Final Glimpse: The Man With No Face (Just two large pupils and a bunch of bombs)
Bomberman has a very long and colorful history. The cute little hero debuted many years ago in the now classic Bomberman, arguably one of the first titles to earn the label of "party game", the type of experience that is only fully enjoyed when players get a few friends to compete with. Now, the latest adventure from the super deformed bomber, entitled Bomberman Jetters, brings Bomberman to the GameCube in the sequel to the well-received Bomberman Generations and tries to recapture the magic that Bomberman fans remember.
The storyline of Bomberman Jetters follows Bomberman’s attempt to save his home planet, the aptly but unoriginally named Bomber, from a mechanical comet that was created by the Hige Hige bandits to destroy the planet. The comet is being powered by four powerful engines, and Bomberman sets out to destroy the engines and save his home planet.
Bomberman has always been, at its core, about bombs. Anyone who has played Bomberman will be familiar with the formula. Bomberman uses bombs to solve puzzles and advance from stage to stage while defeating the occasional boss. While the gameplay of the adventure mode hasn’t changed overmuch, there has been a new storyline added and a few new additions, such as the ability to play as MAX. There is also the ability to create and enhance new types of bombs and to charge these bombs by holding down the attack button. There are also animals available to ride on, including a bird, shark, and a dinosaur, each of which have special and essential locomotive abilities. For example, to scale a waterfall or to cross a stream, players may need to ride on the back of the shark. Even beyond these additions, Bomberman Jetters has expanded the Pokemon-esque side game about the Charabroms by adding new Charabroms to capture.
Of course, the game wouldn’t be worthy to be called Bomberman without a multiplayer mode. Players can recruit up to three friends for a bomb battle in assorted multiplayer game modes..
The graphics are simple but pleasing, with a cel-shaded look that fits the cartoony style of the series well. The view is from a three-quarters perspective, eschewing the classic overhead view, which may be a disappointment for purist fans.
One of the biggest draws of Bomberman Jetters, however, may be its extremely economical pricing. The title will debut at 19.99, a very affordable and attractive offer since most titles start at well over thirty dollars.
