single-player mode, which bears little to no resemblance to Super Bomberman. Party Edition isn't the best version of Bomberman in the world, but at least it's what Bomberman should be." (7.5 out of 10)
Bomberman 64 (Nintendo 64)
#6
"Bomberman 64 looks exactly like how I'd picture Bomberman in 3D. But in my book, certain games should stay 2D, and the B-Man series is no exception. The one-player game is fairly decent. A third dimension gives the developers much more room to be creative here. Unfortunately, it doesn't work for the multiplayer game. The 2D games are much more exciting and frantic. The game could also use some more multiplayer maps." (7.75 out of 10)
Bomberman '93 (TurboDuo)
#5
"Excellent! After several 5-player head-to-head matches, I must give Bomberman '93 the first nomination for the most addictive game of the year! This game has so much strategy, it's my pick for the best multiplayer game ever. While single player games are very good, the versus mode is the best, even against the computer." (8.25 out of 10)
Bomberman Generation (GameCube)
#4
"Describing Bomberman Generation as cute would be a gross understatement. But don't write it off just because it looks like something for your lil' bro. What lies under the surface is a game with lots of replay value and originality. Some cool twists on what you might expect from the platform-style single-player mode include a wide variety of puzzles and Pokemon-like Charabom, whose specialized bombs are essential to getting through levels. And with two bosses per world and no mid-stage saves, you'll need all the help you can get. Multiplay? Better than ever, with its 2D/3D views, new- and old-school game types and addictive Bomberman genius. Party on." (8.3 out of 10)
Bomberman Online (Dreamcast)
#3
"All it took was some four-player Bomberman Online sessions starring three rambunctious dudes and one frantic female, and the EGM house exploded into quite a bomb-anza. With adrenaline-busting levels for your couch-potato compadres, challenging computer AI for solo-styling, and of course, online bombing, Bomberman Online is literally one big blast after the other. Keep in mind, though, that the Online in Bomberman Online is really what you make of it. With high replay value in both single- and multiplay, online-ing feels more like a bonus to the game rather than its defining feature. But who cares? Either way you swing it, Bomberman Online offers puzzles and party game lovers a lot of bomb for their buck." (8.3 out of 10)
Super Bomberman (Super NES)
#2
"Super Bomberman must be one of the most addictive games since Tetris. The one-player game is above average, but the multiplayer mode is truly great. The many new icons, and the colorful backgrounds are great enhancements. This is one game that you won't be able to put down for hours. Super Bomberman rules. If you haven't tried, Super Bomberman, I suggest you do. It may look like a stupid game, but believe me, it's cool." (9 out of 10)
Saturn Bomberman (Saturn)
#1
"What can I say? It's a Bomberman game, and it's a sin not to love these multiplayer masterpieces. The Saturn version is the best one yet, mainly because its eight- and ten-player modes. There's just something so perfect, so chaotic about trying to blow up nine other screaming people who are all crowded in front of one TV. There's even an option to launch bombs from the sidelines when you die, so everyone can play till the end." (9.25 out of 10)
