GENRE
	Action
	DEVELOPER
	Hudson Soft
	PUBLISHER
	Hudson Soft
	NUMBER OF PLAYERS
	1-4
	WI-FI ENHANCED
	Yes
	DS COMPATIBLE
	No
	BUY NOW AT

In most cases, people would complain about getting only half of a game. With Bomberman Blast, gamers get the standalone multiplayer version of the latest Bomberman title for Wii. While the retail version contains the entire game, there is absolutely no single player or story to be found in the WiiWare version. But it’s Bomberman we’re talking about, here. Who needs plot motivation to blast friends into oblivion?

visuals

Bomberman games have never been known for visual splendor, and Bomberman Blast is no different. It’s bright, blocky and colorful, but nothing exceptionally detailed or atmospheric. You could hardly call it a massive visual leap even from Bomberman 64, but it doesn’t have any bearing on the overall game. The graphics are adequate and do their job, leaving the focus on the mayhem-fueled gameplay.

audio

The music is bubbly and infectious, although not as catchy as Bomberman tunes of the past. Like the graphics, it’s just a means to the end of the excellent gameplay. The assorted blast noises are satisfying, just don’t play too loud or your downstairs neighbors will wonder when World War 3 started and why it’s being waged in your living room.

gameplay

Bomberman Blast’s frantic gameplay should be immediately recognizable to anyone with even limited contact with the series, but if it isn’t, here is a brief refresher: blow stuff up. All of it. Every single block and person that stands in your way. Collect power-ups that come out of those blocks and people to blow stuff up with even more efficiency. The winner is the last Bomberman standing knee-deep in the charred remains of his foes.

Alright, it’s not really that dark (unless you’re playing the awful 360 reimagining Act Zero) but the basic idea stands. It’s all conducted from the same 2D overhead view that has been the standard since the NES days, but why fix what isn’t broken? The fundamental gameplay has stood the test of time and changed very little over the years. The simple fact is that the Bomberman formula works.

This particular iteration features a wide variety of stages, including the standard green field with lots of cover, wide open spaces where everyone starts with maximum explosive power, and even a graveyard filled with zombies. On top of the wide variety of arenas,Bomberman Blast features a huge amount of modes, like the traditional Last Man Standing and variations like King of the Hill. There are tons of adjustable rules and options, making it perhaps the most robust multiplayer outing in the history of the series, which is no small feat.

multiplayer

Sorry, friend-less losers and anti-social nerds, but Bomberman Blast is multiplayer only. The game could be play alone, against the computer, but there is no story mode or true single player to speak of. It’s entirely online or local multiplayer.

Head-to-head play with real life friends is the same as it ever was. Connect any combination of remotes and GameCube controllers (up to 4 each) for local blasting with up to 8 people. If 4 player Bomberman is as far as you’ve ever gone, 8 players will be total, sensory overload. You’ll blow yourself up more often than not in the chaos, but so will everyone else. It’s tons of fun and tough for any single player to gain an advantage over the others, making Bomberman Blast perfect for parties and casual get-togethers.

If you’re tired of beating your friends, take up to 3 other people in the same room online and start blasting players all over the world. The matchmaking is simple and reminiscent of Mario Kart Wii. You will join a group of people in progress and play with them as soon as the next round starts. This ensures that online games will have the maximum amount of players, and you’ll be occupied by a simple bomb-dodging minigame until the round starts. It’s quick and painless.

Playing with online friends is the same code-swapping nonsense you’ve come to know and love from all online Wii games, but aside from that, it works great. Games connect quickly and with a minimum of lag, even during frantic 8-player matches. Aside from the common omissions, like voice chat and lobbies, it’s one of the more pleasant and functional online interfaces on Wii.

For competitive players, Bomberman Blast keeps track of your score based on how many people you bomb and assigns you a rank. There are constantly updated leaderboards to see the best players in the world. It’s a standard online feature nowadays, but it’s nice to have.

overall

Talk about a lot of bang for your buck: ten dollars for a fully functional online Bomberman. Who needs single player anyways?

8.0/10