Bomberman (1990). Play online

Summary

Bomberman for the TurboGrafx‑16 blew my mind back when I first got the console. Not just a simple clone of the original, the game reinvented the maze formula with eight distinct worlds, hidden power‑ups that tweak bomb range or count, and a quirky boss at the end of each realm.

What set it apart was the five‑player battle mode using the Multitap – you could literally crowd‑source chaos, laying bombs while hunting hidden skulls that punish the unwary. That skull‑filled arena feels like an early prototype of today’s battle‑royale maps, a claim many retro critics now cite.

The European version was sold as Dyna Blaster, a name swap that avoided unsettling media headlines about bomb‑related tragedies. Behind the scenes, Hudson Soft’s core team – designer Tsukasa Kuwahara, co‑programmers Atsuo Nagata and Yūji Muroya, and pixel artists Hideyuki Ogura and Mika Sasaki – also delivered a memorable synth soundtrack by Jun Chikuma.

Reviews at the time celebrated the crisp visuals, catchy tunes and especially the multiplayer madness, giving the game soaring scores across several magazines.

Storyline

In the TurboGrafx‑16 version of Bomberman, you play as the heroic White Bomberman. His mission is to storm the dark fortress of Black Bomberman and rescue Lisa, the kidnapped daughter of the brilliant inventor Dr. Mitsumori. Along the way, White Bomberman must battle a host of evil monsters and henchmen that serve the villainous Black Bomberman. The game’s storyline drives each level, as the player navigates maze‑like rooms, plants bombs, and clears obstacles to reach Lisa’s captive location. Ultimately, the rescue completes the quest and restores peace to Dr. Mitsumori’s world.