Bomberman '94

~ BOMBERMAN '94 ~

Hudson Soft

HuCard

1993

The impressive leap in quality the Bomberman series made in going from the "paper classic" original to the legitimately enjoyable '93 follow-up probably left Hudson feeling that subsequent chapters would be running on fumes if a little tinkering weren't performed on the fundamental formula. One notices immediately that '94 features the best graphics of the PCE entries...

...but it's the gameplay additions and adjustments that end up making a greater impression. Kangaroo and mine cart rides make for neat alternatives to the usual Bomberman waddle, and limited visibility makes exploring the haunted house a suitably uneasy experience--though I could've done without the threat of cheap annihilation via falling magma chunks in the volcanic region.

I also wasn't pleased to discover that '94 is shorter, easier, and ultimately less rewarding than '93. Gone is the required slaying of every enemy in a given board; here, you're simply asked to destroy a few crystals to open the way to your objective. Stages can be conquered without much grief until perhaps the final area, where stout foes appear in tight corridors. Prior to that difficult stretch, the only real challenge comes from the bosses, who are proficient fighters despite their unimpressive appearances. Especially tough is the string of battles that the game concludes with.

'94 is certainly a lot better than the old, crusty original; and I respect Hudson for trying to change things up rather than adhering to Bomberman tradition. But '93 was a better product, and, unfortunately, for all the effort that went into doing something new with '94, the overall entertainment value of the experience declined.