Sat, 07 Nov 2009 by Marcel Van Duyn
A cut down, portable Bomberman Blast.
Pretty much every platform in this gaming generation has had a downloadable Bomberman title. The DSi hadn't yet, so Hudson must've figured "Why the heck not?" and made yet another one.
As with all other downloadable (non-Virtual Console) Bomberman titles, this is strictly a multiplayer affair — there is no adventure mode, so the only thing you can play is the franchise's famous battle mode. The concept is still the same as ever: you're thrown into an arena with up to seven others and the objective is to blow up blocks to get upgrades for yourself and your bombs and blast your opponents.
Single player allows you to play with up to seven bots (of which you can set the skill level), while local multiplayer and Nintendo WiFi Connection allow you to play against other people. Disappointingly, the game's touted 8-player support is only available for local multiplayer — WiFi Connection games are limited to 4-player battles. To top that off, there is no Download Play game sharing support so all players need to download the game themselves. There's also a tutorial mode for beginners, but really, what more do you need to know than "plant bombs and blow others up?"
After Bomberman Blast, Live and Ultra (for WiiWare, XBLA and PSN, respectively), Blitz noticeably goes back to the basics — there are no alternate battle modes (such as Blast's "Countdown," "King" and "Air Raid") and only six of the most well-known powerups in the series (extra bombs, extra range, extra speed, spike bombs and the ability to kick and throw bombs) make appearances.
Thankfully, other features have not been cut down at all. There are 10 arenas, each with their own gimmick (such as trapdoors, conveyor belts or an extra high amount of items) and each match is fully customizable with a multitude of settings (match time, the amount of victories required, the ability to toggle "Revenge" mode, and many more). All arenas can also be played in Large and Small sizes; Large ones are spread across the DSi's two screens and allow you to walk between them. This tends to get rather annoying, however, as explosions also carry over to the other screen, meaning you have to keep an eye on both screens the whole time. This sounds easy, but in practice, it's almost impossible, especially with a full eight players running around.
The music is pretty disappointing. Just like in Blast, Hudson Soft has opted to use the rather forgettable music from Bomberman Generation, rather than the classic themes everybody knows and loves. The graphics are all completely 2D and look pretty good, if obviously not truly impressive. Bomberman himself still has his more recent "long-legged" design, which looks a bit weird in 2D, but it's nothing complaint-worthy.
1. WhoKnew
08 Nov 2009, 02:01 GMT
Great review Drake. Definetly getting this on monday.
2. irken004
08 Nov 2009, 02:04 GMT
I didn't like Bomberman Blast on Wiiware. Soo...meh.
3. Corbie
08 Nov 2009, 02:11 GMT
Great review Drake. Might have to pass on this one.
4. Hyper Luigi
08 Nov 2009, 02:13 GMT
Great review! I might buy this, but I will have to find a way to permanently connect my DSi to the internet first.
5. slapshot82
08 Nov 2009, 02:29 GMT
Good to see something other than a puzzle game on DSiWare. Ive already got Bomberman on DS so its a pass, but good to see it on the service.
6. Starkiller
08 Nov 2009, 03:08 GMT
Doesn't look worthy for my first bomberman. Looks like it's Blast for me.
7. WolfRamHeart
08 Nov 2009, 03:30 GMT
Thanks for the solid review Drake. I think I'm going to pass on this one as well. It sounds pretty meh to me.
8. Ezekiel
08 Nov 2009, 03:48 GMT
What you expect for a remake of Bomberman blast half the price of the wiiware version on Dsiware? I would download this if I had a Dsi and if it did not have to much lag. Is the lag bad with 4 people wifi?
9. Sylverstone
08 Nov 2009, 04:12 GMT
Well, I was actually expecting a better game than what Drake reviewed (No 8-player online smackdown?
) Oh well, when I have enough points to blow, this is definitely on the list.
I'm still to see how Reflection is going to appeal to us DSi owners. Mid-November! (Check my thread in the DSiWare section for confirmation!)
10. Mario maniac
08 Nov 2009, 06:51 GMT
This is definitely my favourite DSi game out thus far. The game could've easily been priced at 800 points, but good on Nintendo and Hudson for putting it at a cheaper price.
11. ItsTheSal
08 Nov 2009, 11:33 GMT
I love this game i finaly can play it because i have WPA internet ( :
12. Charlie The Unicorn
08 Nov 2009, 13:13 GMT
I wonder what I was smoking when I sold my Bommberman DS game on half.com. So yeah, I'll be getting this along with Excitebike: WR this monday.
13. Joe Diddley
08 Nov 2009, 13:16 GMT
500 points & online is good enough for me. I'm still getting to grips with what this games got & never really tried the extra modes that the wiiware version has.
14. Cheezy
08 Nov 2009, 13:20 GMT
I actually can't wait, I can never have too much Bomberman, even though I suck at it
15. SoulSilver IV
08 Nov 2009, 13:40 GMT
I bought this game last night, pretty good fun, although on normal I tend to get beaten quite a bit... Perhaps I should try small mode instead of large?
16. NintenDude97
08 Nov 2009, 14:12 GMT
Pretty nice for $5.
17. Mastgrr
08 Nov 2009, 14:30 GMT
Wow, no download play. That stinks. Going to still get it though. Any good game on DSiWare gets my purchase.
18. Raptor78
08 Nov 2009, 14:45 GMT
Havnt noticed any lag online sofar, but I have noticed I always get my @ss kicked by the last person standing when I play 4 player wifi.
Im actually quite glad the wifi version limits itself a 4 players for two reasons...
first you dont have to wait forever to get an online game going when you only have to wait for four players and second on the DS it can get a bit more chaotic and confusing than when im playing it on the wii so im glad you only have to worry bout three other opponents.
AI you can always dumb down a bit so its great to have loads of CPU bommermen to kill but wifi im glad its just four players.
Good review though, 7 is a decent enough score for a basic bommerman game. I would definately recommend it for 500 points though.
On a side note this game didnt cost me anything as all I did was cash in my stars that I had gained from doing surveys on other DSiware I had bought which is fantastic.
19. LEGEND MARIOID
08 Nov 2009, 14:55 GMT
The conclusion says it all. Obviously a good game but if you have one or two of the other DS incarnations of this game there's really no point in getting this. That applies to me.
(Portability only interested me w.r.t. Dr Mario)
Thanks, good revw.
20. Xkhaoz
08 Nov 2009, 15:01 GMT
I'm getting this hopefully with UNO on Monday. 1. because an online mode for a $5 game, score. And 2. I don't have a single Bomberman game.
21. g-silent007
08 Nov 2009, 17:13 GMT
yea i might get this once I get an DSi becuse its been awhile since I played a bomberman game, anyway good review.
22. Corbie
08 Nov 2009, 17:35 GMT
It's certainly not a bad deal for $5.
23. soccerplayer282
08 Nov 2009, 19:08 GMT
I'll probably pick this one up. It's only $5
24. vakama94
08 Nov 2009, 20:24 GMT
might pick this up in christmas or next year
25. KanrakusPizza
08 Nov 2009, 21:19 GMT
I WANT IT I WANT IT I WANT IT I WANT IT I WANT IT
Along with UNO and all the Game&Watch games.
26. geek-master
09 Nov 2009, 01:08 GMT
will UNO hit america's dsi ware service tomarow?
27. motang
09 Nov 2009, 14:57 GMT
I might get this, as I don't have any Bomberman game, and it does sound like a fun game on the go.
28. Pegasus
09 Nov 2009, 15:59 GMT
Actually, I quite like the sound of reduced battle modes as I've found any other than the original one pretty superfluous or downright boring and pointless.
Yes, I definitely prefer back to basics as it removes a lot of the dumb gimmicks that keep getting added on over the years. I might just get this.
29. Hipeoplessssss
09 Nov 2009, 18:01 GMT
I want it i want it i want it i want it
30. ballistikboy
09 Nov 2009, 20:58 GMT
Sounds fun! I'll get it today I'm sure...
31. Badknux
10 Nov 2009, 05:39 GMT
I don't like Bomberman, except for the N64 era. Bomberman 64, Bomberman 64: The Second Attack, and Bomberman Hero are so much fun; I love Regulus and the Astral Knights. Bomberman Generation is pretty good too, but not Jetters.
32. NintenDude97
10 Nov 2009, 12:24 GMT
Sould've been a 9/10.
33. 110percent
19 Nov 2009, 17:53 GMT
@ Ezekiel For me, there has been no lag at all. Really good wifi for DSiware.
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