Bomberman 64

This all new 64-bit version of Bomberman introduces 3D graphics and an arcade adventure one player mode. Sounds different to the original doesn't it? Well, it is!

The plot is depicted by an intro which is best described as being very Japanese (i.e. weird.) Basically some characters who look like rejects from the Power Rangers have parked their spaceship right above bomberman's home town. Bomberman decides that this isn't really on and that he prefers home without the added 'fun' of dodging laser beams. Luckily there are four floating world things (i.e. levels) attached to the spaceship which he can work his way through to save the day.

Bomberman 64's greatest strength is the clever use of bombs for completing various tasks. You can use them to kill enemies, kick them at enemies to stun them, and pick them up and throw them. There's no jump button, but if you lay a bomb and then fall onto it from a higher platform you bounce into the air. 'Pumping' your bombs up to massive sizes can destroy structures, and many other clever uses of the bombs abound. Centering the gameplay around the use of bombs makes for a pleasant change from the usual platform/adventure affairs. Each scrolling level in Bomberman 64 is viewed from above and from quite a fair distance. You have to control the camera yourself with the C buttons, in contrast to games like Mario 64 and Tomb Raider. Despite the novel bombs, Bomberman 64 is slightly let down by its level designs, which are small, very linear and boring.

Bomberman 64 is a very average N64 game. Its level designs are average, its graphics are average and its sound fails to impress. The transition to 3D appears to have removed Bomberman's charm and completely crucified the multi-player mode. What you're left with is an average platform/adventure game which fails to match up to any of the heavy-weight titles currently out for the N64.