I remember playing countless hours of Bomberman on TG-16 with my brothers and friends during xmas holiday from school. Five-player matches were incredibly fun. From that fateful moment forward, Bomberman became permanently associated with snowflakes, mittens, peppermint and demolition.
Naturally, years later, when Bomberman '93 was released, my brothers and I spontaneously broke out in song. Admist hearty renditions of Hark! The Herald Angels Sing and O Little Town of Bethlehem, my brothers and I experienced yet another Bomberman Xmas filled with cocoa, carols and concussions. Joy to the World.
NOEL: If you are curious, this is what the original cover artwork (582x722 .jpg) ▼ looked like before the typography was added to this issue of Dengeki PC Engine…
PUTTING THE "X" BACK IN "XMAS": Commentators frequently focus on the multi-player aspect of the Bomberman series (indeed, "battle mode" single-handedly justifies the purchase of a 5-player tap + extra controllers for TG-16/PCE). Often overlooked, however, is a serious evaluation of the single-player mode. Well, the single-player quest in Bomberman '94 is thoughtfully-designed and a joy to play. The single-player mode is not an afterthought, but a genuinely rewarding experience.
Interestingly, all three PCE Bomberman games excel as single-player adventures—it was, ironically, the multi-player element of the game that needed the most improvement. The battle mode in the original Bomberman was extremely basic. Yes, it was incredibly fun and addictive, but after thousands of matches, players craved more. More variety. More options. Bomberman '93 rectified this deficiency with its robust mutli-player experience. Bomberman '94 simply continued the trend, pushing the creativity (playable characters, stage settings) further than any previous entry in the series.
Alas, our Xmas Spirit was crushed when we realized that Bomberman '94 would never reach American shores. We did our best to maintain a positive outlook, but our phony smiles during rounds of God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen betrayed our broken hearts. It was the end of an era, comrades. 'Twas all over. Silent Night.
Continued below…
WORK IN PROGRESS…▲
…
Detail: …
…
▲
Return to top of page…