SNES

Super Bomberman 2

If you're a fan of the first Bomberman, the extra features (new bombs, trickier levels) will blow you away. New players will find the thrill of competition in the multiplayer mode the best the SNES has to offer. But if you're a lone gamer looking for explosive action, this bomb might not go off quite as dramatically.

Super Bomberman 2 ranks near the top of my list for "unnecessary sequels". Basically the same as the original Bomberman, this game offers a few more stages, power-ups, and options. Of course, anybody who has played the original Bomberman knows that fancy stages don't really add anything to the game. In fact, they usually detract from its simple yet wonderfully addictive gameplay, which is why most people won't bother with the new stuff here. The single-player mode is mildly amusing, featuring some cool new items like dynamite bundles that maximize the destruction you can unleash. But the real fun lies in the multiplayer battle mode, and the new team mode is a great idea. Other than that, there's nothing new, and I actually prefer the music of the original game.

If you don't already own this game, here's what you need to do. Seek it out. Get a multi-player adaptor for your SNES. Invite three friends over for a night of drinking and Bomberman (you can whisper the "Bomberman" part when you invite them - they'll thank you later), and let the good times roll.

Kaboom!!........ This is the sound that you will hear most of the time when you play Super Bomberman 2 since the game is about running around in a maze blasting away enemies and blocks with big bombs. By blasting away blocks on the course you can discover hidden bonuses that let´s you lay multiple bombs (up to nine at once!) or increases the length of the flames of your bombs explosions. You can also get the ability to run faster, kick bombs and bomds and even remotecontrolled bombs that you can trigger on demand! SBM 2 contains 2 different modes, The 1 player mode and the battlemode.

The concept of this game is quite simple and I like how easy it was to pick up and play. The upbeat tones and eye-popping graphics will keep you on the edge of your couch, begging for more. But I warn you now, don't get carried away, because your neighbors just might not understand.

Super Bomberman 2 is not wildly different to it's original but then again why would it be? While this is true, there is that certain gloss that has worn off the series despite better control, more features in battle mode and a more solid effort in normal mode.

Take it from the Bomber-King: Super Bomberman 2 simply doesn't live up to the standards set by previous Bomberman games. The annoying slow-down, terribly designed Battle Mode levels and lack of five-players action makes for a ho-hum experience. If you're a true Bomberman fan, get yourself a TTI Duo, a PC Engine adapter and the Japanese version of Bomberman '94, a hugely superior gameplay to Super Bomberman 2 in every way.