Bomberman News

Saturn Bomberman 2 Update

Written 10/5/97

The sequel to Saturn Bomberman is being worked on by Hudson Soft in Japan right now. It is tentatively titled Saturn Bomberman Fight. It is about 70% complete and is set for a release date of December 11th in Japan (according to a local game shop). A retail price has not yet been set.

Saturn Bomberman 2 Characters

Written 10/4/97

Here is the cast for Saturn Bomberman (source Sega Saturn Magazine 1997/Vol. 34). Old favorites Shiro (white) and Kuro (black) Bomberman are back for another adventure. Other returning characters are Honey (cowgirl) and Kotetsu (samurai). New characters include Dentai a ninja who is a rival of Kotetsu, Puipui a fun loving monkey, Pegii Jr. a blue penguin, and Panpu a Halloween Jack-o-Lantern with a blue cloak. There are also 2 new female characters in the game: Rewishia, a blue-haired girl in a white dress and Mami, a brown-haired girl in a red flowered dress. There are also 3 robotic characters that can be selected. Rajibon is a short box-like robot with a long antenna, Golemn Bomber is a big fat orange bot with green appendages, and it is also possible to be one of the robots from the opening movie of Saturn Bomberman. Rounding out the list of 14 playable characters is Baguro, best described as "Super Grape".

Saturn Bomberman 2 Is On Its Way

Written 10/4/97

I have arrived in Japan and gotten the scoop on Saturn Bomberman 2 which was shown at the Tokyo Game Show. The whole game is polygon based as opposed to using sprites like the original version. This has siginificant gameplay implications, as the game now has a 3D world in which to battle. The polygons are mostly flat shaded but this allows for clean and fast rendering. The game is now limited to 4 players at once. Additional gameplay enhancements include slopes and ledges as well as new super bombs (3D explosions) based on a meter that you have to charge up. Players also have a health meter instead of dying after only one hit.

Saturn Bomberman US Release Price

Written 8/23/97

SaturnWorld and Next Generation have both confirmed that Saturn Bomberman is shipping weeks ahead of schedule in the US. The suggested retail price for Bomberman SS is $39.99! Awesome!

Saturn Bomberman Ships in USA!

Written 8/22/97

According to Dave's Sega Satun Page, Saturn Bomberman has been shipping overnight and should start to arrive in stores starting today! This is great news for US gamers. America is the last major market where Bomberman SS has been released (it was released in Europe a few months ago). Sega seems to have delivered the game to market several weeks before it was expected. By the way an extra $99 will get you a NetLink and two games (Sega Rally and Virtua On)...I can't wait to check out the US Version!

Sega Saturn Collection 2

Written 8/8/97

If you are looking to purchase the Japanese version of Bomberman SS then you might want to consider the Sega Saturn Collection 2. It includes Albert Odyssey, D, Deka Street, Devil Summoner, Dragonball Z Legend, Nights, Princess Maker 2, Puyo Puyo 2, Saturn Bomberman, and Sega Rally Championship Plus. This collection should be readily available and is priced at 2800 yen, about $25. *Clarification* (10/4/97) Now that I am in Japan and have actually seen these games it turns out that the price is 2800 yen per game. The collection is not a greatest hits compilation. Sorry for any confusion this may have caused.

More information on Bomberman US release date

Written 7/31/97

According to SaturnWorld the U.S. release date for Saturn Bomberman has been clarified. The most recent word from Sega is that the game is scheduled to be released on September 13th. Mark your calenders now and prepare yourself! Or if you aren't that patient buy the import version. You can pick up a copy of the Japanese version for around $40.

Bomberman release officially confirmed by Sega

Written 5/9/97

According to Sega's official web site Saturn Bomberman will be released in September of 1997. The Net Link portion of the game will feature a custon "Net Link lobby" where you can meet other gamers to set up competitions, as well as chat and taunt opponents. It will also have an exclusive guest book listing potential competitors by location, skill level and other factors. Additional information about the US version of the game has revealed that the game will include built in taunts (presumibly audible) that can be activated by pressing the shoulder buttons.

Bomberman SS price to drop in Japan

Written 5/9/97

Sega of Japan has announced an agressive new pricing structure for many older Saturn titles. These games will be priced at 2800 yen, which is approximately $22. Several games have already been discounted under this program. Ten more games will go on sale starting June 20th, including Bomberman SS. It is unclear how, if at all, this price drop will affect import prices for the game in the US. Hopefully import companies will also be able to increase their stock of Saturn Bomberman due to the lower street price in Japan.

Update on US release date for Bomberman SS

Written 5/5/97

According to Game Informer, Saturn Bomberman has been confirmd by Sega for an October release in the United States. The game will be compatible with the Sega Saturn Net Link which will enable point to point gaming. This means that you will need to directly call the person who you want to play instead of dialing into a central server. This means that in order to play someone far away you would have to make a long distance phone call, an expensive prospect. However, it will be worth it if the lag time is minimal. According to Sega, the use of a phone line connection will provide very low latency for networked gaming. The latency will be between 50-60 milliseconds, assuring a great experience for NetLink gamers.

Bomberman SS coming to America!

Written 5/2/97

Saturn Bomberman has been formally announced for distibution in the United States. This is great news for bomberfans in the U.S. The title was confirmed in a recent mailing to all registered Sega Saturn owners. The game is rumored to support Sega's NetLink peripheral as well as the multitap adaptors. It will be possible to play with up to four player controlled Bombermen at once using the NetLink. Two players would be able to compete from each Saturn. The remaining complement of combatants could (if desired) be filled with computer opponents. This game alone could make the NetLink a hot commodity this holiday season. No formal release date has been announced yet, but rumors have the game being released some time in the 3rd or 4th quarter of 1997.

Bomberman Party Pack Released

Written 4/30/97

It is possible now to buy a more complete package to play Bomberman SS. The Bomberman Party Pack includes both a Bomberman shaped multitap and a Bomberman shaped controller. It can be imported for about $100 or so, depending on who you buy it from. Since Bomberman fun increases exponentially when more players are added, this would make an ideal purchase.