Bomberman (PCE, 1990)
Graphics-7 Sound-7.5 Control-8 Challenge-8? Story-6?
Level Design-7 Frustration-8 Fun-6.5/7* Originality-6.5
Overall Score-7
*MP
+
5-player vs. mode (two kinds)
Link cable vs. mode (for TurboExpress - handheld Turbografx systems)
Several levels of upgrades (blast size, number of bombs at once, speed)
Upgrades carry over to the next level in SP
Decent cutscenes
Ghouls 'n Ghosts-style level map between worlds
8 worlds with 8 levels each
Save feature and password save
Scrolling levels in SP
Move through destructible blocks power up (SP only - makes it a bit too easy?)
Vest power up (temporary defence against blasts - firepass in Bomberman NES)
Remote control/detonator power up - Bomberman NES, Bomber Boy GB
+/-
Negative power up (MP "skull" mode only) - skulls which make you automatically set bombs while active. In MP they can also speed you up, and if you touch other players the effect is applied to them too like a virus
-
No CPU bombermen in vs. mode (empty slots are used up by regular enemies from SP mode)
No speed upgrades in vs. mode (your default speed is at lvl 2 though)
Only one layout in vs. mode
Pretty basic background graphics
Repetitive
Pretty slow paced SP (only one power up per level, have to find the exit and kill all enemies in each level)
No co-op in story/SP mode
Few upgrade types
Level Design-7 Frustration-8 Fun-6.5/7* Originality-6.5
Overall Score-7
*MP
+
5-player vs. mode (two kinds)
Link cable vs. mode (for TurboExpress - handheld Turbografx systems)
Several levels of upgrades (blast size, number of bombs at once, speed)
Upgrades carry over to the next level in SP
Decent cutscenes
Ghouls 'n Ghosts-style level map between worlds
8 worlds with 8 levels each
Save feature and password save
Scrolling levels in SP
Move through destructible blocks power up (SP only - makes it a bit too easy?)
Vest power up (temporary defence against blasts - firepass in Bomberman NES)
Remote control/detonator power up - Bomberman NES, Bomber Boy GB
+/-
Negative power up (MP "skull" mode only) - skulls which make you automatically set bombs while active. In MP they can also speed you up, and if you touch other players the effect is applied to them too like a virus
-
No CPU bombermen in vs. mode (empty slots are used up by regular enemies from SP mode)
No speed upgrades in vs. mode (your default speed is at lvl 2 though)
Only one layout in vs. mode
Pretty basic background graphics
Repetitive
Pretty slow paced SP (only one power up per level, have to find the exit and kill all enemies in each level)
No co-op in story/SP mode
Few upgrade types