Super Bomberman R puts five players together on one screen and asks them to blow each other up. The formula is simple: place a bomb, wait for it to explode, and hope your timing beats your enemy’s. That simplicity is also the game’s biggest problem.
Trailer, via KONAMI公式.
The Core Loop
The core loop of Super Bomberman R works. Players push through stages, set bombs, and trigger explosions that send foes flying. The game runs on pure momentum, and matches rarely last long enough for anyone to lose patience.
But the loop is thin. There is little variation between levels, and the difficulty curve stays mostly flat across the whole game. Newcomers will find the basics easy to pick up, but veterans will quickly notice there is not much beneath the surface.
Five Players, One Screen
The multiplayer is where Super Bomberman R earns its keep. Up to five players can join a match, and the chaos that follows is chaotic in the best way possible. Bombs chain together, walls collapse, and the screen fills with smoke and fire.
Online play works well too. Matches hold together even with a few players dropped in at once, though the game does not handle large groups especially well. Local co-op remains the strongest mode, since lag never gets in the way of a well-timed explosion.
The Look of Bomberman R
The visual style leans heavily on bright colors and simple shapes. Characters are large, bombs are large, and explosions fill the screen without much fuss. It is not the most polished presentation in the genre, but it does not need to be. The game reads easily at a glance, which matters more than any attempt at realism ever could.
Sound design does its job. Explosions crackle, bombs tick, and the announcer calls out each kill with cheerful glee. Nothing here strains the ear, but nothing here demands attention either.
Difficulty and Progression
Progression in Super Bomberman R is light. Players earn new characters and stages as they win matches, but the unlocks feel more like a bonus than a reward system. Difficulty rises gently, and the late game does not ask much more of players than the early game did.
That lack of challenge shows in the final stretch. The game does not ramp up its difficulty in a satisfying way, and the last few stages feel more like a repeat of earlier content than a grand finale.
Online Play
Online multiplayer is the weakest part of Super Bomberman R. Matchmaking is slow, and connections break down during busy moments. Lag is a constant presence, and it is rare to see a match run smoothly with more than three players online.
Local play avoids these issues entirely. Anyone with friends nearby should stick to the couch, since the game handles local multiplayer far better than it handles anything else.
How Long Does It Last?
A single playthrough of Super Bomberman R moves fast. Stages are short, and the game never drags on for too long. A full playthrough can be completed in under an hour, which is both a strength and a weakness depending on how you look at it.
The replay value rests almost entirely on multiplayer. Once the campaign is finished, there is little reason to return alone. With friends around, the game holds up much longer.
Where It Falls Short
Super Bomberman R does not push the series forward. It takes the same formula that worked twenty years ago and applies it to a modern controller. The result is competent, but it lacks the ambition that would make it stand out.
There is also a noticeable gap between how the game plays solo and how it plays with others. The campaign is a pleasant detour, but it feels like a side dish next to the main course of multiplayer.
The Numbers
- Platforms: PS4, PC, XONE, Switch
- Players: Up to five on one screen
- Modes: Campaign, multiplayer
- Critical score: 6.4/10
Super Bomberman R is a solid, if unambitious, addition to the Bomberman lineup. It plays well, looks decent, and holds up in multiplayer. But the lack of depth means it will not be remembered as a standout entry in the series.
The game is best enjoyed with friends in the room, not alone at a desk. Anyone looking for a deep strategic experience will be disappointed. Anyone looking for a chaotic night of explosions will find exactly what they want.
