Saturn Bomberman
1996
- puzzle
- action
- single player
- multiplayer
The story
Saturn Bomberman is an action game by Hudson Soft for the Sega Saturn. The twelfth installment in the Bomberman series, it was first released in Japan on July 19, 1996, in Europe in May 1, 1997, and in North America in September 4, 1997. It is best known for its multiplayer functionality for up to ten players using multitaps. It received praise for its gameplay and multiplayer, but criticism for not advancing the Bomberman series enough. Saturn Bomberman can also connect to the Sega Saturn NetLink internet system, allowing two people from opposite ends of the earth to battle it out.
What it’s like
Bright, chunky sprites on flat, saturated backdrops give Saturn Bomberman the look of a toy box lit by a sunny afternoon: mazes of pastel blocks, cartoon explosions blooming in orange and white, and little round characters bobbing across fields and labyrinths with a cheerful, almost clockwork precision. The soundtrack is bouncy and chiptune-leaning, with bright melodies that loop comfortably under the clatter of bombs and the satisfying pop of a block giving way. The vibe is playful and warm, the kind of pick-up-and-play noise that fills a room on a lazy weekend, and it suits game nights with friends, a rainy afternoon on the couch, or a bit of retro nostalgia. Pacing is brisk and turn-based in spirit: a round lasts a few minutes, the rhythm is tight and reactive, and the emotional register stays light and goofy. Its intensity is very low: the violence is cartoonish bomb-and-blast play with no blood, gore, or lasting cruelty, and tension comes from competitive scrambling rather than fear. It is made for people who want easygoing, cute, social competition, and for anyone who enjoys the simple joy of setting a fuse and watching the chaos unfold.
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