Bomberman 64

Description

Bomberman 64 introduced a new single‑player structure that blended action, puzzle‑solving, and light platforming. The story follows Bomberman defending his planet from the space pirate Altair and his companions, who seek to harness the power of elemental crystals. Players explore large 3D stages, planting bombs to destroy obstacles, defeat enemies, and solve environmental puzzles. Unlike earlier entries, bomb blasts are spherical rather than cross‑shaped, and Bomberman can pick up, throw, or “pump” bombs to increase their explosive power.

A distinctive mechanic is bomb jumping: stacking or detonating bombs to propel Bomberman to higher platforms, which is essential for full exploration and collecting hidden gold cards. The game’s progression encourages replay, as unlocking the true ending requires finding all cards and defeating optional bosses.

Multiplayer mode retained the series’ competitive roots, supporting up to four players in 3D arenas. While the single‑player campaign was ambitious and well‑received, the multiplayer was less refined compared to the classic 2D entries. Bomberman 64 was followed by several other N64 instalments: Bomberman Hero (1998), Bomberman 64: The Second Attack! (2000), and a different Japanese‑only Bomberman 64 (2001). The 1997 game was later re‑released on the Wii U Virtual Console in 2017.