Bomberman (Sniper)
Format: HuCard
Genre: Action
Developer: Hudson Soft
Publisher: Turbo Technlogies

Graphics
Bomberman doesn't contain any fancy special effects, impressive custom programming, or do much to particularly strain the PC Engine hardware at all. What it does utilize are very nicely drawn and animated sprites, and colorful and detailed stage designs.

Sound
This Bomberman is the second game in the entire Bomberman franchise. What's interesting about that fact is just how much of the music used in contemporary Bomberman games had been in the series since the very beginning. It's catchy, that's for sure, and helps lend the game its now trademark style.

Gameplay
Bomberman contains two modes: a rather monotonous and dull single user game, which sees the player destroying enemies in progressively more difficult stages, and a-- up to-- five player battle mode. The battle mode is where it's at, and the action is hugely fun.

Overall
The battle mode is immense fun, and the game overall is a true 16-bit upgrade to the original NES title. What the game could have used is a more sophisticated single player experience, something the entire series never figured out right until Hudson was eventually bought by Konami. All the same, this Bomberman is fully functional, and actually winds up illustrating just how little innovation the series saw since its earliest roots.

Sniper's verdict: