More Bomberman Live costumes and levels coming
by Alexander Sliwinski 
{ Jul 28th 2007 at 1:45PM }
Our relationship with Bomberman Live has been a little love/hate. Although the game brings the multiplayer experience of Bomberman fantastically into your living room -- without the need of "real friends" -- there are some serious "what were they thinking" moments. At the top of that list is at the end of rounds having every player press A to continue, which ends up being a jerk magnet. It's like Catan and Carcassonne not having an auto-boot after a player times-out their turn three times in a row -- although those titles are still the most civilized on XBLA. Also, the lobby system in Bomberman and game selection is trés clunky and was definitely not designed for the Bomberman newb. We're definitely looking forward to the A button patch and some other fixes that are allegedly in the works for Bomberman Live.
[Thanks AnOffday, Via X3F]
Gallery: Bomberman Live! (XBLA)
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
tack @ Jul 28th 2007 2:07PM
Love/Hate with me as well. I hate the new timing they have implemented with many of the powerups.
The Kick, Punch, and Detonator not being instant really makes the game feel imprecise to me. To me bomberman was all about precision timing and now it feels loose and squishy.
John Morgan @ Jul 28th 2007 2:29PM
Agreed. The game is still fun, but for bomberman purists, Bomberman Live doesn't live up to the precise controls of the SNES version.
Also, I'd like to register a complaint about the level design. They are almost all the same. The "gimmick" features are nearly identical as well. I seem to remember the SNES version having more varied levels and more interesting gimmicks.
thenino85 @ Jul 28th 2007 2:24PM
If you have a 360, you really owe it to yourself to check out this game and Pac-Man Championship Edition. Although this game does not fundamentally change the Bomberman formula, online multiplayer is a definite blast. Damn unintentional puns. Also, multiplayer doesn't need that great of a connection. Pac-Man CE, on the other hand, is the true sequel to the original Pac-Man. It's worth mentioning that it's the only Pac-Man sequel that the original Pac-Man designer worked on, and it shows. It's the same, but it's very different. Hard to explain unless you play it.
@tack: My impression is that they did that as a way of dealing with online lag. I also found it bothersome at first, but you get used to it over time.
As an aside, why can't Joystiq modify its spelling dictionary? Every post I type has so many red squiggles. Christ, even Joystiq has one.
Mr Khan @ Jul 29th 2007 3:00PM
I agree
The only fault of Pac Man CE is using if you use it with the regular 360 controller and its deplorable D-pad. Wire in a Wii Classic Controller (or something like it), and i'd say that game would be perfect
Of course, i find it imperative to own at least 1 bomberman game for every console, and have been bugging all my friends with 360s to get it (although it may be worthy to note i don't have a 360, i just mooch :)
Justin U @ Jul 29th 2007 6:30PM
Joystiq doesn't have its own Dictionary.
Thats Firefox's Dictionary.
Which I find hilarious that n00b is an accepted word.
Lord Chako @ Jul 28th 2007 2:37PM
As long as it isn't act zero, I can't complain.
I did however find a copy of mega bomberman for the genesis stashed away at my house.
Too bad my sister stole my genesis.
Triforceowner @ Jul 28th 2007 2:52PM
I'm going to catch up on all the Xbox Live Arcade titles when that Circuit City ad is confirmed. I have to wonder how many cards I will be picking up...
DeadPlasmaCell @ Jul 28th 2007 3:00PM
I forget which game it was on, but there was a level that rained bombs.. that was fun.
Brad Lee @ Jul 28th 2007 3:28PM
The A button thing is annoying.
I have to give them credit, though, for allowing "Guests" on Live. Playing with a few friends on the same console, and then going online to play against a few strangers is great fun.
My biggest complaint, actually, is that you only get new costumes from playing local matches. What's the deal? Why can't I get new costumes from Live matches?
Seroth @ Jul 28th 2007 4:14PM
They felt that if a costume piece appeared during a Live match, the game would suddenly turn into "RACE TO THE COSTUME PIECE!" and interrupt the flow of battle...or something like that.
Brad Lee @ Jul 28th 2007 6:00PM
It seems to me it would make more sense to just earn money or points or something and just buy the costumes from a store...
MosquitoControl @ Jul 28th 2007 4:23PM
As I don't play online, I can't comment on some of these.
However, I'll agree with the imprecision. I often find myself kicking or punching without anything happening. I also lament the loss of the jelly bombs and hate both the land mines (too delayed to be useful) and the remote bombs (just pointless.)
Overall, though, it's one hell of a couch game.
Martin @ Jul 28th 2007 5:09PM
Bomberman is my favourite multiplayer game of all-time and I was really excited when this came out. I do feel that the online is lacking in a few key things (including the A button to continue).
1> No on-screen signifier of who is talking.
2> When you join a quick game, there's no indication on what the game type is or the level etc etc.
3> Why can't you join a game in progress?
4> Basically, it needs a better lobby system.
5> Why can't the costumes give the in-game Bombermen instant power-ups? So wearing the cowboy costume automatically gives you two bombs at the start. Or the clown costume gives you bomb punch. That kind of thing.
6> Can't think of a 6 - Hell its still a good game
7> Oohh they should release levels from the original versions. E.g. all the levels from the SNES bomberman 1 for 400 points etc. etc. I'm not bothered about the extra costumes unless they actually have an effect on actual gameplay.
Vagrant Pistol @ Jul 28th 2007 8:13PM
They need to add teams. How amazing would that be!!
Truepatriot @ Jul 29th 2007 2:35AM
"hey guys press the A button......oh come on its the green one.... who hasnt pressed it?......PRESS THE A BUTTON WTF!......A BUTTON DO YOU HAVE ONE?!"
good times and thats with the ppl i know >
Lord Elohim @ Jul 30th 2007 5:12AM
I've found this to be a great thread. I wanted a 360 at launch, but couldn't get one. I then bought one mostly for Uno, yeah, you read that right. When I find out about Bomberman, I was ecstatic. Mr Kahn, I have you beat, Bomberman Live was roughly my 20th or so Bomberman game, which includes such crap as Panic Bomber, Act Zero, and Bomberman Hero. Lord Chako, would you be willing to sell or trade that copy of Mega Bomberman? I just got a copy, but the cover sticker is ripped, and that's not really cool with me.
As for the game, yeah, there are things that don't feel quite right, but it's easily the best thing I have bought for 360, and I own a llot of the "great" titles. I love that I can have three other people with me, and we can all play online, that is the single greatest gift Hudson could have given. I HATE, however, that when I detonate a bomb, everyone knows I am detonating it, because of that damn sound and brief pause. That really needs to be fixed. Also, I wish that would match people up who have similar ping, I hate being in matches with people who appear to be teleporting around, even if only slightly. Even through my complaints, Hudson did a fantastic job, and I am very much looking forward to the new levels, but even moreso the new costumes, I love having a distinct look. I do wish that live guests would have access to all the costume pieces the primary account holder has though.
-The guy who owns both Bomberman multitaps, and the Saturn Bomberman controller.