Bomberman GB: Blowing Up Fun on the Original Handheld
When you think of classic Bomberman, your mind might jump to the frantic multiplayer battles on the Super Nintendo or TurboGrafx-16. But tucked away in the monochrome library of Nintendo's original Game Boy is a fantastic, often overlooked series: Bomberman GB. These portable entries brought the explosive action to your backpack, offering surprisingly deep single-player adventures and even multiplayer mayhem if you had the right gear.
Let's pull out the old grey brick, pop in a cartridge, and revisit the portable blasts of the Bomberman GB era.
The Bomberman GB Series: A Portable Trilogy
It's worth noting upfront that the naming conventions for the Bomberman GB games can be a little confusing, especially internationally. There are three main games:
- Bomberman GB (Japan, 1994): This is the first one.
- Wario Blast: Featuring Bomberman! (International, 1995): This is the same game as the Japanese Bomberman GB, just with Wario thrown in and some cosmetic changes.
- Bomberman GB 2 (Japan, 1995): This is the second game in the Japanese series.
- Bomberman GB (International, 1998): This is the same game as the Japanese Bomberman GB 2. Yes, they reused the name.
- Bomberman GB 3 (Japan, 1996): The third and final game in the series, only released in Japan.
For clarity, we'll generally refer to them by their Japanese series number (GB, GB 2, GB 3) but highlight the international differences where relevant.
Bomberman GB (aka Wario Blast!)
The inaugural title in the series, released in Japan as Bomberman GB and internationally as the quirky Wario Blast: Featuring Bomberman!, set the stage for portable bomb-dropping.
In the Japanese version, White Bomberman is trying to get his stolen power-ups back from Black Bomberman's gang. The Wario Blast version spices things up with Wario invading Bomberman's world, letting you play as either character (which mainly changes enemy sprites).
Gameplay is classic Bomberman: navigate mazes from an overhead view, plant bombs to destroy soft blocks and enemies, find power-ups, and reach the exit. It might look simple on the Game Boy's screen, but the core loop is as addictive as ever.
Super Game Boy Awesomeness
One of the coolest things about the first Bomberman GB (and the second) is its enhancement for the Super Game Boy. Playing it on your Super Nintendo added:
- Color palettes (no more green-and-grey!)
- Custom sound effects
- A unique border (Wario Blast had its own!)
- Crucially, a four-player mode! With a Super Multitap, you could recreate that console multiplayer chaos on your TV using the handheld cartridge. Pure magic.
Bomberman GB 2 (aka Bomberman GB internationally)
Released in Japan as Bomberman GB 2 and confusingly as just "Bomberman GB" internationally, this sequel built upon the foundation of the first.
The story here follows Indy Bomber (a new protagonist, perhaps a relative of Indiana Jones?) searching for the legendary Ring of Wishes, only to fall into a trap-filled cave. Your goal is to escape by defeating enemies and finding the exit.
GB 2 introduced different gameplay modes within the single-player stages:
- Mode A: Simply defeat all enemies to open the exit.
- Mode B: Defeat enemies in a specific, often challenging, order. This added a puzzle element to the classic formula.
Clearing areas would grant you new abilities, keeping the power-up progression fresh. Like its predecessor, GB 2 also supported up to four players via the Game Link Cable and Super Multitap when played on a Super Game Boy.
Bomberman GB 3 (Japan Only)
Sadly, the final entry in the portable trilogy, Bomberman GB 3, never made it out of Japan. This is a shame because it introduced some interesting new mechanics.
Evil Bomber escapes from prison and steals Bomber Capsules needed by Bomberman. The gameplay involves clearing stages by bombing enemies to unlock the exit, much like before. Each stage had six areas, culminating in a boss fight.
A unique feature of GB 3 was Cutie Bomber's shop. By collecting enough crystals in stages and defeating bosses for Bomber Capsules, you could visit the shop to purchase abilities. This included things like temporary invincibility or, most notably, motorcycles! These bikes gave you extra HP and other bonuses before a level, adding a strategic layer to how you spent your hard-earned capsules.
Why Play Bomberman GB Today?
So, why bother tracking down these old Game Boy gems?
- Pure Nostalgia: If you played these back in the day, firing them up brings back memories of long car rides, dimly lit rooms, and that satisfying "thwump" of a bomb explosion.
- Solid Single-Player: Unlike the console games often focused on multiplayer, the Bomberman GB series offers robust single-player campaigns with distinct stories and progression.
- Portable Blasts: They are perfect for quick gaming sessions on the go (or just on the couch).
- Historical Significance: They represent a unique era of Bomberman, adapting the formula to the limitations and strengths of early handhelds.
- Super Game Boy Fun: If you have the hardware, experiencing the color and 4-player mode is a treat.
While finding original cartridges and Game Boys might take some effort, these games are readily available through emulation, allowing you to experience them on modern devices. Sites like Archive.org often host historical software collections, and various emulators exist for PC and mobile.
FAQ
Q: How many Bomberman games were released on the original Game Boy? A: There were three games in the series: Bomberman GB (aka Wario Blast), Bomberman GB 2 (aka Bomberman GB internationally), and Bomberman GB 3 (Japan only).
Q: Is Wario Blast the same game as Bomberman GB? A: Yes, Wario Blast: Featuring Bomberman! is the international release of the first Japanese Bomberman GB.
Q: Can I play Bomberman GB multiplayer today? A: The original games supported multiplayer via Game Link Cable or Super Multitap on Super Game Boy. You can replicate this today using emulators that support netplay or local multiplayer features.
Q: What's unique about Bomberman GB 3? A: Bomberman GB 3, the Japan-only title, uniquely featured a shop system where you could spend collected crystals and Bomber Capsules to buy abilities and items like motorcycles before levels.
Conclusion
The Bomberman GB series proves that even on the humble, monochrome Game Boy, the fundamental fun of planting bombs and trapping your foes shines through. Whether you're revisiting the Wario Blast days, exploring the different modes of GB 2, or curious about the Japan-only GB 3 with its shop system, these portable classics offer hours of explosive entertainment. So grab your emulator or dust off that old handheld – it's time to get blasting on the go!
