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Platform: Gameboy Advance Genre: Puzzle/Action Publisher: Majesco Developer: Hudson Soft ESRB: E (Everyone) Released: Q2 2002 Support AE! Buy Games Here:
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Bomberman Max 2: Red AdvanceScore: 8.0 / 10 |
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Pros: -
Sports the simple but effectively detailed graphics that have always
been part of the Bomberman gaming universe - Difficulty of single-player game is no walk in the park, so you won’t beat it in one sitting |
Cons: -
If you don’t like Pokémon, you’ll hate charaboms -
Why are there two versions of essentially the same game? - Uninspired sound and music |
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"Bomberman
Max 2 Red Advance is still a solid and challenging GBA title in the
puzzle genre spliced with a good measure of light action gaming.
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The
various incarnations of the Bomberman titles throughout the years have
had the same basic formula of maze clearing bombing runs that has made
them such a popular series for so long. So why did the game developers
in charge of the Game Boy Advance twin titles Bomberman 2 Blue Advance
and the Red Advance version (which is covered in this review) add
features that are better left to the Pokémon games they are copied
from? Fortunately the single-player game sticks closely to the tried and
true Bomberman action we have come to know while not relying too much on
the involvement of the Pokémonesque charabom characters (that were
introduced in the original versions last year) to create a surprisingly
good handheld title.
The
developers must collect and play Pokémon cards and the Game Boy Color
and Game Boy Advance titles, because Bomberman Max 2 Red Advance again
attempts to take advantage of the Pokémon gaming popularity with the
inclusion of charaboms, little helpful creatures that are a direct copy
of the many minions inhabiting the world of Pokémon. You collect the
charaboms throughout the single-player games, and each has special
abilities that help you while you clear the stages. If you choose a
multi-player gaming session, you can square off the charaboms you
acquire against another player -- again just like Pokémon. Each of the
two versions of the game has 30 of these creatures to collect.
Even
though each version is essentially the same, as a gimmick to get you to
buy two games, Bomberman 2 comes in either Blue Advance starring
Bomberman, or Red Advance starring Max. The story behind both games is
that both Bomberman and Max, who are protecting the universe while
stationed at the Bomber Base, have been miniaturized by the bad guy
Mujoe in a “Honey, I Shrunk the Heroes” kind of way with the
Mini-Mini Device. To get back to their normal size, Bomberman and Max
must go through the Base through five stages and the mini and bonus
games. In all there are 80 levels in Red Advance, which can be increased
to 100 if you own and link to Bomberman Max 2 Blue Advance, enough to
keep you entertained for a while. Each stage represents a different area
of the Bomber Base, and they are diverse enough to the point that you
won’t feel like you’re playing the same stage over and over.
Setting
aside the charabom issue, the game’s single-player mode is deceivingly
simple and simplistically addicting. Even though the first stage is set
there, the game is no walk in the garden. When playing the first few
levels, I thought that the game would be too easy and I could possibly
finish the entire single-player game in a day or so. But after having to
replay these same early levels over and over because of the game’s
rigorous artificial intelligence, I quickly realized that this was not
going to be the case. But don’t take that as a negative. In fact
it’s the exact opposite. It’s nice these days to actually have a
game that makes it a tough task for you to win.
Gameplay
occurs as top-down, 2D maze clearing action. By setting bombs in a
desired placement, you clear obstacles and destroy some bizarre enemies
(beware for killer pencils!) on your way to the level exit gate. There
are specific goals on each level that are sometimes required to open up
the exit gate. On one Library level, you must defeat all of the books
with the fire-breathing dragons without killing any of the enemy
spiders. If you happen to kill one of the spiders, you must start the
level again. There are many goals along these lines. You actually need
to think and plot out the best course to finish off a level. It’s much
like a game of chess in the respect that you must strategize before you
place bombs and make your moves early on each level, when the enemies
are still chasing after you. Once you defeat the last enemy or finish
off the required goal, of course, the situation becomes a lot easier but
keep an eye on the timer because if it counts down to zero before the
level is completed you must do it all over.
There
are a few other modes besides single-player mode to keep you
entertained, but many of these again take the charaboms into account in
order to play. Battle mode lets you have two charaboms duel in RPG-style
turn-based combat, either against the CPU or another player through the
game’s multi-link option. This multi-link hookup can be used for
single-pack link play mode, which again uses the charaboms.
Like
the whole line of Bomberman titles, Bomberman Max 2 Red Advance has a
sharp yet simple graphical presentation. With its tight character models
and liberal use of a colorful palette that is displayed throughout the
game’s multitude of levels, this is one of the better-looking GBA
titles I have played so far. Controls used to play Bomberman Max 2 Red
Advance couldn’t be easier. You use the directional pad to move Max,
and the “A” and “B” buttons to set and detonate bombs. This is
one of the game’s biggest pluses in that you can immediately pick up
the game and feel right at home navigating through each level. The music
is largely uninspired and sound effects are scarce, but with the good
control, fun single-player gameplay and detailed visuals, this can be
overlooked. Bomberman Max 2 Red Advance also has a built-in save feature
which lets you record your progress right on the cartridge itself
instead of relying on a password.
Personally,
since I fall way out of the Pokémon demographic and can’t stand the
annoyingly cute Pikachu and his friends, I could have done without the
charaboms, even though they are made necessary to get past certain
puzzles in the game. The game could have ditched the charaboms and stuck
to the formula of last year’s Bomberman Tournament game by having
enemy characters to fight instead. If you like the Pokémon games, then
the involvement of the charaboms in the gameplay of Bomberman Max 2 Red
Advance may be a change of pace from Pikachu’s crew. But since the
charaboms don’t play a major part in the single-player game, Bomberman
Max 2 Red Advance is still a solid and challenging GBA title in the
puzzle genre spliced with a good measure of light action gaming.
—Lee
Cieniawa
(August 31, 2002)
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