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Bomberman graces the N-Gage.
The various Bomberman games have always been relatively simple and Bomberman for N-Gage is no different.
Someone at Hudson Soft must have decided that Bomberman can’t blow up things simply because he likes to do so. So in Bomberman on N-Gage, there is a back story. Basically, a statue was stolen from Bomberman’s town. The thief left a note, forcing Bomberman to follow him through a warp hole which leads him to an alternate location. As you progress through the forty levels, you’ll learn a bit more about the story.
If you have played a Bomberman game before, you’ll be right at home in this edition. The whole gameplay formula in Bomberman is to place bombs strategically so you can blow up your enemies while making sure you are safe. Each level is a grid with destroyable bricks and indestructible structures. You’ll need to destroy the bricks to get to the enemies while using the indestructible structures to plan your best route. Each level also houses a hidden door, which will allow you to progress. It is entirely possible to find the door without destroying any enemies, but where is the fun in that?
One of the most amusing features in this version is the randomly-generated levels. They won’t always be identical, i.e. enemies, bricks and the secret door will be in a different spot if you die. This keeps the game interesting since trial and error is never any fun.
Given Bomberman’s incredibly simple controls, i.e. use the directional pad and the 5 key to drop bombs; it makes an ideal multiplayer game. Bomberman uses the N-Gage’s Bluetooth capabilities to allow you to wireless play adversarial games up to thirty feet away. There are five specially made multiplayer arenas.
Visually, Bomberman on N-Gage is a perfect 2D version of the game. You’ll see the levels from an overhead camera, which allows you to see much of the level at once. Bomberman is as detailed as he’ll ever be, and animates fluidly, complete with a shadow. The enemies in the game are very simple, even more so than Bomberman and the only other effects are the bombs going off. There are themed levels, i.e. ice and fire and such, but they are also rather simple. Nonetheless, the visuals aren’t the most important aspect of the Bomberman experience.
The score is happy and cheery, which fits the game perfectly. Unfortunately, it loops a bit too much for my tastes. The sound effects are awesome, as you’ll hear every bomb go off with a powerful boom.
Bomberman is a simple yet fun puzzle game. Chances are, if you liked previous Bomberman games you’ll like this one. The multiplayer mode is also pretty spiffy. But unless you're a diehard Bomberman fan, or plan on playing multiplayer regularly your $29.99 would be better spent elsewhere. -- Jose Liz, PGNx Media
---- Aug 10, 2004
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