Written by Anthony L. Cuaycong
Title: Super Bomberman R
Developer: Konami Digital Entertainment, Konami, HexaDrive
Publisher: Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc.
Price: $39.99
Genre: Action, Arcade
When Bomberman was first released in 1983, not even its most ardent backers figured it would lay the foundation for a blockbuster franchise of 70 titles across a variety of platforms. Crafted three years earlier primarily to highlight the capabilities of Basic-language hardware, it featured no-frills content and made no significant dent in computer entertainment. Until, that is, an improved version made its way to the Nintendo Family Computer, and, along with sibling Lode Runner, blazed a trail of success that enabled publisher Hudson Soft to realize that less was, in fact, more.
Considering that Bomberman’s rise coincided with the Family Computer’s own ascent, it was, perhaps, no surprise to find Super Bomberman R, its latest iteration, likewise tying its fate to the debut of Nintendo’s current-generation hardware last year. With Hudson Soft going the way of the Dodo in 2012, the task of updating the venerable title was left to Konami and HexaDrive. And, wisely, they resisted the temptation to alter the gameplay, instead opting to retain the framework that earned for it a substantial loyal following. The fruit of their labor promptly became a must-buy for new Switch owners.
Fast forward to even date, and Super Bomberman R finds itself shedding its exclusivity and heading to the PlayStation 4 as a more robust offering with a much lower price tag, containing all the content added since its debut along with characters available only on Sony’s console. To be sure, the formula remains the same as its elder sibling’s — and, indeed, as its source material’s. Players control characters that use, well, bombs to overcome enemies until there are none. It has a no-brainer of a premise, sure, but it nonetheless offers a surprising amount of depth that requires deep strategizing, tactical thinking, and no small measure of quick reflexes to stay alive in maze after maze.
By way of standalone or collaborative play, Super Bomberman R advances a story mode that has players needing to complete disparate objectives. In some cases, time-bound survival is called for. In others, search-and-rescue missions are required. And in between, humorous cutscenes lending meat to the game’s characters provide a welcome respite from the action. On the minus side, it feels woefully short; at the easiest difficulty level, it can be completed in no more than five hours.
Thankfully, Super Bomberman R is best appreciated as a multiplayer title, whether cooperatively or competitively, and whether against collocated players or combatants separated by continents. A staggering array of options awaits; everything from puzzle construction to match duration can be selected before havoc is wreaked. And, yes, the online alternative works much better on the PS4; unlike with the Switch (and especially early on), lag is close to nonexistent. That said, matchmaking continues to be a hit-or-miss proposition; on occasion, it takes some time before virtual rooms are filled and games can begin. No doubt, a combination of factors leads to the twiddling of thumbs, among them technical and physical limitations prior to handshakes between remote servers and participation by players in different regions.
The good news is that the series has never looked and sounded as good as in Super Bomberman R on the PS4. Certainly, the game’s frenetic pace is supplemented by the vibrancy of the audio tracks and visual design. The mayhem of eight-played action becomes more pronounced with colors jumping out of the screen and aural effects blaring from the speakers with appropriate (as opposed to overwhelming) authority. If there’s any complaint to be made, it’s that the dialogues of computer characters can be repetitive; the whole gamut of prerecorded responses is cycled through too quickly for comfort.
Developer: Konami Digital Entertainment, Konami, HexaDrive
Publisher: Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc.
Price: $39.99
Genre: Action, Arcade
When Bomberman was first released in 1983, not even its most ardent backers figured it would lay the foundation for a blockbuster franchise of 70 titles across a variety of platforms. Crafted three years earlier primarily to highlight the capabilities of Basic-language hardware, it featured no-frills content and made no significant dent in computer entertainment. Until, that is, an improved version made its way to the Nintendo Family Computer, and, along with sibling Lode Runner, blazed a trail of success that enabled publisher Hudson Soft to realize that less was, in fact, more.
Considering that Bomberman’s rise coincided with the Family Computer’s own ascent, it was, perhaps, no surprise to find Super Bomberman R, its latest iteration, likewise tying its fate to the debut of Nintendo’s current-generation hardware last year. With Hudson Soft going the way of the Dodo in 2012, the task of updating the venerable title was left to Konami and HexaDrive. And, wisely, they resisted the temptation to alter the gameplay, instead opting to retain the framework that earned for it a substantial loyal following. The fruit of their labor promptly became a must-buy for new Switch owners.
Fast forward to even date, and Super Bomberman R finds itself shedding its exclusivity and heading to the PlayStation 4 as a more robust offering with a much lower price tag, containing all the content added since its debut along with characters available only on Sony’s console. To be sure, the formula remains the same as its elder sibling’s — and, indeed, as its source material’s. Players control characters that use, well, bombs to overcome enemies until there are none. It has a no-brainer of a premise, sure, but it nonetheless offers a surprising amount of depth that requires deep strategizing, tactical thinking, and no small measure of quick reflexes to stay alive in maze after maze.
By way of standalone or collaborative play, Super Bomberman R advances a story mode that has players needing to complete disparate objectives. In some cases, time-bound survival is called for. In others, search-and-rescue missions are required. And in between, humorous cutscenes lending meat to the game’s characters provide a welcome respite from the action. On the minus side, it feels woefully short; at the easiest difficulty level, it can be completed in no more than five hours.
Thankfully, Super Bomberman R is best appreciated as a multiplayer title, whether cooperatively or competitively, and whether against collocated players or combatants separated by continents. A staggering array of options awaits; everything from puzzle construction to match duration can be selected before havoc is wreaked. And, yes, the online alternative works much better on the PS4; unlike with the Switch (and especially early on), lag is close to nonexistent. That said, matchmaking continues to be a hit-or-miss proposition; on occasion, it takes some time before virtual rooms are filled and games can begin. No doubt, a combination of factors leads to the twiddling of thumbs, among them technical and physical limitations prior to handshakes between remote servers and participation by players in different regions.
The good news is that the series has never looked and sounded as good as in Super Bomberman R on the PS4. Certainly, the game’s frenetic pace is supplemented by the vibrancy of the audio tracks and visual design. The mayhem of eight-played action becomes more pronounced with colors jumping out of the screen and aural effects blaring from the speakers with appropriate (as opposed to overwhelming) authority. If there’s any complaint to be made, it’s that the dialogues of computer characters can be repetitive; the whole gamut of prerecorded responses is cycled through too quickly for comfort.
Nonetheless, Super Bomberman R is an easy recommend for players on the lookout for party games. It’s perfect for a whole afternoon of unwinding with friends engaging in battles of oneupmanship, laced with loads of taunting for good measure. Meanwhile, longtime fans of the franchise will be happy to note that it’s the best and the brightest of the Bomberman brethren yet. At $39.99 for all its bells and whistles (and, signifying the PS4 stamp of approval, Ratchet and Clank on the roster), it’s a worthy addition to the library of Sony stalwarts and casual gamers alike.
THE GOOD
THE BAD
THE GOOD
- The best of the Bomberman series by far
- Hews closely to the gameplay of the original and doesn’t fix what isn’t broken
- Top-notch graphics and sounds
- Addictive multiplayer modes
THE BAD
- No innovation from source material
- Apart from exclusive skins, carries the same content as its Switch sibling
- Online matchmaking can take a while
- Story mode is woefully short
RATING: 8/10
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