Amazing Bomberman

Steven Barbato

3 months ago

This entry is part 27 of 26 in the series Bomberman

On August 2^nd, 2022, just three days before its release, Konami dropped an announcement for Amazing Bomberman out of nowhere. Released exclusively for the subscription-based Apple Arcade service for iOS devices, Amazing Bomberman embraces music as its central conceit, combining rhythm game-isms and music genres like chiptune, dubstep, rock, and pop with classic Bomberman gameplay. Due to the combination of its sudden release and platform exclusivity, the game feels like something of a curious experiment for Konami and an attempt to see where else the formula can go beyond Super Bomberman R2. Aside from the music focus, the game also features an aesthetic identity heavily inspired by the LofiGirl and the booming popularity of retro culture, which gives it a distinct atmosphere compared to previous entries alongside a small but enjoyably different type of soundtrack.

Before factoring in how the music affects the game, the fundamentals of Amazing Bomberman are very much simple as you’d expect, perhaps even more so considering how new it is. The maximum number of players is four, the only power-ups beyond the standard stat boosts and kick/power glove/boxing glove trio are the bouncy bombs and the piercing bombs, and only one type of Louie presents itself and is strangely rare outside of one specific stage added after an update. There’s no story to be had in the game and the single player mode is just the same as the multiplayer except with bots. None of the stages have any kind of environmental hazards either, so all play the same on a fundamental level aside from whatever ruleset they carry. The music is ultimately what makes Amazing Bomberman stand out from what came before it and it does succeed in making it feel like a different experience.

Depending on the selected stage, in-game elements will sync up with the music and the visuals will reflect the song accordingly. Explosions occur on the beat, soft blocks reappear by slamming down from the sky in tune with the music, and rhythmic sound effects unique to each level occur depending on what actions are taken. The bombs you use in each level have differing appearances based on the genre of music; in the disco-inspired “Midnight Fever” stage, bombs will look like disco balls, and for “Bomb, Bomb! Blow’em All”, the bombs will look like 2D objects to match up with the retro Bomberman visuals going on in the background. This idea gives each level a unique tempo, resulting in some that feel more hectic than others. This can also be complemented with some of the chosen rulesets and variable timers depending on the length of the song. The short length of the song “Arouser” pairs very well with its harsh techno sounds and “Max Firepower” ruleset that ensures games on that stage are always high octane, whereas the gentler sound of “Bubble Addiction” and its “Old-School” ruleset makes it the most approachable level to start with for beginners and those who have been out of the Bomberman loop for a while. The variety on offer makes Amazing Bomberman a visually gorgeous game, but it also makes it an incredibly busy one, oftentimes to the detriment of its players. Because of all the visual effects, moving background images, and multicolor explosions, losing track of yourself and nearby bombs can happen frequently. Certain stages won’t hesitate to have background elements fly into the foreground and block your vision, while other stages rely heavily on flashing lights, which is both distracting and perhaps potentially dangerous to those sensitive to said flashing lights.

In a smart move designed to counteract the bombastic visuals while still remaining cohesive with the premise, the Bomber in the lead will have a spotlight on them at all times, encouraging everyone to gang up on the current star of the show. Instead of only having one life to win a game with, players now respawn every time they’re knocked out and the goal is to amass the highest number of points before the song ends. Earning any kind of KO gets you points as does blowing up soft blocks (self-destructs make you lose points), but defeating the number one player gets you an “Amazing!” bonus and significantly more points, making it the most tactically sound option. It’s a system that works well within the chaotic context of Bomberman multiplayer – the player in the lead is probably skilled enough to make a 3v1 interesting and the constant tallying of points and changing of rankings makes it very enticing for players to backstab each other at a moment’s notice, all of which gives each round a back and forth that makes for some unpredictably exciting outcomes.

Though the fundamentals of Amazing Bomberman are sound, it offers a scant amount to do in comparison to many entries that came before it. Upon its release, the game had just seven songs, with three more that were added in updates as recently as February 2023. The only form of “progression” lies with the game’s leveling system, which rewards you with various cosmetics for completing Battle Pass-esque challenges in either the Single Battle or Online Battle modes. While they do offer a variety of cute appearances for your Bomberman and your badge that gets displayed during online battles, they don’t confer any benefits beyond that and said rewards are difficult to show off due to the lack of players playing online. In contrast to the slimness of the package, the Training mode is at least impressively robust, offering tips on all the fundamentals as well as advanced tricks like manually stopping kicked bombs in specific ways to trap opponents.

Much effort was also put into making every song unique as a result of different musicians being brought on for each original track. Solo artists, idol groups, singers, and DJs make for a wide range of styles and experience to pull from and every portion of the game’s soundtrack feels equally valuable and considered. The menu music in particular is a very soothing tune that makes navigation and idling alike relaxing and easy to get carried away with. The artists involved with the game are Dizzly, YMCK, Yuki Shibasaki and Ai Takekawa, Tessei Tojo, Mawase! Groove Kaihatsubu, Rasmus Faber, Masahiro “Godspeed” Aoki and Bruno Valverde, Micah Akiba, Fake Type, Hiroaki Ooka, and Takanori Goto. Many of these artists contribute primarily or exclusively to productions outside of video games, but Takanori Gotohas guitar credits on both Nier and Nier Automata, and Masahiro Aoki composed music for Astral Chain and Bayonetta 3.

Taken in a vacuum, Amazing Bomberman is a perfectly competent and enjoyable entry in the series that is well-suited to quick sessions during a commute due to its mobile nature, but when compared to what came before it, it has difficulty making a lasting impression. The music/rhythm game theme is something that works well and could absolutely be explored further down the line to continued success, but the high amount of effort spent on the presentation almost feels wasted on a game that struggles to convince players to continue playing after they’ve sampled each of its songs. The offline and online offerings are slim and the AI opponents used to fill rooms in any mode are too easy and passive to provide much of a challenge. Its Apple Arcade exclusivity greatly limits its reach and makes it a less compelling option compared to existing offerings with more established and easier to access player bases. Between Power Bomberman being free to play and Super Bomberman R2 offering crossplay for all versions as well as a wider range of modes to play, Amazing Bomberman is best sampled as a briefly entertaining perk of an Apple Arcade subscription instead of expecting it to singlehandedly justify the monthly fee.

Links

https://www.konami.com/games/bomberman/amg/us/en/ – Official website featuring descriptions of each artist used in the game

https://www.imore.com/gaming/ios-games/konami-producer-tatsunori-matsuo-talks-amazing-bomberman – iMore Interview with producer Tatsunori Matsuo by Kevin Cortez

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