Bomberman
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Bomberman Land hits PSP in January
We've been impatiently awaiting Hudson's announcement when it would release Bomberman Land stateside, and today, our long wait is over. Bomberman Land, which was released earlier this year in Japan, will hit the PSP in January 2008.Bomberman Land will feature a traditional single-player story mode, more than 50 mini-games and will support Game Sharing. "Gamers are going to be blown away by the sheer amount of content they get in the Bomberman Land series," said John Greiner President and CEO of Hudson Entertainment.In the single-player mode, you will have the unenviable and no doubt maddening task of restoring "peace and tranquility to the beleaguered Bomberman world" by solving quests and puzzles. And to win over the series faithful, the "classic multiplayer" Battle Pack Mode makes a return.
Bomberman Land to explode onto the Wii
Hudson sends word that Bomberman Land will be gracing the Wii. Featuring three different game modes (Story mode, Multiplayer mode and Battle Pack mode), the title will feature a plethora of minigames (oh, how the Wii needs more minigames). Oh, and in Battle Pack mode, the tried-and-true classic gameplay that put the bomber on the map will be featured.So, who is excited?%Gallery-7628%[Via press release]
This Wednesday: Sonic 2 hogs XBLA
How to appreciate the above headline in five simple steps: Read the sequence of words from left to right. Note: Utilizing this technique may require previous training. If said requirement is not met, reader subject may experience difficulty in advancing beyond Step 1. Interpret the declaration as follows: Sega's speedy side-scroller, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, is arriving on Xbox Live Arcade this Wednesday for 400 MS Points ($5), complete with online play. Realize that in being the sole game release this week (joined only by Bomberman Live! and Band of Bugs downloadable content), Sonic 2 is in effect "hogging" the lineup. Recall that Sonic the Hedgehog is notably and provably a hedgehog. (Crucial) Make the connection and laugh in an obnoxious manner. This may be accompanied by lightly assaulting your knee or invading a colleague's ribs with your elbow. Never confuse the two.
Bomberman Live DLC erupting this wednesday
Hudson has announced that new content for Bomberman Live will be (bomb) dropping this Wednesday, August 29 on Xbox Live. Bomb-Up Pack 1 will cost 350 250 Microsoft points (US $3.13). (Update: Hudson has issued a correction regarding the pack's price.)New content includes ten costume sets, two levels (casino-themed "High Stakes" and tornado-laden "Zeppelin"), two new leaderboards from the Zeppelin map, and a Frag game mode, where victory dependant on the number of successful assassinations. We're still waiting for the "Zero" map, where players fight on and around stacks of unsold copies of Bomberman: Act Zero.%Gallery-4716%[Thanks, Alphonse]
Joyswag: Bomberman Live
Bomberman Live fell short of our expectations in a party setting, but it still has great, classic gameplay. And we're giving you this Live, love/hate game plus a cool TSA-alerting Bomberman shirt for free. Thanks to Hudson, six winners will score Bomberman shirts. Four winners earn a double-shot of the shirt and the game. All you have to do is leave a single comment -- one only please -- in this post before 12:00AM EST tonight. (If you leave two comments, you'll earn our disqualification and scorn.)That's all! Good luck.[Update: The winners have been randomly selected and are being notified.]
Joystiq reviews: Bomberman Live (XBLA)
How many years does it take to perfect a game? Bomberman has existed in some form since 1983. Is almost 25 years enough?Apparently it isn't. I had high expectations for Hudson to create the perfect version for Xbox Live Arcade, especially after the company recognized the mess of Act Zero. The 800-point ($10) Bomberman Live was supposed to be the series-defining version: 4-player local games, 8-players online, HD graphics, all of the favorite old power-ups, and the classic gameplay. Sign me up, I thought.To test this group-based game, I gathered six friends, two 360s, snacks, and plenty of beer. People complimented my chicken wings (thanks for the recipe, Mom), but few positive words were said about Bomberman. Where did this title go wrong?%Gallery-4716%
Peep these Bomberman Story screens
QJ has the skinny on fresh screens for the upcoming Bomberman Story DS. And, from the looks of these screens, the game is going to be a treat for those looking for a bit of a mixed bag; new gameplay elements that look to have some RPG influences, as well as the old grid-style play. Considering this is the first we've heard of the game, color us excited.If you're looking for more info on the game, try the Japanese website here and Wikipedia's page for the game here.
More Bomberman Live costumes and levels coming
A Hudson representative on Xbox.com has apparently confirmed that more costumes and maps are coming to XBLA's Bomberman Live. This shouldn't really be a surprise as images released by Hudson show levels and costumes not currently available in the game. No word on release date or price.Our relationship with Bomberman Live has been a little love/hate. Although the game brings the multiplayer experience of Bomberman fantastically into your living room -- without the need of "real friends" -- there are some serious "what were they thinking" moments. At the top of that list is at the end of rounds having every player press A to continue, which ends up being a jerk magnet. It's like Catan and Carcassonne not having an auto-boot after a player times-out their turn three times in a row -- although those titles are still the most civilized on XBLA. Also, the lobby system in Bomberman and game selection is trés clunky and was definitely not designed for the Bomberman newb. We're definitely looking forward to the A button patch and some other fixes that are allegedly in the works for Bomberman Live.[Thanks AnOffday, Via X3F]%Gallery-4716%
Bomberman: New maps and costumes coming
While speaking with a Hudson representative on Xbox.com, regular X3F reader AnOffday confirmed that new costumes and maps are coming to Bomberman Live. This hardly comes as a surprise, as the promotional materials sent out by Hudson include several levels and costumes not currently in the game. You can actually see some of these levels in our Bomberman Live gallery (which we've thoughtfully attached to this post. Still, it's nice to get official confirmation. Now, if only we knew the release date and price, we could have our bomb and explode it too.%Gallery-5187%
Win Bomberman Live from GamingTalkHQ
We're always keen to point our readers in the direction of free stuff, and today is no exception. Our friends at GamingTalkHQ are giving away a free copy of Bomberman Live to one lucky winner. So, what gargantuan, time-consuming task must you complete in order to enter this contest? Well, you'll have to deal with the laborious two step process of typing up a comment and clicking the "submit" button. There's always a catch isn't there? If you think you're up to this kind of hard work, we suggest you follow the "read" link for more details. The contest ends at 11:59 EST tonight, so act fast.
Bomberman Live arrives on Wednesday with Yie Ar Kung Fu
Like the finest Steven Segal movies, the Xbox Live Arcade next week will be chock-full of explosions and martial arts when Bomberman Live and Yie Ar Kung Fu arrive on Wednesday.If you've played Bomberman before, you know exactly what you'll be getting for your 800 points ($10). If you've never played it, then you absolutely need to buy it. Perhaps less well known is his traveling companion, Yie Ar Kung Fu. In this arcade remake, you play a guy named Oolong who fights people in an attempt to become the greatest martial artist in the world. If you've tired of the last-gen graphics of your own personal copy of Yie Ar Kung Fu, you're about the be 400 points ($5) poorer.%Gallery-4716%%Gallery-4828%
Joystiq impressions: Bomberman Live! (XBLA)
I recently played Bomberman Live! at a Hudson media event, getting a sense for this title that goes back to the original Bomberman formula. This Xbox Live Arcade game is expected to launch later this month and will be available for 800 points ($10).How is it? It's Bomberman. Will you like it? It's Bomberman. Do you like Bomberman? It's Bomberman.%Gallery-4716%
Bomberman, Sonic, Marathon (!), many others confirmed for XBLA
During Microsoft's keynote at E3 2007, a slew of new Xbox Live Arcade titles were announced. Most notable on the list were Bomberman Live, Sonic the Hedgehog, and Marathon: Durandal, the sequel to Bungie's first (but definitely not last) FPS trilogy.The full list of twenty titles, as revealed during Microsoft's keynote, is as follows: Bomberman Live, Undertow, Hexic 2, Sonic the Hedgehog, War World by Ubisoft, Sensible World of Soccer, Every Extend Extra Extreme, Geon by Eidos, Wing Commander Arena, Feeding Frenzy 2, Track and Field, Spyglass Board Games, Golden Axe, Space Giraffe, Super Puzzle Fighter II HD Turbo Remix, Marathon: Durandal, Poker Smash, Switchball, Tetris Splash, and Puzzle Quest.
Hudson admits Bomberman: Act Zero was bad
Private confession is good for the soul. Public confession is good for image and marketing. Hudson, in the latest of their kooky videos, goofs around about the upcoming Bomberman Live (expected before the end of July) and just flat out admits Bomberman: Act Zero as an absolute mistake. Although low on details, the video is a fun little thing to watch, with a nice bit of political incorrectness that pokes fun at everybody -- and brings the Wii into the discussion while people fake playing Bomberman Live.We'd be excited for Bomberman Land on the Wii if recent events hadn't reminded us how unfriendly the Wii is to online. Although Bomberman Land for the Wii and DS are expected later this year, Bomberman Live looks to be the way to go for the Bomberman faithful. And at an expected 800 MS point price ($10), that kinda beats anything that the Wii and DS versions will have at $29.99+ with limited online functionality. Keep it simple, keep it fun, keep it multiplayer friendly -- that should be the Bomberman mantra.
Hudson admits Bomberman Act: Zero was crap
It seems so important to have some presence on YouTube these days. Every company, network, and politician is out to reach all the obsessed YouTubers with their "message," be that "buy my product," "watch my show," or "vote for me." Typically, we don't pay these much mind. Especially those fed to us by game companies. It is somewhat refreshing then, to see Hudson open its making-of Bomberman Live video by admitting that Bomberman Act: Zero was a piece of garbage. Yes, that goes a long way towards restoring our faith in the franchise, for truly it was a festering pile. It's heartening to know that Hudson began with "let's not make another Act: Zero" as a base for their upcoming Xbox Live Arcade offering.It's okay, Hudson. We all make mistakes. As long as Bomberman Live delivers, all is forgiven.[Via selectbutton]
Torrent of TurboGrafx-16 titles set for Australia's Virtual Console
Making up for its delayed arrival to Australia's Virtual Console, the TurboGrafx-16 will debut in the world's smallest continent next week with eleven releases! Hudson's VC site lists that over a third of the games will be shmups -- no big surprise there -- but classics like Dungeon Explorer, Military Madness, and Bomberman '93 are also set to appear at the system's opening ceremony.The US, having been spoiled with dozens of TG-16 releases since the Wii's launch, will receive only one PC-Engine title next Monday: Dragon Spirit, an impossibly hard, vertical-scrolling shoot 'em up in which you pilot a blue dragon. Check past the post break for Hudson's planned releases across all territories this July.
Bomberman Live explosive interview
DAKing240 over at Xbox 360 Achievements got to sit down with Peter Dassenko, Associate Producer at Hudson Entertainment about their upcoming Xbox Live Arcade release, Bomberman Live. The interview covers a lot of interesting points, like the development process for the game, and how they came up with some of the title's more interesting Achievements. It's a good read,and Peter has some uniquely clever ways of answering some of the questions. Check out the full interview by clicking the "Read" link.
Every Saturn game you could possibly want, and then some
Got $5,000 burning a hole in your pocket? That's roughly what it will take to open bidding on the mother of all Sega Saturn collections on eBay right now. Besides 256 games from all three regions, including rarities like Radiant Silvergun and Panzer Dragoon Saga, the auction includes three actual consoles (including a white one that can play burned games and VCDs), six controllers, memory cards, light guns, multitaps, a steering wheel and even a mouse. That's a lot of defunct Sega goodness right there.If you're still balking at the price, consider that the winning bid includes free shipping to the U.S. from Australia. Because really, if you're gonna spend thousands of dollars on a classic system collection, the shipping is what will put you over the edge of reasonable expenditure.
Virtually Overlooked Week: Eric's picks
Virtually Overlooked has taken over Wii Fanboy! All this week, members of the staff will be outlining their personal picks for future Virtual Console releases.It was 1994 when Ahmad poignantly rapped, "Back in the days, when I was young; I'm not a kid anymore, but some days, I sit and wish I was a kid again." If scientists could only harness the wasted enthusiasm of our nostalgia, our cities would never want for electricity.Remember the peanut butter and jelly sandwich lunches? Or the summer swims with the sun on your back, tanning your skin golden brown? The days you could set your heart on a girl you hardly knew at any moment, whether it be a winsome classmate or the clear-skinned brunette from Noxzema's hokey commercials? The nights when TGIF meant new episodes of Full House and Family Matters, and not after-work casual dining?Each weekly batch of Virtual Console releases is a reminder of my idle youth. Some games I recognize only from magazine previews I read with eager eyes over a decade ago, and others are familiar friends -- titles I've been meaning to catch up with to recount years past. The whole gang hasn't quite made it to the reunion yet, but that doesn't mean we can't trade old stories about them in the meantime. "Sometimes, I still sit and reminisce ..."
1UP takes a gander at Bomberman Live
For classic multiplayer fans, there is perhaps no Xbox Live Arcade title as anticipated as Bomberman Live. Published by Hudson and developed by Backbone Entertainment, Bomberman Live looks to properly bring classic Bomberman action into the online arena, and 1UP recently got an extended look at the game.. Sure, many attempts have been made -- even Saturn Bomberman had online play -- but Xbox Live gives Bomberman Live an edge unknown to previous online entries. Bomberman Live allows for up to 8 players online or 4 players locally. The game also allows multiple players on one 'box to venture online (here's hoping the game allows non-Live subscribers as guests). In addition to the traditional deathmatch mode, Bomberman Live also includes other modes, such as the Paint Bomb mode featured in recent titles. The game also features Vision camera support, which will snap a shot of each player the moment they are defeated and also give the round winner a few moments to gloat on camera. Finally, there are loads of costume pieces that players can use to customize their, um, Bombermen (Bomberfolk, Bomberpeople?). Costume pieces are unlocked by collecting Costume Balls during gameplay.All in all, it sounds like Bomberman Live is everything that old school fans could hope for. Here's hoping the game lives up to its legacy (or, at the very least, better than Bomberman Act: Zero). So, how much would you be willing to pay for "real" Bomberman.
