Saturn Bomberman

From Sega Retro

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  • NTSC-J

Satbomberman01.png

SaturnBomberman Saturn JP Title.png

Saturn Bomberman
System(s): Sega Saturn
Publisher: Hudson Soft (JP), Sega (US/EU)
Developer:
Licensor: Hudson Soft (US/EU)
Sound driver: SCSP/CD-DA (29 tracks)
Peripherals supported: 6Player, SBom Joycard[1]
Genre: Action[2][3]

















Number of players: 1-10
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Saturn
JP
¥6,800 (7,004)6,800e[4] T-14302G
Sega Rating: All Ages
Sega Saturn
JP
(Satakore)
¥2,8002,800 T-14314G
Sega Rating: All Ages
Sega Saturn
JP
(Party Pac)
¥9,980 (10,279)9,980e[5] T-14313G
Sega Rating: All Ages
Sega Saturn
US
$39.9939.99[7] 81070
ESRB: Kids to Adults
Sega Saturn
EU
MK81070-50
ELSPA: 3+ OK
Sega Saturn
DE
MK81070-50
USK: 6
Sega Saturn
PT
STJSE0575
Sega Saturn
UK
£39.9939.99[8] MK81070-50
ELSPA: 3+ OK
Sega Saturn
PL
Sega Saturn
AU
FSAT23SSC
OFLC: G8

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Saturn Bomberman (サターンボンバーマン) is a Sega Saturn puzzle action game developed and published by Hudson Soft. An entry in the popular Bomberman series of multiplayer-focused puzzle titles, the game was first released in Japan in July 1996.

Two months later, it was followed up with an XBAND-compatible version for online gameplay, released exclusively in Japan; this version was later localized and brought to the United States in August 1997, with the game being reprogrammed to utilize the Sega NetLink modem accessory. Versions published in Europe and Australia, as well as the Japanese Satakore budget release, do not feature online functionality.

Gameplay

The game is played on a grid where the player drops bombs and must defeat opposing foes and clear obstructions. Power-ups are distributed to enhances the character or increase the reach of dropped bombs or it's behavior.

Controls

These are the default controls. Controls can be changed to five different presets in the Options menu.

  • Up Down Left Right: Move Character
  • C: Bomb Set, Line Bomb
  • B: Remote Control
  • A: Power Glove - Dino Ability
  • L or R: Kick Stop
  • L + R: Dismount Dinosaur

Items

The game features a number of items that are split across all three game modes. While most will provide players benefits, some items may also hinder them. A letter next to each one notes where the item can be found.

SaturnBomberman Saturn Sprite Powerups.png
Firepower
Increases the blast radius of bombs by one tile, up to a maximum of 16.
SaturnBomberman Saturn Sprite Powerups.png
Roller Skates
Slightly increases movement speed.
SaturnBomberman Saturn Sprite Powerups.png
Bomb
Increases the number of bombs the player can place by one, up to a maximum of 10.
SaturnBomberman Saturn Sprite Powerups.png
1-Up
Games:
Awards an extra life.
SaturnBomberman Saturn Sprite Powerups.png
Skull
Games:
Infects a player with a random ailment, which can be passed on to other players by contact and will wear off after a while.
SaturnBomberman Saturn Sprite Powerups.png
Bomb Kick
Allows a player to kick bombs by walking into them. Kicked bombs will continue moving until they hit an object or the player presses L or R.
SaturnBomberman Saturn Sprite Powerups.png
Block
Games:
Allows the player to walk through soft blocks.
SaturnBomberman Saturn Sprite Powerups.png
Power Glove
Allows a player to pick up and throw bombs. First they must place a bomb where they are standing, then pick it up and throw it with A. The bomb will not explode while it is being carried.
SaturnBomberman Saturn Sprite Powerups.png
Remote Control
Games:
Allows the player to manually detonate their bombs using B.
SaturnBomberman Saturn Sprite Powerups.png
Bomb Pass
Games:
Allows the player to walk through bombs.
SaturnBomberman Saturn Sprite Powerups.png
Power Bomb
Games:
Allows the player to place a more powerful bomb. The first bomb placed in a sequence will be a Power Bomb.
SaturnBomberman Saturn Sprite Powerups.png
Mine
Games:
Allows the player to place a mine, which explodes when another player passes over it.
SaturnBomberman Saturn Sprite Powerups.png
Penetrator
Games:
Allows the player's bombs to penetrate multiple soft blocks.
SaturnBomberman Saturn Sprite Powerups.png
Rubber Bomb
Games:
Makes the player's bombs bounce around when kicked or thrown.
SaturnBomberman Saturn Sprite Powerups.png
Line Bomb
Games:
Allows the player to place all the bombs they have in a line in the direction they are facing by pressing C twice.
SaturnBomberman Saturn Sprite Powerups.png
Bead Bomb
Games:
Allows the player to charge up a bomb by holding C, then releasing it to send it flying.
SaturnBomberman Saturn Sprite Powerups.png
Fire Suit
Games:
Makes the player invincible to bomb blasts for 10 seconds.
SaturnBomberman Saturn Sprite Powerups.png
Clock
Games:
Freezes all enemies for 10 seconds.
SaturnBomberman Saturn Sprite Powerups.png
Sandals
Slightly decreases movement speed.
SaturnBomberman Saturn Sprite Powerups.png
Full Fire (フルファイアー[13])
Games:
Increases the blast radius of bombs to the maximum of 16 tiles.
SaturnBomberman Saturn Sprite Powerups.png
Heart
Allows a player to survive a single hit without dying.
SaturnBomberman Saturn Sprite Powerups.png
Merger
Games:
Allows a player to grab hold of another player for a short while.
SaturnBomberman Saturn Sprite Powerups.png
Devil
Games:
Infects all players with a random ailment.
SaturnBomberman Saturn Sprite Powerups.png
Meat
Games:
Awards 500 points.
SaturnBomberman Saturn Sprite Powerups.png
Apple
Awards 1,000 points.
SaturnBomberman Saturn Sprite Powerups.png
Ice Cream
Games:
Awards 4,000 points.
SaturnBomberman Saturn Sprite Egg.png
Egg
Games:
Hatches into a random Dinosaur.
Bomura (ボムラ[13])
Games:
Summons Bomura in the next battle if obtained, who serves as a stage hazard that will attack players by breathing fire. Only appears in the Bomber Catcher in Wide Battles.

Skulls

During a Battle Game, players can pick up a Skull icon that will affect them with a specific sickness. Collecting a Devil icon causes everyone to be affected by a random illness. The player who collected the Devil icon will be highlighted until the illness ends for all players.

  • Hyper Speed Sickness[14]: Increases player's speed radically.
  • Speed Retardation[14]: Decreses player's speed drastically.
  • Bomberrhea[14]: Sets bombs constantly
  • Bombaralysis[15]: Cannot set bombs
  • Shriveling Fire Disease[15]: Decreases bomb explosion range
  • Spasmodic Motion Sickness[15]: Cannot stop moving unless the player runs into a wall
  • Directional Instability[15]: Reverses the controls
  • Premature Detonation[15]: Bombs explode quickly after setting them
  • Slow Fuseitis[15]: Bombs take longer to explode after setting them.
  • Involuntary Transplantation[15]: Switch places randomly with another player

Eggs

During a Normal Game or a Battle Game, an egg can be discovered by blasting a softblock apart. Collecting one will hatch out a Dinosaur. Not only will they provide the ability to take damage for the player, they also provide special abilities by pressing A on the control pad.

Dinosaurs also have the ability to grow up to three levels, boosting their powers each time. In Normal Game, this occurs gradually by collecting food items or by finishing levels, while in Battle Game, the player needs to collect more eggs.

Dinosaurs can be dismounted at any time by holding both L and R buttons.

SaturnBomberman Saturn Sprite Dinosaurs.png
Pink
Able to jump over bombs and soft blocks. Once it gains levels it can then leap over hardblocks.
SaturnBomberman Saturn Sprite Dinosaurs.png
Yellow
Able to stun opponents by roaring at them.
SaturnBomberman Saturn Sprite Dinosaurs.png
Green
Able to sprint into a wall without stopping. The higher level it is, it then provides a chance to stop a sprint and then provides the chance to turn corners.
SaturnBomberman Saturn Sprite Dinosaurs.png
Blue
Able to kick bombs.
SaturnBomberman Saturn Sprite Dinosaurs.png
Purple
Lets out ultrasonic waves that sets off bombs and reveals objects hiding under softblocks.

Modes

Saturn Bomberman is divided into three modes of play, though each mode plays in the traditional Bomberman fashion.

As well as offering a single-player campaign, Saturn Bomberman is notable for its multiplayer options, allowing up to 10 human players to compete on-screen through the with the use of the 6Player (and in Japan, Hudson made its own Bomberman-themed one). Even today some modern iterations of Bomberman lack this feature. Online play can be found in the the US and Japanese versions of the game, though the European version does not support this feature.

Normal Game

Normal Game is the story mode for Saturn Bomberman and supports up to two players. Players take control of White and Black Bomberman and must play through a series of levels based around different time periods.

The main antagonists are the Hige Hige bandits, who have gone on to be featured in other Bomberman titles and animated series including Bomberman Generation, Bomberman Jetters and more.

Stages
Stage 1: Amusement World
Stage 2: Samurai World
Stage 3: Wild West World
Stage 4: Dino World
Stage 5: Mr Meanie's Future World

Battle Game

Battle Game serves as the multiplayer mode that goes up to 10 players through the use of two 6Players. You can also set up a series mode that allows specifications such as how many players playing, which stages are played and the rule set. In the US and Japanese versions of the game, players can make use of the Sega NetLink modem and link up one other system with up to 2 players per console for up to 4 player multiplayer online, and like all other Netlink games can now be played over a high speed internet connection with Voip.[16]

Depending on how many players are allowed to play determines which stages can be selected. Up to 8 players can choose from any of the gimmick stages. 10 player matches can only be played on the Wide Stage. This stage appears zoomed out to accommodate for the additional players and does not feature any gimmicks.

Bombers

Instead of using differently colored Bomberman, players can choose from White and Black Bomberman as well as a host of other Hudson Soft based characters and mascots.

SaturnBomberman Saturn Sprite Bombers.png
W-Bomberman/Shiro Bomberman (白ボンバーマン)
SaturnBomberman Saturn Sprite Bombers.png
B-Bomberman/Kuro Bomberman (黒ボンバーマン)
SaturnBomberman Saturn Sprite Bombers.png
Miss Honey/Honey Chan (ハニーちゃん)
A mascot of Hudson Soft who has made several appearances in the Bomberman series.
SaturnBomberman Saturn Sprite Bombers.png
Kotetsu (小鉄)
Another mascot of Hudson Soft.
SaturnBomberman Saturn Sprite Bombers.png
Milon (ミロン)
The main character from the 1986 Famicom game, Meikyuu Kumikyoku: Milon no Daibouken (localised the following year as Milon's Secret Castle) and its 1996 Super Famicom follow-up, Do-Re-Mi Fantasy: Milon no Doki Doki Daibouken.
SaturnBomberman Saturn Sprite Bombers.png
Master Higins/Takahashi Meijin (高橋名人)
Master Higgins from the 1986 Adventure Island series, known as Takahashi Meijin no Bouken Jima in Japan.
SaturnBomberman Saturn Sprite Bombers.png
Bonks/Genjin (原人)
The main character from the Bonk, or PC Genjin series of games, which originated on the PC Engine in 1989.
SaturnBomberman Saturn Sprite Bombers.png
(Sengoku) Manjimaru (戦国卍丸)
Tengai Makyou series
SaturnBomberman Saturn Sprite Bombers.png
Kabuki (Danjuro) (カブキ団十郎)
Tengai Makyou series
SaturnBomberman Saturn Sprite Bombers.png
Kinu (絹)
Tengai Makyou series

When playing online, players are split between two teams with up to two players each. Red Team plays with White Bomberman and Miss Honey. Blue Team plays with Black Bomberman and Kotetsu. If one team has two human players and the other only has one, the remaining slot will be replaced by a computer controlled teammate. Maps are selected at random.

Stages
SaturnBomberman Saturn US BattleStage1.png Stage 1: Path to Glory
SaturnBomberman Saturn US BattleStage2.png Stage 2: Soccer Stadium
SaturnBomberman Saturn US BattleStage3.png Stage 3: Jungle Trap
SaturnBomberman Saturn US BattleStage4.png Stage 4: Desert Twister
SaturnBomberman Saturn US BattleStage5.png Stage 5: Space Colony
SaturnBomberman Saturn US BattleStage6.png Stage 6: Bouncing Bomber
SaturnBomberman Saturn US BattleStage7.png Stage 7: Ninja House
SaturnBomberman Saturn US BattleStage8.png Stage 8: Factory Floor
SaturnBomberman Saturn US BattleStageWide.png Wide Stage: Field of Glory
Can only be played if "Wide" is selected in the rules setup. This is the only map that will fit up to 10 players.

Master Game

Master Game is similar to Normal Game that supports one player only. Players play as White Bomberman and go through twenty rooms. At the end of the game, players are graded based on their performance.

Development

During development, Saturn Bomberman was known by the working title Bomberman SS.

Production credits

Production
Marketing
For Hudson
  • Planning: Tatsumitsu Watanabe
  • Programming: Satoshi Mikami, Tetsuya Wakabayashi, Yoshikazu Okeya
    • Chief Designer: Kohei Maruyama
    • Design: Mika Kakutani, Miho Nitta
    • Animation Director: Shoji Mizuno
    • Sound Direction: Toshiaki Takimoto, Keisuke Mitsui
    • Composition, Arrangement, Performance: Jun Chikuma
    • Cooperation: Joe Down Studio
    • Special Thanks: Hiroyuki Ota, Kazumi Sawai
    • Product Manager: Haruhiko Ikeda
    • Director: Shigeki Fujiwara
    • Executive Producer: Hiroshi Igari
    • General Producer: Yuji Kudo
Source:
US manual
Saturnbomberman sat us manual.pdf
[17]

Magazine articles

Main article: Saturn Bomberman/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in (JP) #1996-12: "1996-12 (1996-07-26)" (1996-07-12)
Logo-pdf.svg
Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in (JP) #1996-13: "1996-13 (1996-08-09)" (1996-07-26)
Logo-pdf.svg
Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in (JP) #1996-22: "1996-22 (1996-12-27)" (1996-12-13)
Logo-pdf.svg

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
90 [18]
90 №6, p109 [1]
90 2015-05-12
Sega Saturn
90
Based on
3 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
(UK)
75
[19]
(UK)
100
[20]
(UK) NTSC-J
70
[21]
(US) NTSC-U
93
[22]
(JP) NTSC-J
68
[23]
(DE) NTSC-J
80
[24]
(DE) PAL
90
[25]
(PL)
92
[26]
(US)
92
[27]
(IT)
90
[28]
(US) NTSC-U
75
[29]
(US) NTSC-J
80
[30]
(US) NTSC-U
83
[31]
(PL)
85
[32]
(ES)
90
[33]
(US) NTSC-J
91
[34]
(FR) NTSC-J
100
[35]
(DE) NTSC-J
87
[36]
(DE) PAL
87
[37]
(DE) NTSC-J
87
[38]
(DE) PAL
87
[39]
(UK) NTSC-J
85
[40]
(US)
75
[41]
(US) NTSC-U
50
[42]
(FR)
95
[43]
(FR) PAL
78
[44]
(JP) NTSC-J
75
[45]
(JP) NTSC-J
74
[46]
(UK) NTSC-J
93
[47]
(UK)
91
[48]
(PL)
78
[49]
(DE) PAL
93
[50]
(UK) NTSC-J
73
[51]
(PL)
70
[52]
(UK) PAL
90
[53]
(JP) NTSC-J
73
[54]
(JP) NTSC-J
81
[55]
(UK) PAL
81
[56]
(FI)
88
[57]
(US) NTSC-U
85
[58]
(DE) NTSC-J
70
[59]
Sega Saturn
83
Based on
41 reviews

Saturn Bomberman

Saturn, JP
Satbomber sat jp backcover.jpgSatbomber sat jp frontcover.jpg
Cover
SaturnBomberman Saturn JP Spinecard.jpg
Spinecard
SaturnBomberman Saturn JP Disc.jpg
Disc
SaturnBomberman SS jp manual.pdf
Manual
Saturn, JP (Satakore)
SaturnBomberman Saturn JP Box Back Satakore.jpgNospine-small.pngSaturnBomberman Saturn JP Box Front Satakore.jpg
Cover
Saturn, JP (Party Pac)
SaturnBomberman Saturn JP Box Back PartyPac.jpgNospine.pngSaturnBomberman Saturn JP Box Front PartyPac.jpg
Cover
Saturn, US
SaturnBomberman Saturn US Box Back.jpgSaturnBomberman Saturn US Box Front.jpg
Cover
SaturnBomberman Saturn US Disc.jpg
Disc
Saturnbomberman sat us manual.pdf
Manual
Saturn, EU
Saturn Bomberman Saturn EU Box.jpg
Cover
SaturnBomberman Saturn EU Disc.jpg
Disc
SaturnBombermanSaturnEUManual3L.pdf
Manual
Saturn, DE
SaturnBomberman Saturn DE cover.jpg
Cover
SaturnBomberman Saturn EU Disc.jpg
Disc
Saturn, PT

SaturnBomberman Saturn PT Manual.pdf
Manual
Saturn, AU
SaturnBomberman Saturn AU back.jpgNospine.pngSaturnBomberman Saturn AU cover.jpg
Cover
SaturnBomberman Saturn EU Disc.jpg
Disc

Technical information

Main article: Saturn Bomberman/Technical information.

ROM dump status

System Hash Size Build Date Source Comments
Sega Saturn
 ?
CRC32
MD5
SHA-1
567,876,288 CD-ROM (EU) MK81070-50 V1.000
Sega Saturn
CRC32
MD5
SHA-1
569,654,400 1996-05-31 CD-ROM (JP) T-14302G, T-14314G V1.000
Sega Saturn
CRC32
MD5
SHA-1
581,461,440 CD-ROM (US) 81070 V1.003

Save data

Saturn Bomberman makes use of the Saturn's internal battery back-up as well as the Saturn Backup Memory to save data for all three modes.

Saturn Bomberman Save Data
Name Comment File Size
BOMBERSS_## NORMAL 1
BOMBERSS_## BATTLE 11
BOMBERSS_## MASTER 5

External links

  • Sega of America webpage: Saturn

References

  1. https://randomhoohaas.flyingomelette.com/bomb/sat-1/game.html (Wayback Machine: 2021-04-10 00:24)
  2. File:Satbomber sat jp backcover.jpg
  3. 3.0 3.1 https://sega.jp/fb/segahard/ss/soft_licensee2.html (Wayback Machine: 2020-03-20 23:05)
  4. Sega Saturn Magazine, "1996-12 (1996-07-26)" (JP; 1996-07-12), page 4
  5. Sega Saturn Magazine, "1996-22 (1996-12-27)" (JP; 1996-12-13), page 5
  6. http://riehlspot.simplenet.com/vgame/new/saturn.html (Wayback Machine: 1999-02-21 17:22)
  7. Press release: 1997-09-04: Number One Multi-Player Game In History Comes To Sega Saturn
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Press release: 1997-04-04: Sega's Spring Line Up
  9. http://www.sega-europe.com/saturn/satinfo.html (Wayback Machine: 1998-12-02 14:09)
  10. Computer Trade Weekly, "" (UK; 1997-04-28), page 20
  11. Digitiser (UK) (1997-04-26)
  12. Computer & Video Games, "May 1997" (UK; 1997-04-11), page 49
  13. 13.0 13.1 File:SaturnBomberman SS jp manual.pdf, page 27
  14. 14.0 14.1 14.2 File:Saturnbomberman sat us manual.pdf, page 17
  15. 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 15.5 15.6 File:Saturnbomberman sat us manual.pdf, page 18
  16. http://www.dreamcast-talk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=8453
  17. File:Saturnbomberman sat us manual.pdf, page 42
  18. GamesMaster, "June 1997" (UK; 1997-05-14), page 61
  19. Computer & Video Games, "October 1996" (UK; 1996-09-09), page 78
  20. Computer & Video Games, "May 1997" (UK; 1997-04-11), page 72
  21. Edge, "October 1996" (UK; 1996-08-30), page 89
  22. Electronic Gaming Monthly, "November 1997" (US; 1997-1x-xx), page 193
  23. Famitsu, "1996-07-26" (JP; 1996-07-12), page 1
  24. Fun Generation, "09/96" (DE; 1996-08-14), page 82
  25. Fun Generation, "07/97" (DE; 1997-06-12), page 92
  26. Gambler, "7/1997" (PL; 1997-xx-xx), page 1
  27. GameFan, "Volume 4, Issue 10: October 1996" (US; 1996-xx-xx), page 21
  28. Game Power, "Luigio 1997" (IT; 1997-0x-xx), page 38
  29. GamePro, "October 1997" (US; 1997-xx-xx), page 148
  30. Game Informer, "October 1996" (US; 1996-xx-xx), page 58
  31. Game Informer, "October 1997" (US; 1997-xx-xx), page 66
  32. Gry Komputerowe, "7-8/1997" (PL; 1997-xx-xx), page 1
  33. Hobby Consolas, "Mayo 1997" (ES; 1997-xx-xx), page 78
  34. Intelligent Gamer, "October 1996" (US; 1996-xx-xx), page 66
  35. Joypad, "Septembre 1996" (FR; 1996-0x-xx), page 69
  36. MAN!AC, "09/96" (DE; 1996-08-14), page 53
  37. MAN!AC, "05/97" (DE; 1997-04-09), page 81
  38. Mega Fun, "09/96" (DE; 1996-08-21), page 76
  39. Mega Fun, "05/97" (DE; 1997-04-02), page 82
  40. Mean Machines Sega, "November 1996" (UK; 1996-10-04), page 80
  41. Next Generation, "November 1996" (US; 1996-10-22), page 273
  42. Next Generation, "November 1997" (US; 1997-10-21), page 201
  43. Player One, "Mai 1997" (FR; 1997-xx-xx), page 86
  44. Playmag, "Mai 1997" (FR; 1997-0x-xx), page 84
  45. Saturn Fan, "1996 No. 17" (JP; 1996-08-02), page 186
  46. Saturn Fan, "1996 No. 19" (JP; 1996-09-06), page 80
  47. Saturn+, "Issue 4" (UK; 1996-10-24), page 31
  48. Saturn Power, "June 1997" (UK; 1997-xx-xx), page 75
  49. Secret Service, "Lipiec/Sierpień 1997" (PL; 1997-xx-xx), page 66
  50. Sega Magazin, "Juni 1997" (DE; 1997-05-14), page 68
  51. Sega Power, "October 1996" (UK; 1996-08-29), page 46
  52. Świat Gier Komputerowych, "6/1997" (PL; 1997-xx-xx), page 1
  53. Sega Saturn Magazine, "May 1997" (UK; 1997-04-12), page 52
  54. Sega Saturn Magazine, "1996-12 (1996-07-26)" (JP; 1996-07-12), page 220
  55. Sega Saturn Magazine, "Readers rating final data" (JP; 2000-03), page 13
  56. Sonic the Comic, "8 July 1997" (UK; 1997-06-25), page 15
  57. Super Power, "7 1997" (FI; 1997-0x-xx), page 50
  58. Ultra Game Players, "October 1997" (US; 1997-09-16), page 90
  59. Video Games, "9/96" (DE; 1996-08-28), page 91


Saturn Bomberman

Satbomberman01.png

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Books: (1996)

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Bomberman games for Sega systems
SG-1000
Bomberman Special (198x)
Sega Mega Drive
Mega Bomberman (1994) | Mega Bomberman: Special 8 Player Demo (unreleased)
Sega Saturn
Saturn Bomberman (XBAND) (1996) | Saturn Bomberman Fight!! (1997) | Bomberman Wars (1998)
Sega Dreamcast
Bomberman Online (2001)