Saturn Bomberman

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Saturn Bomberman
System(s): Sega Saturn
Publisher: Hudson
Developer: Hudson
Genre: Action
Release Date RRP Code
ESRB Sega ELSPA

Saturn Bomberman (サターンボンバーマン) is a 2D action video game developed and published by Hudson exclusively for the Sega Saturn console. It is part of the Bomberman series of games.

As well as offering a single-player campaign, Saturn Bomberman is notable for its multiplayer options, allowing up to 10 human players to compete on-screen through the with the use of the Saturn 6 Player Adaptor (and in Japan, Hudson made its own Bomberman-themed one). Even today some modern iterations of Bomberman lack this feature. Online play can be found in the the US and Japanese versions of the game, though the European version does not support this feature.

It is also the only Bomberman game on the Saturn to be released outside of Japan. Other releases for the console include Saturn Bomberman Fight!! (a largely unrelated game) and Bomberman Wars (a tactical RPG).

Gameplay

Saturn Bomberman is divided into three modes of play, though each mode plays in the traditional Bomberman fashion. The game is played on a grid where the player drops bombs and must defeat opposing foes and clear obstructions. Power-ups are distributed to enhances the character or increase the reach of dropped bombs or it's behavior. These rules are universal to the game modes below.

Normal Game

Normal Game is the story mode for Saturn Bomberman and supports up to two players. Players take control of White and Black Bomberman and must play through a series of levels based around different time periods.

The main antagonists are the Hige Hige bandits, who have gone on to be featured in other Bomberman titles and animated series including Bomberman Generation, Bomberman Jetters and more.

Battle Game

Battle Game serves as the multiplayer mode that goes up to 10 players through the use of two Saturn 6 Player Adaptors. You can also set up a series mode that allows specifications such as how many players playing, which stages are played and the rule set. In the US and Japanese versions of the game, players can make use of the Sega NetLink modem and link up one other system with up to 2 players per console for up to 4 player multiplayer online.

Depending on how many players are allowed to play determines which stages can be selected. Up to 8 players can choose from any of the gimmick stages. 10 player matches can only be played on the Wide Stage. This stage appears zoomed out to accommodate for the additional players and does not feature any gimmicks.

Instead of using differently colored Bomberman, players can choose from White and Black Bomberman as well as a host of other Hudson Soft based characters and mascots. This includes Hudson Soft's mascots Kotetsu and Miss Honey, Bonk from the P.C. Kid/Bonk series, Master Higgins from the Adventure Island games, Milon from Milon's Secret Castle, Manjimaru from the Neutopia series and Kabuki and Kine from the Tengai Makyo series. There are also two secret characters including a bear named Manto and Yuna from the anime series Galaxy Frauline Yuna.

Master Game

Master Game is similar to Normal Game that supports one player only. Players play as White Bomberman and go through twenty rooms. At the end of the game, players are graded based on their performance.

Saving Data

Saturn Bomberman makes use of the Saturn's internal battery back-up as well as the Sega Saturn Back-Up Ram Cart to save data for all three modes.

Saturn Bomberman Save Data

Name	Comment	File Size
BOMBERSS_##	NORMAL	1
BOMBERSS_##	BATTLE	11
BOMBERSS_##	MASTER	5

Physical Scans

Sega Retro Average
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Saturn Bomberman

Saturn, US
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Saturn, EU
Cover
Disc

Saturn, JP
Cover
50x50px Disc

Saturn, JP (Satakore)
Cover

Saturn, JP (Party Pac)
Cover

Saturn, JP (XBAND)
Cover

Bomberman games for Sega systems
	Bomberman Special (198x)
	Mega Bomberman (1994) | Mega Bomberman: Special 8 Player Demo (unreleased)
	Saturn Bomberman (XBAND) (1996) | Saturn Bomberman Fight!! (1997) | Bomberman Wars (1998)
	Bomberman Online (2001)