Coming out a mere six months after the first Bomberman game on N64, this Bomberman game seems like it was developed as a separate take on Bomberman rather than a sequel to Bomberman 64 (it actually started out as a Bonk game). This focuses solely on platforming rather than the more puzzle-orientated Bomberman 64, but unfortunately doesn’t so much with it.

Bomberman Hero is made up of a lot of short, linear levels, ether played from side to side or up into the screen. You collect gems, kill enemies and try to get to the door. The main challenge is from the poor depth perception and rather naff jump, with the difficulty of the first level and final level being pretty much the same. Very few levels stand out, and the ones that do (one that adds a lot of fog and one on moving platforms) do so because they’re particularly bad.

There are a few types of vehicle levels, which all feel like slow and boring copies of Star Fox 64. Move into the screen, firing off torpedoes while avoiding enemies.

Bosses are a particular nuisance, not so much that their attacks are difficult to dodge, but rather because they have a lot of health and take ages to defeat – the last world before the ending being comprised of repeated boss sections before the final boss.

Like Bomberman 64, there is a hidden final bit of story, but the game is far to dull to hunt for all the collectibles required to do so – and it’s just more of the same, really dull gameplay. It’s nowhere near as tedious as Bobmerman 64, it’s just a really boring and average platformer.

Incidentally, despite Bomberman being legendary for multiplayer, Bobmerman Hero has no multiplayer whatsoever.

Fine

Oh, it’s okay: the switch from the 3D to pseudo-2D adds something appealing to the way the game plays and at least this version is lively – unlike Bomberman 64 which was emptier than David Beckham’s head. In fact, it’s livelier to such an extent that there’s possibly too much going on, slowing down sections of the game that should have been faster and snappier.

Tim Weaver, N64 Magazine #17. Review Score: 66%

Remake or remaster?

Again, there are better Bomberman games to focus on – these can just be part of a larger collection.

Official ways to get the game.

There is no official way to get Bomberman Hero.

Re-releases

2011: Wii Virtual Console