GAMES .: REVIEW
GAMEBOY ADVANCE

May 2002
by Jae Lurman

BOMBERMAN TOURNAMENT

Being one of the most enduring series, spanning a decade and having graced almost every game system, Bomberman appears to be stronger than ever. It's of little surprise that the multi-player friendly GBA already has its first BM game: Bomberman Tournament.

After the N64 titles and the (more recent) Bomberman Max for Gameboy Color, which both wandered into adventuring territory, it's also no surprise that Bomberman Tournament is an action/RPG/puzzle outing. But like Tetris, Bomberman games rarely stray too far from the fundamental vision - for then it just wouldn't be Bomberman. And so retaining its roots, BT is essentially 2 games in one - which goes without saying that the classic multi-player function is the 'bread and butter' of this nifty cartridge. Not that the single player Quest Mode is anything close to boring, but neither is it uniquely astounding and thus it only inspires a mild sense of engagement. You really just can't improve upon the perfection of the original Bomberman concept: blowing the hell out of everything, especially a fellow human player in real-time. The instruction manual says it all: "What would a Bomberman game be without Battle Mode?".

The premise of Bomberman Tournament's Quest Mode is this: Bomber Base in Bomber Galaxy has received a distress call from the planet Phantarion, reporting the impact of 5 giant meteors and mysterious structures which had then appeared. Bomberman Max immediately set out to investigate the planet but shortly after contact was lost and Max has disappeared. Now you, as the original Bomberman, must continue Max's investigation of Phantarion, locate Max and bring him back safely.

The game plays very much like your run of the mill 2D handheld action-oriented RPG and adds little depth to a sometimes stagnant genre - taking a leaf from each of Nintendo's Zelda and Pokemon books. But where its similarities end is where it incorporates the trademark Bomberman feel into the adventure mold. No longer are you cooped up on a single screen, as you roam the different geographical areas (from snow to dessert to the deep sea and everywhere in between) blasting a path through the static or alien obstacles. All the classic power-ups are here: multiple bombs, bigger blasts, kick/throw bombs, speed shoes, etc. As well as some welcomed additions to your powerful arsenal like remote-controlled bombs and landmines. Rather than finding these precious items under any random rock or shrub, you often have to seek them out in hidden locations or complete one of the many errands for nagging townsfolk. What you will also find are items which power up your Karabons; Pokemon inspired creatures which possess special skills and abilities needed to solve puzzles and access new areas. The 4 main bases feel a little like simplified Zelda ventures with an emphasis on the traditional Bomberman ethics. At the end of each of these dungeons lies a boss which is the end result of a mutated Bomberman turned evil.

Like the later Pokemon titles, Karabons in Bomberman Tournament can be "fused" together to make new versions which can then be battled in arenas for money or simply for pride (it keeps track of each individual Karabon's wins and losses). But it is a true shame that you can't battle your evolved Karabons across a link cable with an opponent. Which means as collectable as they are, you have no real need to train and power-up your Karabons. Their purpose is merely to open new areas of adventuring, so it seems to be somewhat of a redundant "cash-in" on Pokemon's monster collecting glory.

Battle mode however - is a different story altogether, and unless you have never played a 2D Bomberman before, you will know what this is all about. Things are made even sweeter with the inclusion of multi-player battles requiring just one Bomberman Tournament cartridge. Remaining largely unchanged for good reason, the battle mode is as fierce as it ever was back on the Super Nintendo. There are a couple of notable features contained in this mode, like the fishing mini-game and the great Revenge Bomber setting (where eleminated opponents can still throw bombs into the arena from the sidelines). There are enough customization options available for you to tweak your own party battles to suit.

All in all, Bomberman Tournament is a great title, and definitely one of the more overlooked launch titles for the Gameboy Advance. Although the 12 hour Quest Mode lacks the depth of story, sound and graphics of 2nd generation RPG's like Golden Sun, the failsafe battle-mode more than warrants a purchase. For Bomberman fans and those who are looking for something different, definitely pick this up.

IMAGE SOURCES
Screenshots are from the Video Game Museum and from Nintendo's Bomberman Tournament Page. Extra Media TGS pic from ignpocket.com.

Genre - Action / RPG

Developer -
Hudson Soft
Publisher - Activision
Release - June 2001

Save - Battery
(2 save positions)

Also Known As - Bomberman Story (Japan)

Players - 1 - 4 with single pak and link cable

Link Options - Battle Mode

EXTRA MEDIA
Bomberman Story - Japanese Box Art

TGS 2001 - Bomberman Story Display Sign

LINKS
Official Activision Site
Official Bomberman Story Site

Graphics - 7.5
The 2D outlined graphics are strikingly bold and full of colour.

Sound - 7
Catchy tunes that get a little too repetitive, but are still just right for the game.

Gameplay - 9.5
It plays like a Bomberman game. Near perfect control scheme. Gamers of all ages and skill levels could pick it up instantly.

Lastability - 9
Quest mode keeps you interested for awhile. Battle Mode lasts forever.

Characters - 5
Definitely not a story-driven game. Encounters with characters are quirky, brief and shallow.

Overall - 8/10
A great launch title and a commendable first GBA RPG effort. One of the best portable multi-player games ever!