Snes Codes Article

It's this largely forgotten debut that Hudson and Nintendo have chosen to revive on GameBoy Advance, and it mainly serves as a reminder of just how far the series has come. Not that there isn't any fun to be had with this solo quest, of course. But anyone who buys Bomberman expecting to link up and enjoy some portable multiplayer bombing madness will find themselves twenty bucks poorer yet no closer to their goal.

If you're willing to accept this rather extreme limitation, you can still find a lot to like about Bomberman. This is the game that established the basics of the series' mechanics, after all; the main difference is that you're competing against computer-controlled monsters as you work your way through fifty mazes of increasing complexity rather than duking it out with your friends in single arenas. As you move through the stages you'll collect various power-ups, all of which have cumulative effects (and most of which will remain in your inventory even if you're unfortunate enough to bite the dust).

The most dangerous enemies in the game are your own clumsiness and lack of planning. The monsters which inhabit the maze are deadly to the touch, but they tend to be more or less brain-dead, and you'll frequently be able to walk up to one without it realizing that, oh yes, its prey is standing a pixel or two away. Only one or two varieties of monster seem to recognize your bombs as dangerous; the remainder will mindlessly walk up to one and cheerfully stand about until it detonates. So as long as you don't trap yourself between a bomb and a wall, and assuming you can restrain yourself from blasting exits and power-ups (which destroys the object and unleashes a few new monsters), the game shouldn't be too tough. By and large, it actually gets easier as you go thanks to the power-ups. By the time you complete Level 50, you're a pastel-hued bundle of explosive death, capable of laying down nearly a dozen bombs with blasts ranging half the screen. It's actually quite satisfying, and your power's steady growth curve keeps the action interesting long after dull grey random mazes have grown tiresome.

In a welcome touch, the newly-added high score save also records the most recent password given, allowing you to restore your progress at the touch of a button. Given that Bomberman's passwords consist of an uninterrupted line of twenty alphanumeric characters, the ability to have the computer auto-input them is welcome indeed. Of course, you're free to input your own codes... you know, just in case you happen to come across your ancient collection of NES game passwords next time you're cleaning up that pigsty you call your bedroom.

All in all, Bomberman makes for a more satisfying reissue than you might expect. It certainly holds up better than certain other NES Classic titles, which shall of course remain nameless. Provided you can get past the fact that multiplayer is but a fleeting dream, the solo experience isn't bad at all.