Super Bomberman R

🎮 Basic Info

• Title: Super Bomberman R

• Platform: Nintendo Switch (released March 3, 2017)

• Developer / Publisher: Konami (with HexaDrive involvement)

• Genre: Action / Maze / Party

• Player Count: 1 to 8 players (local and online multiplayer), also co-op for the Story mode with up to 2.

🕹 Gameplay & Core Mechanics

• You move across grid-based mazes, drop bombs, destroy soft blocks, avoid explosions, collect power-ups, and try to trap or blast opponents.

• Just like classic Bomberman games, placing bombs in clever patterns and using power-ups well (bomb range, movement speed, bomb count, etc.) is central.

• Some destructible walls hide items, some areas have hazards (moving floors, traps, etc.) to spice things up.

🧭 Modes

Story Mode

• The Story Mode consists of fifty stages divided over multiple worlds — themed environments, with different enemies, level layouts, puzzles and boss fights.

• Designed for solo or 2-player co-op. Players share lives. There are missions where besides destroying enemies you must do things like use switches, escort characters, or survive waves.

Battle Mode

• This is the competitive heart of Bomberman. Up to eight players go head-to-head in maze arenas.

• Battle can be local (on the same console or via multiple Switches) or online. Last player standing wins (or team modes depending on settings).

• Lots of power-ups, bomb-kicks, speed boosts, etc. It can get chaotic, especially with more players.

🎨 Presentation & Extras

• Graphics: Clean, vibrant visuals with 3D-styled mazes and characters, though gameplay is essentially 2D grids with depth. Environments have dynamic elements.

• Sound: Classic Bomberman sound effects (explosions, power-up bips) plus voice acted cutscenes in Story Mode.

• Character Customization: There’s a shop where you can spend in-game currency (“Gems” earned from playing) to unlock cosmetics — hats, shells, different skins, some new characters or bomb types, etc.

• Multiplayer Options: Use of Joy-Con controllers, various configurations (tabletop, split screen, handheld, docked). You can play with multiple switches locally, or online versus.

✅ Strengths

• Strong nostalgia factor: the core Bomberman formula is very well preserved.

• Great party game: Battle Mode especially shines when played with friends in the same room.

• Story Mode adds variety beyond just the multiplayer mayhem; it provides single-player content with challenge and progression.

• Cosmetic unlocks give extra motivation for replay.

• The levels and hazards are varied, so you don’t feel like every battlefield is the same.

❌ Weaknesses / Criticisms

• Online community has been noted by some players to fade; matchmaking can take time or be hard to find players.

• Although it supports up to 8 players, depending on region and console setups, there are restrictions as to how many players can be on one Switch or across multiple Switches.

• Some players feel certain arenas or graphics (lighting, shadows) clash with the classic cartoonish Bomberman vibe.

• For those used to the old classic versions, the newer extras or modern graphics might feel like they lose a bit of the simplicity or charm.

🌟 Legacy & Reception

• Super Bomberman R was the first major Bomberman console game in many years (after the original Hudson Soft closure), so it carried expectations.

• It was a launch title for the Switch in many territories, helping it visibility.

• It has sold well (over a million copies) and has had updates adding stages, characters, accessories, etc., increasing its content after release.

• It reinforced Bomberman as a party staple on modern consoles, though some fans prefer the pure classic versions.