Hey, how many Bomberman games are there? 7? 16? 30? Nevermind, the quantity of titles doesn’t really matter here. What does matter though is the new game’s number of playable characters! Who knew Konami would support last year’s Super Bomberman R up until today? They even ported all of the fun to our favorite console, the PS4! Chills, right?
Not only was Super Bomberman R released on the same day as the Nintendo Switch last year (March 3, 2017), it was also a timed console exclusive. Back then, fans were both happy yet unsatisfied with the game.
Reviewed: PS4
Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PC
Developer: Konami
Publisher: Konami
Release Date: June 12, 2018
MSRP: $39.99
Review code provided by Konami.
The classic mechanics of previous Bomberman games are still here. I mean, what’s not to love about putting a bomb and running away (or hiding) before it goes boom, right? That simple core gameplay is already fun and exciting, so there’s really nothing to fix.
Alas, this is where Super Bomberman R really stopped shining.
The game is, how do I put it lightly, hmm, somewhat boring. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve been a fan of the white bomber since his pixelated 8-bit days. However, Bomberman R plays too safely with its niche. I know, Bomberman is Bomberman – you drop bombs blah blah, but I was actually hoping for something new and exciting that could add to the formula.
The story in Bomberman R’s, well, somewhat non-existent. I mean that in a bad way. Every scene could feel like it’s going too long because of how much the characters talk. Also, in case you’re wondering, the voice acting sounds like your typical dubbed anime, squeaky voice and all.
Playing the story mode, however, is fun. Every level has a different objective, from the basic ‘defeat all enemies’ to ‘rescue civilians’. The puzzles also require some effort in thinking, making players not only worry about where they should place their bombs but also on where enemies position themselves so that they can’t kill your bombers with their touch.
There are six worlds in total in the main campaign, with a bonus world that unlocks when you finish the game. All of these levels have their own themes, ranging from the classic field to icy stages. Every world also has different gimmicks that add challenge to the players.
Boss battles in Super Bomberman R feels a lot like your everyday super sentai (Power Rangers, for those in western culture) show. Every boss has special abilities, but are fairly easy to defeat. Until they throw in their giant mechs and then the real boss battle begins. Every mech requires different techniques to defeat.
The story mode is pretty short and lacks the difficulty I was hoping for in a Bomberman game, but I had a blast playing it. Especially since I was playing with a friend and had a little too much fun by ‘accidentally’ punching my bombs through my friend’s side of the stage. *evil laugh*
Aside from story mode, you can also choose to battle friends locally, like the good old days. There’s also the Grand Prix mode, where you group up with players and battle with different teams. Every game has two rounds and the team with the most crystals or kills becomes the champion.
Super Bomberman R is a good game. It’s not that great, but it’s good enough to let me play through all the levels in story mode and a couple of matches with people I know. What’s really great is how many new characters are being added to the playable roster after all these months, with the latest being Solid Snake from the Metal Gear Solid series. Playstation even gets an additional Ratchet and his trusty robot sidekick Clank.
Oh, wait there’s one more thing I forgot to mention! Super Bomberman R has an online mode! Yes, online! I was so excited to play with random strangers on Grand Prix mode, but I was stuck finding rooms in the lobby. The searching icon has been turning around for so long I got bored of waiting that I just quit. Eh, who cares about the online play when you have real friends to torture, right? *evil laugh, again*
