Though many current gameplay formulas were established decades ago, it's rare that the gameplay itself doesn't evolve. For example, the "explore dungeons, encounter items that help you proceed to new dungeons, and defeat Ganon" formula is the same in both 1986's The Legend of Zelda and 2006's The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. Yet the controls, combat, and intricacy of the puzzles have changed drastically in those 20 years. So when a game like Bomberman sticks with its near-exact controls year after year, they must be doing something right (or wrong, if you're not a fan).
Though Smash Bros may be a bit too complicated for some, Bomberman is decidedly simpler. As I mentioned before, it's a formula that hasn't changed much nor does it need tinkering. Although the great variety in power-ups found in later versions can get a bit confusing, the basic formula still falls in the category of pick-up-and-play. Nearly every console ever made has had at least one Bomberman game released for it. Though some are better than others, you really can't go wrong with nearly any of them. The sweetest moment in a Bomberman battle? Two friends, whether working together or purely by chance, trap a third friend in between two blocks by placing a bomb on both sides. Gotcha!
