Bomberman Live
Score: 98% ESRB: Everyone Publisher: Hudson Soft Developer: Backbone Entertainment Media: Download/1 Players: 1 - 4 (2 - 8 via Xbox Live) Genre: Arcade/ Party/ Classic/Retro
Graphics & Sound: Graphically, Bomberman Live is nothing more than a slightly-enhanced version of every other Bomberman title every released. Does that mean it's bad? Absolutely not. It just means that it is simple, and sometimes that is all you need. The fact that you can change the costumes of your Bomberman is a big plus, and helps distinguish your character online or off, within the chaos that is happening on the screen. When it comes to audio, Bomberman Live shines. Okay, that was a lie. It also is... simply put... good. There's nothing special here, just explosion after explosion and the high-pitched voice of the Bomberman. This is the type of game where muting won't detract in one bit, except when on Xbox Live. There's just something classic about gaming with Bomberman, and the reactions it brings when you cause someone their unexpected death with a carefully placed power bomb.
Gameplay: In the history of Bomberman, one thing has been a constant... the core gameplay. In that long history with many, many titles under its belt, that gameplay has revolved around great multiplayer battles. Bomberman Live is no different. In fact, it's even better thanks to Xbox Live. With the ability to play with/against up to 8 players, the action gets extremely intense, explosions abounding all around you. One of the best features is that this ultimate party game allows for up to 4 players to connect to XBLA from the same console, so your living room party can quickly turn into a national party, where the only requirement is to enjoy yourself and hope not to be blown away by an unsuspecting land mine, or a strategically placed bomb. Bomberman Live's action is fast and furious, and can't be beat in the way of fun. If you've never played a Bomberman title before, the first thing you ought to do is crawl out from that rock you're hiding under, then immediately go to Xbox Live Arcade and download yourself a copy. At only 800 Microsoft Points (roughly 10 US dollars), this is the steal of the year. The same great Bomberman action of dropping bombs and collecting power-ups is amplified by a fair number of different type of levels, each adding its own challenge for avoiding becoming a crispy critter. The variations in Bomberman Live's levels ranges from icy levels to rocky levels, but they are all basically the same as far as design goes. The differences come in the form of transporters, ice cracks or mud spots the prevent movement, and holes that allow bomb blasts to sneak up on you because you'll inevitably find yourself hunkered around a corner, feeling safe, where a barrier would normally be. There is also variation in the Bomberman characters. As you unlock achievements, you'll also unlock different outfits that you can show off online. While the core gameplay doesn't stray much from the fun that is Bomberman, you can create tournaments of any length up to 10 wins, and start play at any time with up to eight players online, or with any combination of human and computer players offline. Combine this with the ability to select your personal settings and favorite power-ups, and Bomberman Live is fun for all ages.
Difficulty: If there's one game in this world that can appeal to nearly any gamer, including gamers that are casual or even non-gamers, it's Bomberman Live. The simplistic design and addictive gameplay make for a deadly combination. This is the type of game that can have the greatest gamer crying in his/her boots because their 7 year-old brother/sister just fragged them and won the series. What does this mean? It means that no matter what your age, and no matter what your skill level, anyone can win at Bomberman Live. Against the computer, you'll find that you can change the difficulty on all A.I. players at once, or only on specific characters. When changing the settings, you'll definitely notice a difference, but regardless of the settings, the computer-controlled players will still have moments of weakness when they trap themselves in a corner, or get stuck in a cycle that allows you to walk up behind them and drop a bomb at their feet.
Game Mechanics: If you've been paying attention, you'll know that anyone can pick up and play Bomberman Live. This also means that the controller scheme is very simple in design as well. At its basics, you will move your Bomberman around and drop bombs with the (A) button. Guess what, you can also pick them up the same way after collecting a certain power up. If you really want to get complicated, you can even punch the bombs with the (X) button. To kick bombs? Simply walk up to them, and keep walking. Do you get the idea? Pick up and play means pick up and play for anyone. The game itself is very basic and doesn't offer a whole lot of replay value when going solo, other than a few basic Achievements. But the multiplayer action is well worth the price of admission, partly because of the timeless fun of Bomberman, and also because you can easily hop onto Xbox Live Arcade and play for a few minutes at a time, without having to devote hours like other games. I can't recommend this game enough, for both classic gaming buffs and those who have never picked up a controller in their lives. What are you still doing here? Why haven't you downloaded Bomberman Live yet?
-Woody, GameVortex Communications AKA Shane Wodele
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