Bomberman

For other uses, see Bomberman (disambiguation).
Bomberman
Genres Action, maze
Developers Hudson Soft (Konami)
Publishers Hudson Soft
Konami (current owner)
First release Bomberman
Latest release VS! Bomberman
January 2016

Bomberman (ボンバーマン Bonbāman) (also known as Dynablaster or Dyna Blaster in Europe[1]) is a strategic, maze-based video game franchise originally developed by Hudson Soft.[2][3] The original game was published in 1983 and new games have been published at irregular intervals ever since. Several titles in the 2000s were published by fellow Japanese game company Konami, who gained full control of the franchise when they purchased and absorbed Hudson in 2012. Today, Bomberman has featured in over 70[4] different games on numerous platforms (including all Nintendo platforms save for the 3DS and Wii U. One was planned for the 3DS, but was later cancelled), as well as several anime and manga. His franchise is one of the most commercially successful of all time. In October 2015 it was announced that the next game in the series would be coming to Android and iOS devices in December.[5]

Gameplay

Screenshot from Bomberman Land for the Wii

The general goal throughout the series is to complete the levels by strategically placing bombs in order to kill enemies and destroy obstacles. Exploding bombs can set off other bombs, kill or injure enemies, and destroy obstacles. However, they can also kill or injure the player character, destroy powerups, and sometimes "anger" the exit, causing it to generate more enemies. Most Bomberman games also feature a multiplayer mode, where other Bombermen act as opponents, and the last one standing is the winner. In this mode, powerups are plentiful. Although most games in the Bomberman series use the same type of maze-based levels established by the original game, some are Zelda-like adventure games, Mario-like platformers, Tetris-like puzzle games, and kart racers.

Development

The game was originally developed for PC in Japan by Shinichi Nakamoto. However, he did the port to the Famicom in one marathon programming session that lasted 72 hours.[6] This version went on to sell over a million copies.

Story

Plot

The games are set somewhere in a galaxy known as the Bomber Nebula, usually on Bomberman's home planet, Planet Bomber. The original Japanese home computer games had no real storyline. Bomberman for Famicom/NES and Atomic Punk for Game Boy begin with "Bomberman" (the eponymous character of the game) growing bored of making bombs in an underground factory of the Bungeling Empire. After hearing a rumor that robots reaching the surface become human, he decides to escape. When he does, he transforms into an organic human being and becomes known as the "Runner." This storyline is not present in some versions, such as Bomberman Party Edition, and this setting was largely abandoned outside of connections with Hudson's Lode Runner games and Bomberman: Act Zero. In the Bomberman for the TurboGrafx-16, Bomberman is used as a prototype for further Bomberman robots by Dr. Mitsumori.

To distinguish him from other Bombermen, the main character is also given the name White Bomberman (or White Bomber). In earlier appearances, the second Bomberman model (known as Black Bomberman) is an enemy due to a programming error, but starting with Super Bomberman, the two have forged an alliance. They have joined forces to handle bigger threats, most notably the evil alien Professor Bagura, who is most infamously known as the creator of the Five Dastardly Bombers. Paths were also crossed with an intergalactic crime organization called the Hige-Hige Bandits (led by Mujoe and MechaDoc), as well as a mysterious rival known as Regulus. There is no central series antagonist, but these are the most common foes.

Bomberman appears to be part of an intergalactic police force to help protect the galaxy. This has been elaborated upon in later games, where a friendly figure named Dr. Ein directs Bomberman's objectives. There is also Bomber Base on Planet Bomber, where Bomberman trains daily. After the shapeshifter (if fed) Pommy was introduced, Charaboms became a part of the gameplay in some later single player games. A Bomberman model called Max also became a semi-regular member.

Characters

See also

References

  1. "Dyna Blaster, Bomber Man". Amiga Action (32): 62, 63. May 1992. Retrieved 9 October 2013.
  2. McFerran, Damien (2008). "Hudson Profile - Part 1 (RG)" (PDF). Issue 66. Retro Gamer Magazine. pp. 68–73. Retrieved 2011-01-19.
  3. McFerran, Damien (2009). "Hudson Profile - Part 2 (RG)" (PDF). Issue 67. Retro Gamer Magazine. pp. 44–49. Retrieved 2011-01-19.
  4. "Bomberman series statistics". Universal Videogame List. Retrieved 2010-11-01.
  5. MacGregor, Kyle (25 October 2015). "Konami's new Bomberman is for smartphones". Destructoid. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  6. "Marathon Programming Session Resulted In Smash Hit Game". Kotaku.com. Retrieved 2011-01-21.

External links

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