Bomberman 64

"Can Bomberman Fare Well in 3-D???"

In this age of advanced technology, it's inevitable that all classic games get a 3-D treatment for their updates and sequels and Bomberman is obviously not an exception.

Bomberman 64 attempts to take bold steps in new directions. Firstly, the entire game is done in full 3-D with complete freedom of movement from an overhead and three-fourths perspective view.

The one-player game takes full advantage of this new, open feel by creating a big adventure game out of it. The worlds aren't that enormous as you think but you can expect yourself to explore several landscapes as the game progresses on toward the more formidable bosses.

While so, anyone can easily tell you that Bomberman aren't famous for its one-player games, but it's the multiplayer mode that puts every version of Bomberman from the 8-bit Nintendo to the 32-bit Sega Saturn on the map of success.

The gameplay, however, is essentially quite similar to the past 2-D bombermans. Battles take place in more open arenas, and you won't be able to find anymore rigid stages that laid out in a 90 degress grid pattern manner. Since everything isn't 2-D, explosions are now round-shaped instead of the standard plus-sign shaped.

If these aren't enough, Hudson has included several new strategies to the game such as picking up dizzy enemies and toss them. [Quite similar to Konami's Poy Poy for the PlayStation.] Besides that, you can stun your enemies by kicking or throwing bombs at them.

The single player mode is divided into six different worlds, each with four stages, sub-bosses and final bosses. Bomberman is sent on a mission to save the world from a group of aliens who threatens to enslave his race. As of usual, Bomberman has to collect power-ups such as finding five gold diamonds in each stage, timed bombs and so on to make his way through his quest.

Each stage is navigable in a non-linear manners and Bomberman has to use his wits to outsmart the enemies. Bomberman even has to pump up his bombs, create his own bridges to reach certain very inaccessible areas. All these strategies combine to make this one-player mode more unique and more in-depth, thus providing a wide variety of challenge.

The camera angles can be rather fustrating at times and furthurmore, the boss Al seem a bit unbalanced. Don't get that wrong! The Al is pretty good but it can still be improved furthur. In fact, most of the bosses show a strong reminiscent to the older renditions in the series, even though they are 3-D now.

It looks as if that Hudson intends to place strong emphasise on the one-player mode and focus less on the multiplayer mode. As for the multiplayer mode, it is pretty decent but not the best yet. Still, the multiplayer saves it.

As the saying goes, ''if it isn't broke, don't fix it!'' Was it wise for Hudson to change such a traditional and successful formula? What do you think?

Story : 7.0/10.0
Graphics : 8.0/10.0
Concept : 6.0/10.0
Sound : 7.5/10.0
Gameplay : 6.0/10.0
Replay : 6.0/10.0
Challenge : 7.5/10.0
Overall : 7.0/10.0

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 02/07/00, Updated 12/16/02