Classic, non-crappy Bomberman coming to the PSP
by Joystiq Staff 
{ Sep 5th 2006 at 2:15PM }
In a bid to make us forget the tragedy that is Bomberman on the 360, Konami has announced that a classic version of the game will come to PSP users on Sept. 12. What's even better is that the game will feature some ad hoc multiplayer where only one person will be required to own the game. Here's what you'll get with this new title:Normal mode is the latest single player Bomberman adventure, complete with a new story and 100 levels, while classic mode is based on original Bomberman gameplay and features over 50 different levels for players to experience. Bomberman offers a multiplayer battle mode, which allows up to four players to fight for survival in a variety of highly customizable game types across 20 different stages via wireless ad hoc play. Lastly game sharing lets up to 4 players battle together in timeless multiplayer party modes with just one UMD.
Now this is the kind of quality gaming we demand on our PSP. Get more titles like this and we'll keep playing Sony's glossy handheld. The only problem here is that there's no infrastructure support. It would have been nice to be able to play people all around the world rather than just in the room. But, you know, we'll take what we can get on the PSP.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Petrie @ Sep 5th 2006 2:22PM
"But, you know, we'll take what we can get on the PSP."
It's sad when you spend $250 and you have to lower your expectations to feel like you got your money's worth from your purchase. I don't know anyone who feels like they have to "settle" when it comes to their DS or even GBA, so why does the PSP get lowered expectations?
AlloyNES @ Sep 5th 2006 2:29PM
WAIT A MINUTE!
I enjoy Bomberman:ActZero on the 360. The single player is tough and the online is loads of fun. Why is it a tragedy? Cuz it isn't cartoony and cutesy? If you want that, just wait for Bomberman Land DS or Bomberman Wii. (I'll be getting both)
So, either quit whining about the new coat of paint and new backstory to Act Zero, or go play it online and find out how much fun it is.
Or better yet, play me online so I can blow you to kingdom come.
(end rant)
Dr.Swiss @ Sep 5th 2006 2:34PM
Ouch, good thing I have a DS then. It's rumoured that the DS will indeed have wifi.
AlloyNES @ Sep 5th 2006 2:44PM
FYI: Act-Zero style is similar to the original Bomberman's artwork: http://www.theoldcomputer.com/Libarary's/Pictures/NESGameCovers/B/Bomberman%201.jpg
Car2oon @ Sep 5th 2006 2:46PM
Hm. The only comments so far have nothing to do with the PSP but all to do with Nintendo. On a PSP post. On a POSITIVE PSP post. Fanboyish much?
I myself am looking very forward to this game. I've been waiting for a good party/multiplayer game.
Bloo @ Sep 5th 2006 2:52PM
Unfortunately, no online-multiplayer = who cares. I used to know 9 people who had a PSP. My brother is the only one left who hasn't ebay'd his and he hates Bomberman. This would finally be a playable game on the PSP too due to no need for a low ms response screen.
:(
watership @ Sep 5th 2006 2:59PM
Why why why why did Konami even SANCTION Bomberman act zero? All it makes me think is that Konami wanted to send a big "Screw you" to 360.
A few journalists I talked to said that the Konami multiplayer testers were lazy and annoyed that they had to play with them (Multiplayer reviews are hard before release), and Konami was slow to respond to questions about the game. So very very suspect Konami. What are your motives?
good afternoon @ Sep 5th 2006 3:03PM
Petrie, If you don't know anyone who feels like they have to "settle" when it comes to Nintendo handhelds then you don't know many people and if you feel Robert Summa represents the handheld gaming society you are the epitome of naive.
Player1 @ Sep 5th 2006 3:08PM
"It's sad when you spend $250 and you have to lower your expectations to feel like you got your money's worth from your purchase. I don't know anyone who feels like they have to "settle" when it comes to their DS or even GBA, so why does the PSP get lowered expectations?"
It doesn't. In case you don't know this is a blog site full of opinions, not news or facts. If you want those go elsewhere (as the joystiq bloggers say).
Nobody needed to lower their expectations for GTA on PSP. I think it can handle Bomberman (but it can't handle the edginess of Act Zero!).
Borat @ Sep 5th 2006 3:22PM
Gah...developers just arent' putting any effort into PSP games. Winning Eleven wasn't online, neither was Tekken. Both games are perfect for online play. And now this. Seriously, how hard is it to implement online play?
Game sharing and ad-hoc multiplayer is good and all, but online play is CRITICAL. It's not easy to find 3 other people who have a PSP to play with.
mykie @ Sep 5th 2006 3:24PM
I thought Bomberman was a Hudson Soft property?
Did they let Konami get their increasingly crappier and crappier devs get ahold of it and turn it into another Metal Gear/Contra sequel?
potato @ Sep 5th 2006 3:25PM
"But, you know, we'll take what we can get on the PSP."
Bias Joystiq. :-(
I get done playing socom online and this is what I hear.
I'll just go now and play Daxter or Tekken right now.
mykie @ Sep 5th 2006 3:25PM
"Game sharing and ad-hoc multiplayer is good and all, but online play is CRITICAL. It's not easy to find 3 other people who have a PSP to play with."
It's not easy for find 3 other people who have a PSP AT ALL.
/sorry, couldn't resist
skr1lls @ Sep 5th 2006 3:36PM
A better use of this 'bomberman equation' would be why not put the original bomberman on live arcade? eureka. case closed. people who really wanted a good bomberman game get to play it online with each other, and the 'low-expectation' psp users would live without a title they really weren't all that hyped up to begin with.
BPM? @ Sep 5th 2006 3:40PM
#11 mykie:
"I thought Bomberman was a Hudson Soft property?"
It is... but Konami now owns Hudson (and has since April 2005).
GSI @ Sep 5th 2006 3:43PM
-->"FYI: Act-Zero style is similar to the original Bomberman's artwork"
Yea...and its NEVER been used again until now.
Was there a legit reason for changing the games style? No.
Was it requested by fans? No.
Does the new style improve the game? No.
Is it a crap game? YES.
Proof?
http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/xbox360/bombermanactzero
Check out the COMPILATION of these reviews...it's unanimous.
PiratePete @ Sep 5th 2006 3:58PM
Really, I wanna know that too. How hard is it to implement internet gaming for this on the PSP. AND for that matter that's another reason why the DS is kicking the PSP ass. The DS has actual internet multi play (INTERNET!!). Can you believe it! I never expected that with the DS. Just look at it compared to the PSP. The PSP you would expect it to have internet multiplay of most of it's games but no. That's a major reason why it's sucking so much. Now look, I for one will get the Bomerman for my DS and NOT for my PSP. See! See! are there any Sony execs out there reading this!!
YOU ARE LOOSING SALES TO A SUPPOSED (Remember I said "supposed") LESSER SYSTEM BECAUSE OF NOT IMPLEMENTING A SIMPLE FEATURE!!
I am so disappointed in the PSP. It could of been so great. Guess that what happens when games are not the main feature point. Well all I can say is that playing Bomerman with other players over the internet with my DS is going to be LOADS of fun:)
AlloyNES @ Sep 5th 2006 4:06PM
GSI--
So, what you're saying is that because a lot of reviews say that "Bomerman:ActZero sucks," I should change my opinion of the game to reflect that and if I think otherwise, I'm wrong?
Because I could've sworn that I have fun playing Bomberman:ActZero every night.
Proof that it isn't a crap game: The opinions of all of us who play the game every day and have a great time playing it.
Bottomline: the say of reviewers aren't the word of God. And if you think what they say IS, then you're just a mindless sheep who can't think for themself.
I've played Bomberman:ActZero. It's fun. Have you played it?
Dr.Swiss @ Sep 5th 2006 4:09PM
I LOVED the ps2. I played Timesplitters3, Everquest Frontiers, Monster Hunter and loads and loads of other games. I had the old ps2 so I invested in a headset, ethernet adapter, and usb keyboard just to play online with it.
I may have all Nintendo products now (my ps2 got stolen :*( ) but that doesn't make me a fanboy. I would gladly buy a p2p if they had more online games. I just don't understand why the ps2 has this but not the psp. I simply can't comprehend why one Sony product has awsome support for it while the other has little to none.
Robert Summa @ Sep 5th 2006 4:15PM
Hey Alloy, I'm with you, I love the multiplayer in Bomberman also. But, my problem and I think the problem others have with the game, is the potential that has been lost with it.
For instance: The new look of the characters is horrid and almost insulting; the single player is completely unforgiving; no two-player or more offline, wtf?; also, even though the multi is fun, it's not as fluid as it should have been.
I really like the animation with the explosions and some other aspects, but I think we can all agree, the game could have been done a million times better. Also, if this game were a budget title, like say $25 instead of $50, it may have gotten better reviews.
Richard Mitchell @ Sep 5th 2006 4:31PM
Alloy,
The fact that Act Zero doesn't support local multiplayer *at all* is enough reason for most Bomberman fans to dislike it. Bomberman was always about getting some buddies together and blowing each other up. Hell, even my non-gaming friends liked Bomberman.
Why in the hell would Hudson scrap Bomberman's most notable feature?
Jake @ Sep 5th 2006 4:47PM
For all those complaining about the PSP and its lack of online gaming... Just be patient. This November Sony will launch their online service for the PS3 and PSP. It will be similar to Live, and I hope better than Nintendo's service. Most games aren't online now because each developer is responsible for their game's online network, and most don't want to fool with it.
GSI @ Sep 5th 2006 5:05PM
-->"Bottomline: the say of reviewers aren't the word of God. And if you think what they say IS, then you're just a mindless sheep who can't think for themself."
Umm...I don't believe everything reviewers say BUT when all of them point out the SAME thing as problems (ie the new art style, the lack of local 8 player multiplayer, etc.) then there is something wrong.
Oh and thanks for making a fool of yourself by assuming things about me. If you actually knew my posts on here, you would know my pet peeve is people who take offense to reviewers not liking a game that they like.
Oh and you actually know who I am...take a look at the name I post under on Joystiq and then look at the people who post on your IGN blog. ;-)
-->"omberman was always about getting some buddies together and blowing each other up."
BINGO...that is why the SNES version TO THIS DAY is still played by people.
GSI @ Sep 5th 2006 5:10PM
-->"For all those complaining about the PSP and its lack of online gaming... Just be patient."
The freakin' PSP has been out for a while now and it STILL has a PATHETIC online game library. The DS (while not the most intuitive with the Friend Code format) DOES have some great online games for it and TONS more coming out. Sony (and it's supporting developers) have missed the boat MULTIPLE times in making certain games online capable.
-->"Most games aren't online now because each developer is responsible for their game's online network, and most don't want to fool with it."
They CAN go online with Sony supported middleware developer (GameSpy) but most don't take advantage of it for the PSP.
Plus with the PSP having a rather weak battery life, it makes it more difficult b/c it sucks up the batter life even more.
Jake @ Sep 6th 2006 5:02PM
"Most games aren't online now because each developer is responsible for their game's online network, and most don't want to fool with it."
Actually, they still will be. Sony has announced little of their online service. They have announced that it will be free and that each game will be responsible for its own online. I think that I heard that, anyways. Someone correct me if I am wrong.
rudimentalist @ Sep 5th 2006 5:27PM
No one's seemed to make the "New Coke" analogy here. Or is it just too obvious? Make a really crap Bomberman game, then bring back classic and everyone will love it. Hudson is genius.
smashp @ Sep 5th 2006 5:41PM
i love how ppl stating their preference or opinions make them bias. yeah i'd love to play some fun games on psp myself, i do feel like i have to settle with my psp. yeah i have a ds too.. and it gets played all the time.. there are games im constantly waiting for releases of as well. with the psp.. its a different story.. so far all im waiting on is powerstone. and as for bomberman act zero.. yeah.. garbage. i really agree with the motto of if it aint broke dont fix it. all these new "futuristic, adult" style upgrades to things. im pretty sure the public would think it was lame to have a megaman smokin and cussin.. lookin like a master chief knock off.
Jay @ Sep 5th 2006 5:35PM
That's a little late. I bought Bomberman DS last summer brand new for £15. At a BBQ we had an 8 player. It was great, and that was 12 months ago. Cut that down to 4? no thanks.
Dr.Swiss @ Sep 5th 2006 5:54PM
@ AlloyNES
And by your logic the next Megaman should look like this??
http://www.gamingfm.com/images/mega_man_1.jpg
Einhanderkiller @ Sep 5th 2006 8:27PM
"Seriously, how hard is it to implement online play?"
Harder than you think.
n8dogg @ Sep 5th 2006 10:35PM
I've had to "settle" with my DS Lite.
I had to "settle" in the way I hold the system.
I had to "settle" with not having multiplayer support for my GBA games. (I had bought two copies of pokemon for thirty bucks each with my DS and had multiplayer battles with my brother in mind. Boy was I pissed.)
I had to "settle" with the fact that a lot of the games that I looked forward to playing (New Super Mario, Metroid, Wario Ware Touched!) bored me to tears.
I had to "settle" with having no thumb nub and getting pissed off at the digital pad during sessions of Mario 64 DS games.
I've had to "settle" with a crack on the hinge, and a touch screen that's nearly impossible to keep scratch or dust free.
Oh, and how's about that GBA cart, sticking out like a tumor?
And yet, ::GASP:: I STILL LIKE MY DS.
Whoever started this nonsense about "settling" with the PSP is a douche. I don't have one, but I know for a fact that no system is perfect. You take each system for what it is, and enjoy your investment. Pros and cons, you know? It's a fact of life.
pixelator @ Sep 6th 2006 12:37PM
"But, you know, we'll take what we can get on the PSP."
Another anti-Sony, anti-PSP slight squeezed into otherwise great news about another upcoming game that looks great. By Summa. Agenda much, dude?
Yeah, I'll take what I can get on my PSP, too. Especially since no games on the DS lately have interested me, like the rehash Starfox and tedious Brain/Cooking games. Meanwhile, I've discovered Infected, an underrated gem, Daxter, Valkyrie Profile, Monster Hunter, Harry Potter (yes, it's pretty good), Field Commander and a few others - I don't even have time to play all my newer PSP games.
Went to a friend's cabin over the weekend, and we wound up with no less than five PSP units out of 10 people there. Multiplayer Burnout, GTA, Ridge Racers ensued, and these aren't Sony fanboys - they're just average 20 and 30 something guys. Guess what? None of the people I know who bought a PSP are unhappy or have sold theirs - and none of them want a DS.
PSP has some great games, with lots more on the way. Any Sony post at Joystiq these days (bloggers or most contributors) has to be taken with a 'grain' of salt the size of Halfdome. There's just NO love for Sony products to be found here, and it's far out of proportion with reality.
alu @ Sep 6th 2006 3:06PM
should just convert Saturn Bomberman for XBLA and be done with it. This was probably one of the best bomberman releases so far.
GSI @ Sep 6th 2006 10:32PM
-->"Went to a friend's cabin over the weekend, and we wound up with no less than five PSP units out of 10 people there. Multiplayer Burnout, GTA, Ridge Racers ensued, and these aren't Sony fanboys - they're just average 20 and 30 something guys. Guess what? None of the people I know who bought a PSP are unhappy or have sold theirs - and none of them want a DS."
That's b/c that is the market Sony is going for. People who think they have to "look cool" and have the latest gadgets.
-->"PSP has some great games, with lots more on the way."
Very true but how many of those are rehashes or near direct PS2 ports?
-->"Meanwhile, I've discovered Infected, an underrated gem, Daxter, Valkyrie Profile, Monster Hunter, Harry Potter (yes, it's pretty good), Field Commander and a few others"
Funny how you say "rehash Starfox and tedious Brain/Cooking games." Why is it funny? B/c Monster Hunter is basically a port as is Valkyrie Profile. Daxter is one of the few PSP titles that is actually 100% original and fantastic title (I personally love it.)
Infected...is hardly under-rated. The concept for it "could" have been cool but the controls were to hyper-sensitive and didn't have much depth.
-->"tedious Brain/Cooking games"
Yea and those tedious games are beating the crap out of (possibly) every PSP title to date and they are STILL selling like crazy. I have shown the Brain Age games to people of all ages and most of them are not even gamers. Guess what? They loved it.