Welcome to Bomberman Land – where your explosive problem solving skills take a backseat to an assortment of mini-games. If you thought Bomberman was all about dropping bombs and blowing things up, then you haven’t met the white-capped party planner version of our favorite explosive hero.
Bomberman Land is essentially a trip to an amusement park where you can collect 125 B-CARD pieces while engaging in a barrage of mini-games. The gameplay consists of lots of heads-up competition where players take on one another in various bizarre challenges. Whether you're racing on hoverboards or wrestling with power-ups in a chaotic battle for survival, it’s all here. It’s like Mario Party, but without the horrific pain that old Mario subjects us to when we play it with friends. You can tackle this game in single-player Story Mode too, which revolves around the White Bomber finding his way through this colorful park of wacky events. Story-wise, it starts with the White Bomber chilling on a beach and getting an invite to a theme park. Reminder: if you're a bomb-throwing character and get an invite from a theme park, it's probably a trap. Spoiler alert: it is! Once you're there, you get to cluster together some mini-games while dealing with a nefarious main antagonist who steals the main director. It's like the plot of an awful direct-to-DVD Disney movie, but with more exploding.
Aesthetically, Bomberman Land does not shy away from color, and it will assault your eyes as much as it delights them. Considering it’s a PlayStation title from 2000, the graphics are more pleasant than your average patronizing glance from a parent. Everything is designed with a bubbly, cartoonish quality that screams fun instead of fear. The minigames are visually distinct, which ensures you can quickly identify which one activates your ‘rage-induced sweat’ button, much like a poorly designed carnival attraction—my favorite kind. The character designs fall somewhere between endearing and 'I-have-no-idea-what-I’m-looking-at', which is a nice nod to the creativity that Hudson Soft poured into this game. Explosions are vibrant and cartoony, as they should be in a game like this. Consider it all a fitting tribute to all those cigarettes your parents should have taken up instead of your childhood when they caught you playing until 3 AM.
Bomberman Land is a delightful detour from the traditional bomb-dropping chaos we've come to expect from this franchise. It doesn’t take itself too seriously—because let’s face it, attempting to tell a serious story about a white bomber dodging jelly-filled monsters is a little... implausible. Overall, it’s charming and silly in a way that invites such memorable gaming moments, provided your friends can grip themselves with enough decorum in your living room. It’s a perfect game for gatherings and a good start for anyone looking to get into the Bomberman universe without the fear of instant humiliation over blowing their friends up. Just remember that indulging in Bomberman Land is a decision you may find bomb-tastically enjoyable. Explosions not included.
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