Bomberman Tournament Review

Is this Bomberman game worth a purchase, Xander believes it is.

07/17/2001

Background/Story
As with most Bomberman games, you have the option of playing the quest mode, or the battle mode. In the quest mode a distress call was received at Bomber Base from the planet of Phantarion. 5 meteors had hit their planet, and they were requesting aid for their research. Bomberman Max was sent to help out and to find out why many mysterious things were happening. However, during the mission Max goes missing. The original Bomberman is sent to Rescue Max and locate the meteors.

Game Statistics

  • 32 megabit cartridge.
  • One game pak required for link play.
  • Eight multiplayer maps.
  • Ten different weapons.

Game Design
There has been a slight change in the design of the quest mode, different from most Bomberman games. Instead of playing level after level, Bomberman must now venture around a world much like Link does in Zelda or Ash does in Pokémon. You are in a much more wide-open space than in typical Bomberman games, however when you enter the base of the bosses, you are presented with the classic Bomberman setup again. This new style of Bomberman is a welcomed change and is very enjoyable to play. The quest mode is back and this time up to four can play. On other systems, a four-player adapter needed to be purchase for this mode, and on portable consoles, four hardly ever could play together (unless you're a Bomberman expert, and you remember turbo express). Now with the Gameboy Advance 4 players can play with one game pak, 3 link cables, and 4 Gameboy Advance systems. This game is a real treat for Bomberman fans.

Graphics
The graphics for Bomberman Tournament are just excellent. Having taken advantage of the wide range of colours and the 32-bit operating system that the Gameboy Advance has to offer, this game provides the user with a visually appealing display as well as fluent animation.

Sound
The music and sound effects all suit the mood of the game. Some music you may find particularly appealing (I found myself going back to these zones, just to listen to the music sometimes). The classic 'bomb sound' is back. Overall the game's sound contributes nicely to your Bomberman Tournament experience.

Control
Bomberman Tournament incorporates all the new buttons of the Gameboy advance into the game. At times when you have many different bombing abilities, the controls can get confusing. However, the characters' movement responds well to the game pad and contributes to the fluent game play. Some of the menus in the quest mode can be a little frustrating (especially when you try to save the game!), but other than that the control is very good.

Satisfaction
Being a Bomberman fan myself, this game exceeded my expectations when it came to satisfaction. The quest mode is highly addictive, and you'll find yourself going nuts to try and solve all the puzzles and find all the items. It is this RPG mode that really helped in making the quest mode unique (and therefore really fun) compared to other Bomberman games. Also the Battle mode is back and better than ever, you and up to 3 friends can fight it out for the title of the Bomberman champion. Not only do you become the gold Bomberman for winning a match, but you also get to participate in a fishing game, where you can obtain an item to start with in subsequent rounds. If you fish and get a 'Fire Up' your bomb range will be increased right from the start of each game. My diagnosis: "Satisfaction Guaranteed!" (Warning: not a guarantee)

Replay Value/Game Length
Although the quest mode does not have the longest game length, the battle mode will provide you with countless hours of Bomberman action. It is my opinion that the game was titled, "Bomberman Tournament" for this reason. The battle mode is just awesome and allowing 4 to play on one game pak is a dream come true. You will find yourself playing the 1 player battle mode and honing your skills so you can crush your friends when you play them. With 8 battlefields, you will never run out of fun with this game.

Overall
What a Bomberman game this is. It has an amazing quest mode and a top-of-the-line battle mode where 4 can play. What more could you ask for in a Bomberman game? The only improvement could be in the menus, and the loading times for the battle mode. Other than that you are looking at one of the best Bomberman games to date!

Game Design 8.0
 Mechanics 9.0
 Innovation 7.0
 Originality 7.0
 Extras 7.0
 Depth 10
Graphics 8.7
 Character/Animation 8.0
 Environment 9.0
 Framerate 9.0
Sound 8.3
 Music 8.0
 Sound FX/Voice 8.5
Control 8.2
 During Play 8.5
 Menus 7.0
 Functionality 9.0
Satisfaction 9.0
 Challenge 8.0
 Fun-Factor 10
Replay Value/Game Length 10
Multiplayer 10
FINAL SCORE 8.5

Review by Xander

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