Pocket Bomberman

Positive Points:

• A side-scroller that plays similarly to other isometric Bomberman video games.

• The player can jump and only place bombs on the ground or in the air.

• The player has to attack all enemies to advance to the next level.

• There are power-ups that can be utilised for platforming and attacking all enemies.

• The game levels are featured in five different themed worlds

• Unlimited continues no matter how many game overs the player keeps getting.

• A mini game called Jump Mode where the player guides Bomberman jumping through difficult courses.

Negative Points:

• There is a difficulty setting included in the mini game but not in the story mode.

• Why is the player forced to beat the video game under a countdown timer?

• Note down passwords or utilise save states, as there is no auto or manual file saving.

• Utilise save states or cheat codes, as levels and boss battles are difficult to complete.

• Very confused why Bomberman has a sword but it can’t be utilised in the gameplay.

Bomberman Quest

Positive Points:

• An isometric action-adventure video game with some role-playing elements.

• Peace Town is the central hub world that connects to the four semi-open zones.

• To search for the four missing spaceship parts scattered around each open zone.

• There are power-ups that can be utilised for platforming and attacking all enemies.

• There is equipment that can be utilised for protection or traversal.

• There are also components for creating new bombs at the workshop in Peace Town.

• The player can look at the map and equip power-ups in the pause menu.

• A battle mode allows two players to compete using the Link Cable accessory.

Negative Points:

• It's best to look up a walkthrough for attacking enemies and searching for hidden items.

• Enemies in regular and boss battles can disappear when throwing a bomb at them.

• Utilise cheat codes, as the enemies and boss battle will be difficult to defeat.

• Enemies will respawn after defeating them and returning back to Peace Town.

• Digging up some holes with a shovel at random will restore one health point.

Bomberman World

Positive Points:

• An isometric action maze-like video game that plays similarly to every Bomberman game.

• Three levels with two boss battles set in four different overworlds in space.

• The rule is to search all the crystals to unlock the door to complete the level.

• defeating Dark Force Bombers give battle armour to wear for the next boss battle.

• The multiplayer mode has two battle modes, "Single Match" and "Maniac Mode."

• Special Mode lets players complete a level within any number of minutes with selected items.

Negative Points:

• Not a fan of one-hit kills with limited one-up lives.

• Forced to complete levels and boss battles under a timer.

• Best played through emulation utilising save states and a rewind system.

• Can only utilise save files and passwords through a game over screen.

• A limited set of bombs and power-ups to destroy enemies and obstacles

• The battle armour can only be worn in a boss battle.

• No personal computer release for European Sony Ponies.

• Requires some strategic predictions for difficult boss battles.

Saturn Bomberman

Positive Points:

• An isometric action maze-like video game similar to every Bomberman game.

• Can play as white and black Bomberman in two-player story mode.

• The rule is to blow up Zarf poles to unlock the door to complete the level.

• Hatching dinosaurs from eggs will grant certain evolution and riding abilities.

• The multiplayer modes are just battle and master mode.

• Allowing online multiplayer functionality for up to ten players.

Negative Points:

• Not a fan of one-hit kills that are limited to one-up lives.

• Forced to complete levels and boss battles under a timer.

• Best played through emulation utilising save states and a rewind system.

• Can only utilise save files through a game over screen.

• A limited set of bombs and power-ups to destroy enemies and obstacles

• Requires some strategic predictions for difficult orze boss battles.

Atomic Bomberman

Developed and released by Interplay Productions on July 21st, 1997, exclusively for the personal computer under Hudson Soft’s supervision

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Positive Points:

• An action maze-like video game that play similar to all isometric Bomberman games

• Up to ten players maximum can play in either classic or enhanced mode

• The player can play with a computer keyboard or a video game controller

• Multiplayer mode can be played local or online through LAN play

• a hidden level editor allows the player to edit existing maps and create new maps

• I like the western design of Bomberman that includes gloves and shoes

• Utilising pre-rendered 3D character models and maze-like level design backgrounds

• A significant utilisation of audio recordings from Billy West and Charlie Adler

Negative Points:

• Lack of a narrative story mode and Metroid-Vania like isometric level designs

• Cannot play this video game on a modern Windows operating system or on Steam Deck

• Any modern Amiga OS is required to play the Atomic Bomberman fan remake

• DirectDraw troubleshooting is required for the rainbow-coloured image glitch

Bomberman 64

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Developed and released by Hudson Soft on September 26, 1997, exclusively for the Nintendo 64, and then released worldwide by Nintendo

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Positive Points:

• An isometric action-adventure video game set in the third dimension.

• Maze-like stages that have two linear level and boss battles

• Free camera controls on the left and right C button

• Completes levels and boss battles under a count-up timer.

• The ability to kick, pick up, and throw bombs without the need of power-ups

• Pump up a bomb like a balloon while holding it to cast a powerful explosion

• A "remote" power-up prevents planted bombs from exploding.

• Enemies can become unconscious to lift up and throw them around or off the stage

Negative Points:

• Not a fan of one-hit kills until searching for a "heart" power-up

• Best played through emulation utilising save states and a rewind system.

• Requires some strategic predictions for difficult orze boss battles.

• Cannot kick or picked up a large pumped-up bomb

• Cannot jump, but can reach higher areas by bouncing on bombs without exploding

• The player can become unconscious until they can gain full control

• No easy difficulty in the story mode, just a normal and hard mode

Bomberman Hero

Developed by A.I Co., Ltd. and released by Hudson Soft on April 30th, 1998, exclusively for the Nintendo 64

Positive Points:

• A 3D isometric action-adventure video game with the ability to jump and throw bombs.

• There is life gauge in this video game, meaning no more one-hit kills

• Mini games that involve on-rail shoot em up in the air and underwater and snowboarding

• In addition to a standard bomb, there are various elemental bombs to utilise.

• Replayable stages for earning medals on each planet and to achieve the highest score

Negative Points:

• Free camera controls only function by standing still during gameplay

• Best played through emulation utilising save states and a rewind system

• A limited set of bombs and power-ups to destroy enemies and obstacles

• Lack of voice acting in cutscenes, compared to Conker's Bad Fur Day

• Initially planned to be Bonk 64/Ultra Genjin but then became a Bomberman game instead

Bomberman 64: The Second Attack!

Developed and released by Hudson Soft on December 3, 1999, exclusively for the Nintendo 64, and then released by Vatical Entertainment in America

Positive Points:

• A second isometric action-adventure video game set in the third dimension.

• Pommy is a companion that can be played by a second player in story mode

• Planet set-in Maze-like stages that are non-linear Metroidvania

• The ability to utilise different element crystals mapped on the C buttons

• Feeding Pommy food will give him different types of fighting transformations.

• Can purchase heart gauge containers and astral knight hints at the space shop

• Can also purchase costumes and battle stages in multiplayer mode

Negative Points:

• No Free camera controls, just like the first video game

• No easy difficulty in the story mode, just a normal and hard mode

• Best played through emulation utilising save states and a rewind system.

• A limited set of bombs and power-ups to destroy enemies and obstacles

• Requires some strategic predictions for difficult orze boss battles.

• Kicking, picking up, and pumped-up bomb are now power-ups.

• Cannot jump, but can reach higher areas by bouncing on bombs without exploding

• Cannot utilise remote bombs in boss battles and destroying crystal poles

• The player can become unconscious until they can gain full control

• This video game wasn’t localised in Europe and in the United Kingdom

Bomberman Story DS

Positive Points:

• An isometric action-adventure video game with some role-playing elements.

• Start with regular infinite bombs with other coloured bombs that utilise different abilities.

• There are planets to explore within the single-player story campaign.

• The player will encounter humans, robots, and furry creatures in world towns.

• Upgrades are automatic and require experience points through attacking enemies.

• Puzzle-solving mini-games utilise touchscreen controls and microphone blowing.

Negative Points:

• It's best to look up a walkthrough for story progressions and searching for hidden items.

• Best played through emulation that can utilise save states and a rewind system.

• Cannot control Bomberman with a stylus even though gameplay is on the touchscreen.

• Good luck completing the slot shot minigame and six-digit code in Planet Ari Desert.

• Also, good luck grinding gold coins to purchase items from the galaxy shop.

• There are a limited number of coloured bombs to purchase or search for in objects.

Bomberman Generation

Developed by Game Arts and released by Hudson Soft on June 4, 2002, exclusively for the Nintendo GameCube

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Positive Points:

• A 3D isometric action-adventure video game that utilises cel-shading graphics.

• Free camera controls on the left and right shoulder buttons

• There are six worlds with puzzles and minigames, each with roughly five levels

• Pokémon-style boss battles with Charaboms, who will become friends after defeat.

• There are situations that bombs or Charaboms and a merge item combine to a stronger transformation

• Various power-ups that can increase running speed and explosive attack power.

• The multiplayer mode that resembles the classic Bomberman video games

Negative Points:

• Best played through emulation utilising save states and a rewind system.

• Requires some strategic predictions for difficult orze boss battles.

• Cannot jump, but can reach higher areas by bouncing on bombs without exploding

• No easy difficulty in the story mode, just a normal and hard mode

Bomberman Jetter

Positive Points:

• A 3D isometric action-adventure video game based on the Japanese cartoon series

• Utilising cel-shading graphics to resemble the Japanese cartoon

• White Bomberman gameplay is similar to Bomberman Generation

• Max utilises his Hyper Plasma Bomb to destroy certain walls and eliminate enemies

• The player can switch between White Bomberman and Max in the Story mode

• Charabom can be searched in specific levels or rescued from enemies

• Feeding food to Charaboms will transform and improve their gameplay abilities

Negative Points:

• Best played through emulation utilising save states and a rewind system.

• Requires some strategic predictions for difficult orze boss battles.

• The GameCube version utilises cel-shaded graphics but not the PlayStation 2 version.

• White Bomber can only utilise Charaboms; playable Max cannot

• The cartoon theme song was taken out of the north American version

• Majesco Sales didn’t localise this video game in certain PAL regions

Bomberman Act Zero

Positive Points:

• An action maze-like video game that play similar to all isometric Bomberman games

• The player can customise their own Bomberman model through colours and gender.

• A "First-Person Battle" mode is played from a third-person perspective with free camera controls.

• Power-ups that utilize speed, count, strength, and duration for each Bomberman

• An online multiplayer mode called "world battle" supports up to eight players.

Negative Points:

• A dark and dystopian future setting doesn’t work in a Bomberman video game.

• Not a fan of the hyperrealistic robotic version of Bomberman compared to the Japanese cartoon design

• Limited to colours and gender in the video game’s customisation tool.

• Lack of a story mode and Metroidvania-like isometric level designs.

• Falsely advertised as a first-person battle, as the mode is just played from a third-person perspective.

• If the character dies, the players will restart from the beginning.

• Critics and fans completely criticised it as one of the worst video games, being rushed and all.

• Konami and Hudson Soft sure love to put me to sleep with this boring orze video game