So awesome I almost forgot about Bomberman: Act Zero...almost.
I'm starting to think that, like Tetris, Bomberman is a cornerstone in the anals... err... annals of videogaming history. It comes out (sometimes multiple times) on every system available and doesn't age at all; a true timeless classic. The beauty of Bomberman is that the game is still as fun and exciting as it was when I first played 4p on the SNES over a decade ago. Bomberman is a franchise that is so tight and refined in its gameplay that you can't really improve it without potentially breaking it altogether (think Bomberman: Act Zero). Because of this, at least for me anyway, it actually broaches into that "perfect game" territory.
Bomberman Ultra is the most recent and digitally distributed version of the game available on PSN. As implied they've kept it simple in order to capitalize on what makes the franchise so great - enough action and intensity to keep the attention of even the most ADD ridden gamer. There is no story mode or extra glitz; instead Hudson Soft opted to go full bore into multiplayer mayhem allowing for 4p local multiplayer or 8p online multiplayer with bots thrown in if you're looking for some practice.
All of the power-ups and neat level gimmicks that made Super Bomberman so awesome are present in this version of the game. The Golden Falcon, or what we used to call the "maximize flame length" power-up, is exceptionally potent when you're on the offensive and bomb-punch is still by far my favourite defensive measure. Bomberman Ultra is a game that offers just enough attacks and counter-attacks to allow you to turn the tables of any given match with just a few, sometimes lucky, maneuvers. I love it: surrounded by bombs? - kick one and run; can't make it to safety in time? - luck out with a dud. It's a fast-paced tug of war mixing chance with frantic bomb dropping. Cool!
In a way, Bomberman Ultra transcends graphics and audio since both aspects have been polished to the point of being instantly recognizable. The music itself causes your heart-rate to involuntarily double and the ultra clean layout of the levels is pleasant enough to stare at for hours, which is good because if you're like me you tend not to blink when you play.) Facilitating this simplicity are controls that are as easy as using the d-pad to move your bomberman on the grid and using the face bottoms to drop/punch/ignite bombs.
The fact that you can gameshare Bomberman Ultra makes this a no-brainer and a must-buy. It's one of those "easy to pick-up" games that gamers and non-gamers, as well as beginners and veterans can enjoy equally. Whereas most multiplayer games (particularly FPSs) require a certain amount of time to learn the maps and weapons in order to become proficient, after only a single round of Bomberman Ultra any type of player will have a more than adequate grasp of all the major game mechanics.
