Saturn Bomberman

From Sega Retro

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Saturn Bomberman
System(s): Sega Saturn
Publisher: Hudson
Developer:
Peripherals supported: Saturn 6 Player Adaptor
Genre: Action

















Number of players: 1-10
Release Date RRP Code

Saturn Bomberman (サターンボンバーマン) is a 2D action video game developed and published by Hudson exclusively for the Sega Saturn console. It is part of the Bomberman series of games.

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 Saturn 6 Player Adaptor (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.

It is also the only Bomberman game on the Saturn to be released outside of Japan. Other releases for the console include Saturn Bomberman Fight!! (a largely unrelated game) and Bomberman Wars (a tactical RPG).

Controls

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

  • D-Pad - Move Character
  • C - Bomb Set, Line Bomb
  • B - Remote Control
  • A - Power Glove - Dino Ability
  • L or R - Kick Stop
  • L + R - Dismount Dinosaur

This game also supports the 3D Control Pad, however it must be switched to + mode (Analog mode off) for it to function.

Gameplay

Saturn Bomberman is divided into three modes of play, though each mode plays in the traditional Bomberman fashion. 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. These rules are universal to the game modes below.

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 Saturn 6 Player Adaptors. 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.

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.

Characters

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.

  • White Bomberman
  • Black Bomberman
  • Kotetsu - Hudson Mascot
  • Miss Honey - Hudson Mascot
  • Bonk - P.C. Kid/Bonk series
  • Master Higgins- Adventure Island Series
  • Milon - Milon's Secret Castle
  • Manjimaru - Neutopia Series
  • Kabuki - Tengai Makyou Series
  • Kine - Tengai Makyou Series

In addition to the regular ten characters are two secret characters. To unlock them, navigate to the Battle Game Menu. Once it appears hold both L and R until a chime sounds. The two characters should be selectable then.

  • Yuna - Galaxy Frauline Yuna Anime Series
  • Manto - Galaxy Frauline Yuna Anime 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

  • Stage 1 - Path to Glory
  • Stage 2 - Soccer Stadium
  • Stage 3 - Jungle Trap
  • Stage 4 - Desert Twister
  • Stage 5 - Space Colony
  • Stage 6 - Bouncing Bomber
  • Stage 7 - Ninja House
  • Stage 8 - Factory Floor
  • 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.

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. N refers to Normal Game, B refers to Battle Game and M refers to Master Game.

Bomb N, B, M
Fire N, B, M
Speed N, B, M
Sandals N, B, M
Penetrator N
1-Up N
Bomb Kick N, B, M
Power Glove N, B, M
Bomb Pass N
Block N
Remote Control N, M
Power Bomb N, B
Bead Bomb N, B
Line Bomb N, B
Fire Suit N, M
Heart N, B, M
Rubber Bomb N, B
Mine B
Clock N
Merger B
Apple N, B, M
Meat N
Ice Cream N, M
Egg N, B
Skull B
Devil B

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.

  • Sprint Sickness - Increases player's speed radically.
  • Sluggish Sickness - Decreses player's speed drastically.
  • Diarrhea - Sets bombs constantly
  • Paralysis - Cannot set bombs
  • Minimal Sickness - Decreases bomb explosion range
  • Can't Stop Sickness - Cannot stop moving unless the player runs into a wall
  • Reverse Sickness - Reverses the controls
  • Short Fuse Sickness - Bombs explode quickly after setting them
  • Long Fuse Sickness - Bombs take longer to explode after setting them.
  • Involuntary Transplantation - 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. Running into 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. In Normal Game, collecting food items such as Apples Running into another egg while riding the dinosaur or in Battle Game, running over another Egg will cause the Dinosaur to grow which boosts their powers. They can grow up to three levels.

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

  • Purple Dinosaur - Lets out ultrasonic waves that sets off bombs and reveals objects hiding under softblocks.
  • Blue Dinosaur - Able to kick bombs.
  • Green Dinosaur - 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.
  • Yellow Dinosaur - Able to stun opponents by roaring at them.
  • Pink Dinosaur - Able to jump over bombs and soft blocks. Once it gains levels it can then leap over hardblocks.

Saving 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

Production Credits

  • Production
    • Producer: Jason Kuo
    • Net Link Producer: Paul Stathacopoulos
    • Lead Tester: Lance Nelson
    • Asst. Lead Testers: Jeff Junio, Jason Bartholomew, Jeremy Wheat, Hamilton Baylon
  • Marketing
    • Director of Marketing: Anne Moellering
    • Product Manager: Andrew Stein
    • Product Specialist: Mark Subotnick
    • Packaging: Bob Schanfisch
    • Manual: Richard Walker
  • Special Thanks
    • Yoshi Nakano, Yutaka Yamamoto for Net Link development, Arvin Carlson, Eileen Sacman, Eric Smith, Marcelyn Ditter, Geraldine Dessimoz, Undyne Stafford, Mike Markey, Lydia Gabie, Kristin McClaskey, Marc Sherrod, Shin Hamanaka, Sheri Hockaday, Yusuke Kiriyama, Mark Lindstrom, Dave Locke, Annie Nelson, Dave Nulty, Judie Nybo, Keith Palmer, Osamu Shibamiya, Bernie Stolar, Shuji Utsumi, Sandy Castagnola, Heather Ravenberg, Kevin Kelly, Masaaki Kawamura, and SEEDY crew
  • SOA Test Department
    • Lorne Asuncion, Nicholas Azizian, Randy Blake, Holly Burdet, Don Carmichael, Joseph Damon, Marc Dawson, Mike Dobbins, Louis Dribin, Arnold Feener, Rick Greer, Jeff Hedges, Matt Ironside, Ty Johnson, Monica Kresse, Dennis Lee, Mark Lerma, Chris Lucich, Grant Luke, Tony Lynch, Mark McCunney, Lorne Miller, Abe Navaaro, Wesley Ng, Mark Paniagua, Germaine Scott, Yobo Shen, Roger Sammerville, Fernando Valderrama, Paulita Villatuya, Peter Young
  • 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 ManagerHaruhiko Ikeda
      • Director Shigeki Fujiwara
      • Executive Producer Hiroshi Igari
      • General Producer Yuji Kudo

Physical Scans

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
90 AllGame
80 №179, p78[1]
100 №186, p72/73
93 №100, p191
93 1998, p83
90 1999, p128
70 №37, p88
80 9/96, p82
90 7/97, p92/93
75 №109, p146
91 06/06/2004
90 №56, p61
83 №54, p64
90
87 №5/97, p82[2]
85 №49, p60/61[3]
95 №75, p86/87/88/89
90 №6, p109
90 May 12, 2015
91 №1, p75
73 №84, p46/47
90 №19, p52/53[4]
81 №107, p15
85 №102, p90
70 №9/96, p91[5]
Sega Saturn
 86
Based on
25 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Computer & Video Games (UK)
75
[1]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
100
[6]
Edge (UK) NTSC-J
70
[7]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
93
[8]
Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J
68
[9]
Fun Generation (DE) NTSC-J
80
[10]
Fun Generation (DE) PAL
90
[11]
Gambler (PL)
92
[12]
GameFan (US)
92
[13]
Game Power (IT)
90
[14]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
75
[15]
Game Informer (US) NTSC-J
80
[16]
Game Informer (US) NTSC-U
83
[17]
Gry Komputerowe (PL)
85
[18]
Hobby Consolas (ES)
90
[19]
Intelligent Gamer (US) NTSC-J
91
[20]
Joypad (FR) NTSC-J
100
[21]
MAN!AC (DE) NTSC-J
87
[22]
MAN!AC (DE) PAL
87
[23]
Mega Fun (DE) NTSC-J
87
[24]
Mega Fun (DE) PAL
87
[2]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) NTSC-J
85
[25]
Next Generation (US)
75
[26]
Next Generation (US) NTSC-U
50
[27]
Player One (FR)
95
[28]
Playmag (FR) PAL
78
[29]
Saturn Fan (JP) NTSC-J
75
[30]
Saturn Fan (JP) NTSC-J
74
[31]
Saturn+ (UK) NTSC-J
93
[32]
Saturn Power (UK)
91
[33]
Secret Service (PL)
78
[34]
Sega Magazin (DE) PAL
93
[35]
Sega Power (UK) NTSC-J
73
[36]
Świat Gier Komputerowych (PL)
70
[37]
Sega Saturn Magazine (UK) PAL
90
[38]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
73
[39]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
81
[40]
Sonic the Comic (UK) PAL
81
[41]
Super Power (FI)
88
[42]
Ultra Game Players (US) NTSC-U
85
[43]
Video Games (DE) NTSC-J
70
[44]
Sega Saturn
 83
Based on
41 reviews

Saturn Bomberman

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, 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.jpgSaturnBomberman 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, JP (XBAND)
SaturnBomberman Saturn JP Box Back Xband.jpgSaturnBomberman Saturn JP Box Front Xband.jpg
Cover



Bomberman games for Sega systems
SG-1000
 Bomberman Special (198x)
Sega Master System
 Bomber Man (1988)
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)
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 File:CVG UK 179.pdf, page 78 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:CVG UK 179.pdf_p78" defined multiple times with different content
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 File:MegaFun DE 1997-05.pdf, page 82 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MegaFun DE 1997-05.pdf_p82" defined multiple times with different content
  3. ↑ File:MeanMachinesSega49UK.pdf, page 60
  4. ↑ File:SSM_UK_19.pdf, page 52
  5. ↑ File:VideoGames DE 1996-09.pdf, page 87
  6. ↑ Computer & Video Games, "May 1997" (UK; 1997-04-11), page 72
  7. ↑ Edge, "October 1996" (UK; 1996-08-30), page 89
  8. ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "November 1997" (US; 1997-1x-xx), page 193
  9. ↑ Famitsu, "1996-07-26" (JP; 1996-07-12), page 1
  10. ↑ Fun Generation, "09/96" (DE; 1996-08-14), page 82
  11. ↑ Fun Generation, "07/97" (DE; 1997-06-12), page 92
  12. ↑ Gambler, "7/1997" (PL; 1997-xx-xx), page 1
  13. ↑ GameFan, "Volume 4, Issue 10: October 1996" (US; 1996-xx-xx), page 21
  14. ↑ Game Power, "Luigio 1997" (IT; 1997-0x-xx), page 38
  15. ↑ GamePro, "October 1997" (US; 1997-xx-xx), page 148
  16. ↑ Game Informer, "October 1996" (US; 1996-xx-xx), page 58
  17. ↑ Game Informer, "October 1997" (US; 1997-xx-xx), page 66
  18. ↑ Gry Komputerowe, "7-8/1997" (PL; 1997-xx-xx), page 1
  19. ↑ Hobby Consolas, "Mayo 1997" (ES; 1997-xx-xx), page 78
  20. ↑ Intelligent Gamer, "October 1996" (US; 1996-xx-xx), page 66
  21. ↑ Joypad, "Septembre 1996" (FR; 1996-0x-xx), page 69
  22. ↑ MAN!AC, "09/96" (DE; 1996-08-14), page 53
  23. ↑ MAN!AC, "05/97" (DE; 1997-04-09), page 81
  24. ↑ Mega Fun, "09/96" (DE; 1996-08-21), page 76
  25. ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "November 1996" (UK; 1996-10-04), page 80
  26. ↑ Next Generation, "November 1996" (US; 1996-10-22), page 273
  27. ↑ Next Generation, "November 1997" (US; 1997-10-21), page 201
  28. ↑ Player One, "Mai 1997" (FR; 1997-xx-xx), page 86
  29. ↑ Playmag, "Mai 1997" (FR; 1997-0x-xx), page 84
  30. ↑ Saturn Fan, "1996 No. 17" (JP; 1996-08-02), page 186
  31. ↑ Saturn Fan, "1996 No. 19" (JP; 1996-09-06), page 80
  32. ↑ Saturn+, "Issue 4" (UK; 1996-10-24), page 31
  33. ↑ Saturn Power, "June 1997" (UK; 1997-xx-xx), page 75
  34. ↑ Secret Service, "Lipiec/Sierpień 1997" (PL; 1997-xx-xx), page 66
  35. ↑ Sega Magazin, "Juni 1997" (DE; 1997-05-14), page 68
  36. ↑ Sega Power, "October 1996" (UK; 1996-08-29), page 46
  37. ↑ Świat Gier Komputerowych, "6/1997" (PL; 1997-xx-xx), page 1
  38. ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "May 1997" (UK; 1997-04-12), page 52
  39. ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "1996-12 (1996-07-26)" (JP; 1996-07-12), page 220
  40. ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "Readers rating final data" (JP; 2000-03), page 13
  41. ↑ Sonic the Comic, "8 July 1997" (UK; 1997-06-25), page 15
  42. ↑ Super Power, "7 1997" (FI; 1997-0x-xx), page 50
  43. ↑ Ultra Game Players, "October 1997" (US; 1997-09-16), page 90
  44. ↑ Video Games, "9/96" (DE; 1996-08-28), page 91
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