Mega Bomberman

Mega Bomberman
Mega Bomberman box art (Sega Mega Drive version)
Developer(s)	Hudson Soft (PCE) Westone (MD/GEN)
Publisher(s)	Hudson Soft (PCE) Sega (MD/GEN)
Designer(s)	Shinichi Nakamoto
Series	Bomberman
Platform(s)	Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, TurboGrafx-16, Virtual Console, PlayStation Network, Windows Mobile
Release date(s)	PC-Engine/Turbografx-16 JP December 10, 1993 Mega Drive/Genesis NA 1994 EU October 1994 SK 1994 Virtual Console (TG-16) JP December 2, 2006 NA March 23, 2009 PAL July 10, 2009 PlayStation 3 (TG-16) JP July 15, 2009 NA June 2, 2011 Windows Mobile December 1, 2009
Genre(s)	Action
Mode(s)	Single-player, multiplayer (2-5P)
Rating(s)	ELSPA: 3+ ESRB: E PEGI: 3+
Media/distribution	HuCard (TurboGrafx-16 version), 8-Megabit cartridge (Genesis version)

Mega Bomberman is a video game from the Bomberman series. It was originally released in 1993 as Bomberman '94 for the PC-Engine (the Japanese version of the TurboGrafx-16) and was ported to the Mega Drive/Genesis in 1994. The PC-Engine version was released only in Japan while the Mega Drive/Genesis version was released in the west.

The game supports single-player and multi-player modes. In single player, the player navigates several levels of mazes, destroying creatures with bombs. In multi-player mode, players defeat each other with bombs.

The Mega Drive/Genesis port had some differences, such as fewer options in multi-player, inferior graphics, and some different music (for example, Jammin' Jungle's music in the original version was reused as the first level in Super Bomberman 4, but is entirely different in the other version).

The TurboGrafx-16 version was eventually re-released in Japan on the Virtual Console. Outside of Japan, the previous game, Bomberman '93, was made available instead.^[1] The TurboGrafx-16 version of Bomberman '94 was eventually released on the North American Virtual Console as an import game on March 23, 2009.

The TurboGrafx-16 version was released on the Japanese PlayStation Network on July 15, 2009 for play on the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable.^[2]

Bomberman '94 is the final HuCard title to be made and released by Hudson Soft, the original designers of the PC Engine console.

Plot

The inhabitants of Bomber Planet lived in peace, protected by five spirits, until the evil Bagular and his robot army invaded. The Spirit Pictures, the source of the Spirits' magical power, were destroyed, splitting Bomber Planet into five pieces. Bomberman arrives to restore the Spirit Pictures and reassemble Bomber Planet.

Gameplay

The game is set in six areas: a jungle, a volcano, a sea, a horror-themed castle, an ice level, and the asteroid lair of Bagulaa. In the Turbografx version (Bomberman '94) the maximum number of players is five in battle mode. In Mega Bomberman the maximum number of players is four. This is the first game in the series that uses the modern design of White Bomberman. Bomberman '94 also introduces Rooeys to the series. Also, Bomberman '94 introduced several recurring characters, such as Bomber Female, a bomber child, and Max.^{[citation needed]}

Factor 5 tech demo

Before the Mega Bomberman project was targeted as a Mega Drive/Genesis port of Bomberman '94, Factor 5 was asked by Hudson to develop what would be the first installment of the Bomberman series for the Mega Drive/Genesis, already codenamed as Mega Bomberman. As a proof of concept, Factor 5 presented a tech demo that allowed eight players to play and fight at the same time by using two Sega Team Player Adaptors. Hudson was impressed with the job, but in the end they reconsidered the task and licensed the Mega Bomberman project to Westone Co., the creators of the Wonder Boy series, to do a direct Mega Drive/Genesis conversion of the PC-Engine game Bomberman '94 to be published by Sega.

Notes

1. ^ Miller, Ross (2006-11-01). "Comparing the Virtual Console launch by region". Joystiq. http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/01/comparing-the-virtual-console-launch-by-region. Retrieved 2008-05-14. 
2. ^ Fletcher, JC (2009-07-15). "Japan's PlayStation Network Offering PC Engine Games". Joystiq. http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/15/japans-playstation-network-offering-pc-engine-games/. Retrieved 2009-07-20. 

External links

• Mega Bomberman at MobyGames