I got this game about 3 monthis back, but it was always in the back of my mind because iPod gaming isn't exactly that good or something a gamer like me would really think much about. First of all, if you like video games much, I'd stay away from iPod gaming in general and buy a DS or PSP or something. Much better stuff to be found there.

Anyway, Bomberman is probably one of the better games offered on the iTunes store. But here is what I thought about it when I was playing. I thought the game appeared to look nice and it reminded me of the DS Bomberman Land Touch games as far as the graphics are concerned. But it was the old-school single player type of play like Bomberman on the NES or Bomberman 93 on the TG16. The music was from the BLT games in the battle mode. It's a nice soundtrack, but it appears to be the only one :O Thankfully Hudson made it so you can stop the music and have it so you only hear the bomb explosions. The song is nice, but the way it's set up, it gets dull and repetitive. I like the song, but the loop and reset of it was set up in such a way it didn't seem like a very professional video game. Well in that area anyway.

My biggest complaint about the game would be the controls. But that's the problem with the entire iPod gaming concept. The game in itself was very easy, but I died a whole lot. Why? Simply because the controls are awful. Many times over I'm sure one will find themselves setting a bomb and then their Bomberman going in a direction they didn't intend because the scroll wheel didn't sense their action because their thumb was perhaps in between the two directions. Bomberman seems to not always do what you want, but when I'd look at my thumb immediately after dying, many times my thumb would be slightly between two directions. But it was obvious from looking at positions where I wanted my Bomberman to go. But sadly the iPod didn't get that message. >_>

After every world successfully beaten there is a minigame. (There are 4 worlds) Last one contains a boss. The minigames were all from Bomberman Land Touch 1 and 2 and were given new controls. Only thing is the minigames were made insanely easy. I mean seriously. The bounty for finishing one is a 1up, and with the bad controls I wonder if Hudson did that on purpose lol. >.<

Anyway, I generally liked my experience on this game because the setup was a bit like a more old-school 1 player setup of the Bomberman Land Touch series. Only thing is there were a lot of cons to it and frustration set in. I think that if this game had been put on an actual handheld console and given twice as many stages and more challenging minigames (and of course better controls than the scroll wheel) this game would have turned out awesome. Only thing is iPod gaming is more people turning out to be like the AVGN.

I give this game a 5.5 out of 10. Probably the lowest I've rated a bomberman game since Act Zero >_>

Does the game have a plot? (I guess there's no manual since you downloaded it)

Any relevant characters? (What's the boss like?)

_________________
Metroid: Other M - As in "There's the good Metroid games... we chose to do one of some Other Make altogether."

Thank you for that well thought out review on Bomberman for iPod. A few people I know online have it, but no one I knew with one somehow, and I have only Sansa brand mp3 players for now. Duke Serkol's reply got me thinking, both as to what the plot might be (I've thought of this a lot actually but forget about it), and also how lame it is to not have some PDF download or a PNG or something with artwork and documentation you can physically see or print out. Digital distribution is nice, but I liked packaging and game manuals as well, sometimes even more than the game...  

While looking for a story on iPod Bomberman I came across this interesting site. It is in English but I have not seen it mentioned much, if at all on all these game sites that are supposed to be giving me game data. You point your iPhone/iPod Touch's Safari browser to http://www.dothehudson.net and get access to some free games and some that are in an appstore. There are also free Bomberman and misc wallpapers.

Bomberman for the iPod was listed at $4.99 on one site. I could not load the Apple store for any current pricing or data as I do not have iTunes installed at work, or at home. I did years ago for a while, but never bought anything just used it to manage and rip discs in. I did find a writeup from Hudson with a bit more specific info for you data nuts, at: http://www.hudson.co.jp/corp_eng/news/bn2007/071219.pdf .


Based on the photos and descriptions that dakirbydude gave of the controls issue, it seems like a choice for some, but not for all. I would play it had I any iPod or Apple devices, but I do not as of yet. I am really interested in the games listed below though. The artwork on the title screen shown of Bomberman Touch makes me think of the artwork and general gameplay from the US release Bomberman GB, which was really Bomberman GB 2 in Japan. It looks more like the PCEngine versions of the game such as Bomberman '93 or Bomberman '94 sprite and color wise, with elements of the original Bomberman for the Famicom and NES based on the characters. It is not all shiny and polished and thus giving me a horrible migraine like PS1 Bomberman Party Edition (US)/Bomberman Collection (Jp), but just the right balance of simple sprites and graphic flare IMO. I haven't played it though, so the motion could totally ruin the appearance of sprite/background graphic layout I gather from the still photos.

Yes, I know this comes across as a sales advertisement for the games or whatever, but they are mostly free and all the urls are in one place now should anyone forget where the urls went to. Plus the screenshots of all those games and as much data as I know about are all there at the urls included. I always lose urls and it it could help a couple fans here, awesome.

==

Bomberman Touch: The Legend of Mystic Bomb
$7.99


from http://www.dothehudson.net/en/app/bomberman-touch/catalog.html
to buy it now http://www.dothehudson.net

==

SameGame
free


They are all bomberman character pieces.

from http://www.dothehudson.net/en/games/g010_samegame/index.html
to play it now http://www.dothehudson.net

==

Find The Meijin (Bomberman Edition)
free


from http://www.dothehudson.net/en/games/g022_search/index.html
to play it now http://www.dothehudson.net

==

There's Been A Change? (What, Three Of Them?)
free


from http://www.dothehudson.net/en/games/g007_change/index.html
to play it now http://www.dothehudson.net

==

Flip & BOOM!
free


from http://www.dothehudson.net/en/games/g003_pon/index.html
to play it now http://www.dothehudson.net

_________________

IGN, IIRC, said it was a unique boss, though they could be totally wrong and just not know as much as some of your zany guys here. ;) lol

_________________

So now we have Bomberman Land Touch (1 and 2) on the DS and Bomberman Touch on the iPhone Touch. Great, not confusing at all.
Darn, why must Hudson make BMan games for everything. I can't buy all of 'em this way >_<
This game even has an actual plot (Bomberman John? A play on Indiana Jones?)

I wonder what that find the meijin plays like (what with the huge arena and big faces??)

_________________
Metroid: Other M - As in "There's the good Metroid games... we chose to do one of some Other Make altogether."

That sounds like the master mode on Saturn Bomberman doesn't it?

_________________

I am hoping someone with an iPod Touch/iPhone will try those free games and reply later, since I surely cannot do it. lol

_________________

Well I didn't get up to the boss, but since it's thanksgiving break I've got some spare time and I can tell everyone what it's like. I quit after the second world because I wasn't that impressed even though I did like the graphics and Bomberman sprite.

It sounds more like Bomberman GB (2) to me.
Bomberman sports the same look to.

_________________
Metroid: Other M - As in "There's the good Metroid games... we chose to do one of some Other Make altogether."