Today marks the 34th anniversary of Bomberman on the SNES and also the beginning of a long and loving relationship between Nintendo and the explosive franchise. Yes, it really has been that long. And yes, we do feel old because of it. We’ll ignore the fact that Bomberman also released two previous installments a couple of years before the Nintendo era, though. No, this is a celebratory article for both Nintendo and their fruitful bond with the long-running series.
The concept hasn’t exactly changed much in three and a half decades, to be honest. It’s a simple party-starter game that has one shared goal: to destroy the other opponents by any means necessary. This, of course, means having to use an arsenal of bombs and tricks to fool each target and avoid the backfire in the process. Of course, it’s easier said than done as many old-school gamers will know. But, if players can tactically advance around the map and outlast the warfare while setting the competition ablaze, the survivor will bring home the gold.
Bomberman has brought friends, families, and strangers together from all over the world. From quickfire rounds in a living room to all-out extravaganzas in front of thousands, Bomberman has carved quite an impression amongst many communities worldwide. And, even as we turn the page to 2020, Nintendo still looks to full-throttle the franchise as if it were an overachieved child. That’s a relationship we think all developers should aspire to have with long-running franchises.
The series has, overall, enjoyed a rather bulky timeline that’s never had to stray too far away from the original concept to impress fans. Even now, as we step into the platinum era of next-level gaming, Bomberman still skips along merrily without having to so much as lift a finger to amaze. With sixty entries into the library, Bomberman has tightly locked its position deep within the gaming hall of fame for all-time fans to gawp over for future generations.
At this rate, Bomberman is on course to sail for the half a century checker. But, that’s providing developers continue to breathe life into the little bombing crew and punch for 100 chapters and not just rehash the old catalog. Either way, we can’t exactly question their persistence and devotion to the franchise after all these years. It’s been one hell of a journey, and we’re sure glad to see Bomberman still making an impact out there on the market.
Best of luck of the road to fifty, guys.
Will you be booting up the SNES for a quick game of Bomberman this weekend? Drop a comment down below and start the discussion. Oh, and you might also want to check out The Nerd Stash YouTube channel, too. We’ve got plenty more nerdy news to go around. Whether it being gadget trends or comic conventions, The Nerd Stash has you covered.