View source for Bomberman

{{Short description|Video game series}}
{{other uses}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2017}}
{{Infobox video game series
|image = Bombermanlogo.webp
|caption= 
|developer = [[Hudson Soft]]<br>[[Konami]]<br>[[Backbone Entertainment]]<br>[[HexaDrive]]<br>[[Produce!]]<br>Pi Studios<br>[[Racjin]]<br>Rocket Studio<br>[[Westone Bit Entertainment|Westone]]
|publisher = Hudson Soft<br>Konami<br>[[Activision]]<br>[[Atlus]]<br>[[Electro Brain]]<br>[[Majesco Entertainment]]<br>[[Nintendo]]<br>[[Rising Star Games]]<br>[[Sega]]<br>[[Sony Computer Entertainment]]<br>[[Ubisoft]]<br>Vatical Entertainment<br>[[Virgin Interactive]]<br>[[Vivendi Games|Vivendi Universal Games]]
|genre = [[Puzzle video game|Puzzle]], [[List of maze video games|maze]], [[Strategy video game|strategy]]
| creator                = Shinichi Nakamoto<br>Shigeki Fujiwara
| artist                 = Shoji Mizuno<br>Naoto Yoshimi<br>Kozue Narai (Kozue Satoh)
| writer                 =
| composer               = [[Jun Chikuma]]<br />[[Yasuhiko Fukuda]]<br>Keita Hoshi<br>Shohei Bando<br>Hironao Yamamoto
|first release version = ''[[Bomberman (1983 video game)|Bomberman]]''
|first release date = July 1983
|latest release version = ''Super Bomberman R 2''
|latest release date = September 12, 2023
|image_size             = 200px}}

{{nihongo|'''''Bomberman'''''|ボンバーマン|Bonbāman|also briefly known as '''''Dyna Blaster''''' in Europe<ref>{{cite journal|date=May 1992|title=Dyna Blaster, Bomber Man|journal=Amiga Action|issue=32|pages=62, 63|url=http://amr.abime.net/issue_105_reviews|access-date=October 9, 2013}}</ref>}} is a [[video game]] [[Media franchise|franchise]] created by Shinichi Nakamoto and Shigeki Fujiwara, originally developed by [[Hudson Soft]] and currently owned by [[Konami]].<ref name="hudsonrg1">{{cite web |url=http://www.meanmachinesmag.co.uk/upload/media/scans/HudsonRG_Part1.pdf |title=Hudson Profile – Part 1 (RG)|last=McFerran |first=Damien|work=Issue 66 |year=2008 |publisher=[[Retro Gamer]] Magazine |pages=68–73|access-date=2011-01-19}}</ref><ref name="hudsonrg2">{{cite web |url=http://www.meanmachinesmag.co.uk/upload/media/scans/hudsonparttwo.pdf |title=Hudson Profile – Part 2 (RG)|last=McFerran |first=Damien|work=Issue 67 |year=2009 |publisher=[[Retro Gamer]] Magazine |pages=44–49|access-date=2011-01-19}}</ref> The [[Bomberman (1983 video game)|original game]], also known as '''''Bakudan Otoko''''' (爆弾男, "Bomb Man"), was released in Japan in July 1983 and has since spawned multiple sequels and spin-offs released on numerous platforms, as well as several [[anime]] and [[manga]] adaptations.

As of 2023, the series has sold approximately 16 million physical copies, and 7.2 million paid mobile downloads for a total of 23.2 million.{{efn|Up until the end of 1997 - 10,000,000<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hudson.co.jp/news/bomworld.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/19980209205933/http://www.hudson.co.jp/news/bomworld.html|title=Hudson News Release Bomberman World|website=hudson.co.jp|archivedate=February 9, 1998|date=January 29, 1998|accessdate=February 19, 2023}}</ref><br>Japan releases during 1998-2023 sans Super Bomberman R - 1,516,334 https://sites.google.com/site/gamedatalibrary/<br>Bomberman Hero - 1,000,000 https://web.archive.org/web/20001213113500/http://www.nintendo.com:80/n64/playerschoice2.html<br>Bomberman Live - 600,000 https://www.ign.com/articles/2010/12/08/bomberman-explodes-again-in-bomberman-live-battlefest<br>US Sales for some games in the series (1998 - 2006) - 644,000+ https://web.archive.org/web/20030213103356/www.theonionring.com/Dec_TRSTS.html<br>https://www.neogaf.com/threads/npd-sales-results-for-march-2017-up2-year-to-date-charts-platform-specific-charts.1362489/page-6#post-234355487<br>Bomberman Ultra - At max, 100k https://www.neogaf.com/threads/media-create-sales-nov-23-29-2009.381294/page-16#post-18799260<br>Bomberman Live Battlefest from 2010 to 2012 - 91,578 https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/xbox-live-arcade-by-the-numbers---an-extensive-look-back-at-2012<br>Super Bomberman R - 2,000,000 https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2021/03/super_bomberman_r_passes_two_million_sales_worldwide<br>Paid mobile downloads by the end of 2007 - 7,200,000 https://ascii.jp/elem/000/000/094/94275/}}

[[Category:Japanese mascots]] 
[[Category:Video game mascots]]

==Gameplay==

Most games in the ''Bomberman'' franchise largely revolve around two modes of play; single player campaigns where the player must defeat enemies and reach an exit to progress through levels, and multiplayer modes where players must attempt to eliminate each other and be the last one standing. Gameplay involves strategically placing down bombs, which explode in multiple directions after a certain amount of time, in order to destroy obstacles and kill enemies and other players. The player can pick up various power-ups, giving them benefits such as larger explosions or the ability to place more bombs down at a time. The player is killed if they touch an enemy or get caught up in a bomb's explosion, including their own, requiring players to be cautious of their own bomb placement. In addition to the main maze-based ''Bomberman'' games, some spin-off titles involve adventure, [[platform game|platformer]], [[puzzle video game|puzzle]], and [[kart racing]] gameplay.

== Story ==
{{See also|List of Bomberman video games}}
{{unreferenced section|date=September 2021}}

{{Video  game timeline
|1983=[[Bomberman (1983 video game)|''Bomberman (爆弾男, Bakudan Otoko)'']]
|1984=''3-D Bomberman''
|1985=[[Bomberman (1983 video game)|''Bomberman'' (NES)]]
|1987=''[[Robowarrior|Bomber King]]''
|1990a=''[[Atomic Punk|Bomber Boy]]''
|1990b=[[Bomberman (1990 video game)|''Bomberman'' (1990)]]
|1991a=[[Bomber Man World|''Bomberman'' (arcade game)]]
|1991b=''[[Bomberman II]]''
|1991c=''[[Blaster Master Jr.|Bomber King: Scenario 2]]''
|1992a=[[Bomber Man World|''Bomberman World'' (arcade game)]]
|1992b=''[[Bomberman '93]]''
|1993a=''[[Super Bomberman]]''
|1993b=''[[Bomberman '94]]''
|1994a=''[[Super Bomberman 2]]''
|1994b=''[[Bomberman GB]]''
|1994c=''[[Bomberman '94|Mega Bomberman]]''
|1994d=''[[Bomberman: Panic Bomber]]''
|1995a=''[[Bomberman: Panic Bomber|Super Bomberman: Panic Bomber W]]''
|1995b=''[[Super Bomberman 3]]''
|1995c=''[[Panic Bomber]]''
|1995d=''[[Bomberman GB#Bomberman GB 2|Bomberman GB 2]]''
|1996a=''[[Super Bomberman 4]]''
|1996b=''[[Saturn Bomberman]]''
|1996c=''[[Bomberman GB#Bomberman GB 3|Bomberman GB 3]]''
|1996d=''[[B-Daman|Bomberman B-Daman]]''
|1997a=''[[Super Bomberman 5]]''
|1997b=''[[Neo Bomberman]]''
|1997c=''[[Atomic Bomberman]]''
|1997d=''[[Bomberman 64 (1997 video game)|Bomberman 64]]''
|1997e=''[[Saturn Bomberman Fight!!]]''
|1997f=''[[Pocket Bomberman]]''
|1998a=[[Bomberman World|''Bomberman World'' (PS1)]]
|1998b=''[[Bomberman Wars]]''
|1998c=''[[Bomberman Hero]]''
|1998d=''[[Bomberman Fantasy Race]]''
|1998e=''[[Bomberman Party Edition]]''
|1998f=''[[Bomberman Quest]]''
|1999a=''[[Bomberman B-Daman Bakugaiden|Bomberman B-Daman Bakugaiden: The Road to Victory]]''
|1999b=''[[Bomberman 64: The Second Attack!]]''
|1999c=''[[Bomberman Max]]''
|2000a=''[[Bomberman B-Daman Bakugaiden V|Bomberman B-Daman Bakugaiden V: Final Mega Tune]]''
|2000b=''[[Bomberman Land]]''
|2001a=''[[Bomberman Tournament]]''
|2001b=[[Bomberman Online|''Bomberman Online'' (Dreamcast)]]
|2001c=''[[Bomberman Kart]]''
|2001d=[[Bomberman 64 (2001 video game)|''Bomberman 64'' (2001 video game)]]
|2002a=''[[Bomberman Max 2]]''
|2002b=''[[Bomberman Generation]]''
|2002c=''[[Bomberman Jetters|Bomberman Jetters: The Legendary Bomberman]]''
|2002d=''[[Bomberman Jetters (video game)|Bomberman Jetters]]''
|2003a=[[Online Bomberman|''Bomberman Online'' (PC)]]
|2003b=''[[Bomberman Land 2]]''
|2003c=''[[Bomberman Jetters#Media|Bomberman Jetters Game Collection]]''
|2004a=''[[Online Bomberman|Net de Bomberman]]''
|2004b=''[[Bomberman Kart|Bomberman Kart DX]]''
|2004c=[[Bomberman (1983 video game)#Enhanced ports and re-releases|''Bomberman'' (N-Gage)]]
|2004d=''[[Bomberman Hardball]]''
|2005a=[[Bomberman (Nintendo DS)|''Bomberman'' (DS)]]
|2005b=[[Bomberman: Panic Bomber|''Bomberman: Panic Bomber'' (PSP)]]
|2005c=''[[Bomberman Land 3]]''
|2006a=''Bomberman: Bakufuu Sentai Bombermen''
|2006b=''[[Bomberman Land Touch!]]''
|2006c=[[Bomberman (2006 video game)|''Bomberman'' (PSP)]]
|2006d=''[[Bomberman: Act Zero]]''
|2007a=[[Bomberman Land (Wii)|''Bomberman Land'' (Wii)]]
|2007b=''[[Bomberman Story DS]]''
|2007c=[[Bomberman Land (PSP)|''Bomberman Land'' (PSP)]]
|2007d=''[[Bomberman Live]]''
|2007e=''[[Bomberman Land Touch! 2]]''
|2008a=''Bomberman Online Japan''
|2008b=''[[Bomberman Blast]]''
|2008c=[[Bomberman 2|''Bomberman 2'' (DS)]]
|2009a=''[[Bomberman Ultra]]''
|2009b=''[[Bomberman Blitz]]''
|2010a=''[[Bomberman Live: Battlefest]]''
|2010b=''Bomberman Dojo''
|2017=''[[Super Bomberman R]]''
|2018=''[[Bombergirl]]''
|2020=''Super Bomberman R Online''
|2022=''Amazing Bomberman''
|2023=''Super Bomberman R 2''}}

===Plot===
Several games in the series are loosely connected through [[recurring character]]s and settings.

The [[Bomberman (1983 video game)|1985 game]] for [[Nintendo Entertainment System|Famicom / Nintendo Entertainment System]] (and ''[[Atomic Punk]]'' for [[Game Boy]]) begins with "Bomberman" (the eponymous character of the game) who worked day in and day out making bombs in an underground compound, but he dreamed of [[liberty]], so he plotted his escape. After hearing a rumor that robots reaching the surface become human, he decides to escape. He was aided by the only skill he knew, bomb making. He uses the bombs to destroy the enemies preventing his escape and to clear blocked walls. When he reaches the surface, he transforms into an organic human being and becomes known as the "[[Lode Runner|Runner]]". This storyline is not present in some versions, such as ''[[Bomberman Party Edition]]'', and this setting was largely abandoned but used for connections with Hudson's ''Lode Runner'' games and ''[[Bomberman: Act Zero]]''.

In the ''[[Bomberman (1990 video game)|Bomberman]]'' for the [[TurboGrafx-16]], Bomberman is used as a prototype for further Bomberman robots by Dr. Mitsumori. To distinguish him from other Bombermen,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.itbombs.com |title=New Bomberman characters from Bomb It games |publisher=ItBombs.com |access-date=2018-01-01}}</ref> the main character is given the name White Bomberman (or White Bomber). In earlier appearances, the second Bomberman model (known as Black Bomberman) was usually the rival or the main antagonist.

In the ''[[Super Bomberman]]'' series, the two characters would regularly join forces to handle bigger threats, most notably the evil alien Professor Bagura and the Five Dastardly Bombers, the Hige Hige Bandits (led by Mujoe and Dr. Mechado), as well as a mysterious rival known as Regulus.

=== Characters ===
* '''Bomberman''', also referred to as "White Bomberman", "White Bomber", "Cheerful White" (in ''[[Bomberman Land Touch!]]''), "Bomber John" (in ''[[Bomberman Touch: The Legend of Mystic Bomb|Bomberman Touch]]''), and (in Japan) "Shirobon", is the hero of the series. In the standard games, he is the protagonist and [[player-character]]. He is usually portrayed as the heroic yet cheerful type, often saving his home planet from disaster. Like all Bombermen, he has the ability to generate bombs in his hands. In later games, such as ''[[Bomberman Max]]'' and ''[[Bomberman Tournament]]'', he is shown to be part of an interplanetary police force stationed at Bomber Base. The White Bomberman also made appearances in other games, such as ''[[Wario Blast: Featuring Bomberman!]]'', a Bomberman game featuring Bomberman alongside [[Nintendo]] mascot [[Mario]]'s rival, [[Wario]] (although that was not the case in Japan). He also appears in ''[[DreamMix TV World Fighters]]''—a Hudson [[fighting game]] with characters from Hudson Soft, [[Konami]], and [[Takara]], and in the [[Nintendo]] fighting game ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]'' as a non-playable Assist Trophy and as a Mii Fighter outfit. He even makes a giant playable appearance in ''[[Star Parodier]]'', a spoof of the ''[[Star Soldier]]'' series, which is also developed by Hudson Soft. He has been featured in three [[anime]] series; ''[[Bomberman B-Daman Bakugaiden]]'' and ''[[Bomberman B-Daman Bakugaiden V]]'' are based on the [[marble (toy)|marble]] shooting game [[B-Daman]], while ''[[Bomberman Jetters]]'' inspired the video game of the same name. In the anime ''Bomberman Jetters'', he had an older brother named Mighty.
* '''Black Bomberman''' ("Cool Black" in ''[[Bomberman Land Touch!]]'') looks identical to Bomberman, only he is colored black and doesn't have white pants. In many of his first appearances, he was shown to be the main rival of Bomberman, often performing acts such as robbing banks to fight him. He eventually becomes a gradual friend of Bomberman, and acts as the second player in the two-player story modes of the games. Hudson has given him a cool and collected personality in the later games. In his first appearance, he also led Red Bomber, Blue Bomber, Green Bomber, and Yellow Bomber.
* '''Max''' first appears in ''[[Bomberman Max]]'' as one of the main characters. He is somewhat competitive and arrogant, as shown in his first appearance that despite the urgency of the mission, he challenges Bomberman to a contest to see who can gather the most Charaboms. Max wears a black suit of armor with a helmet that completely hides his face. He is also a playable character in the game ''[[Bomberman Jetters (video game)|Bomberman Jetters]]'', where he joins Bomberman in the fight against the Hige Hige Bandits again, and he is an unlockable character for the battle mode of ''[[Bomberman Generation]]''. He is also unlockable in ''[[Bomberman 2 (Nintendo DS)|Bomberman 2]]'' for Nintendo DS. His backstory is greatly expanded upon in ''[[Bomberman Tournament]]'', revealing him to be a native of the planet Phantarion who became a cyborg due to injuries sustained during the first invasion attempt of the Five Dastardly Bombers.
* '''Dr. Ein''' (also known as '''Professor Ein''') is a scientist who assists Bomberman. He is eccentric and doesn't seem to show many emotions. He is fat, has white spiky hair, and glasses with spirals covering the lenses. Despite never having a playable appearance, one of the customization sets in ''[[Bomberman Live]]'' lets Bomberman wear Dr. Ein's lab coat and glasses.
* '''Charabon''' (also known as '''Karabon''') are small creatures that help Bomberman progress by granting him abilities. First appearing in ''Bomberman Max'', each game featuring Charabon features a unique set of them. Bomberman often finds Charabon trapped in cages, and he can partner with one to use its ability. He can also fuse them together and battle them against others. '''Pommy''' is a recurring Charabon, who first appears in ''[[Bomberman 64: The Second Attack]]'', where he is a loyal, but cowardly sidekick and a mimic. He is capable of shooting lightning and taking on many different forms. In ''[[Bomberman Tournament]]'', he can teleport. Charabons have four possible elemental attributes, of which they can have up to three: Fire, represented by dinosaurs and dragons; Water, represented by fish and mollusks; Earth, represented by beasts; and Electric, represented by Pommy's various forms. The elemental attributes have a simple [[rock-paper-scissors]] relationship, with Water being strong against Fire, Fire being strong against Earth, Earth being strong against Electric, and Electric being strong against Water (Water and Earth are neutral against each other and usually don't harm each other; the same is true of Fire and Electric).
* '''Louie''' (also known as '''Rooi''') are kangaroo-like animals with rabbit ears who help Bomberman by letting him ride on their backs. In ''[[Super Bomberman 4]]'', they were replaced by various animals, and in ''[[Saturn Bomberman]]'' by the dinosaur-like Tyra / Tirra.
* '''The Bad Bombers''' (a.k.a. the '''Five Dastardly Bombers''') are a gang of five recurring boss enemies in several games of the series. They were produced by Professor Bagura.<ref>『Super Bomberman 3』Japanese manual page 21.</ref> Magnet Bomber sports a scarf-like cape, has a magnet shape attached to his helmet, and uses bombs that are attracted to his enemies. Golem Bomber is much larger than the others and he utilizes fire bombs. Pretty Bomber is distinguished from her male counterparts by her pink skirt, yellow [[neckerchief]], and the large yellow heart attached to her helmet. She also appears as a close friend to Bomberman in several games, where both White and Black Bomber are attracted to her. Brain Bomber(known as Phantom Bomber in ''Super Bomberman R'') is the engineer of the group, who wears a cloak and has the symbol of a crown on his helmet. He is shorter than the other characters and sometimes floats above the group. Plasma Bomber is the leader. Plasma Bomber wears a neckerchief and has a lightning bolt attached to his helmet that can create electric currents.
* '''Professor Bagura''' (also known as '''Bagular''', '''Burglar''' or '''Bugler''') is the main villain in many of the games. He resembles a blue and white, large, elderly man with a bushy white beard, a [[monocle]], and a cape. He first appears as the main villain of ''[[Bomberman '94]]'', in which he attempts to run a comet-disguised ship into Planet Bomber after throwing it into chaos. He later appears in several games, including ''[[Super Bomberman 3]]'', ''[[Super Bomberman 4]]'', ''[[Bomberman Hero]]'',  ''[[Bomberman World]]'', and ''[[Neo Bomberman]]''. In some odd appearances, he is reduced to a brain that wants to rebuild an empire and wants revenge on Bomberman. In the [[Bomberman Jetters|anime]], he is the true leader of the Hige Hige Bandits, with Mujoe as his second-in-command. Dr. Mechado also serves the group by creating technology, such as the Hige-Hige Bandits, small robotic minions who are very weak and serve under Mujoe.

== Other media ==
*''[[Bomberman B-Daman Bakugaiden]]''
*''[[Bomberman Jetters]]''
**[[Bomberman Jetters (video game)|2002 video game]]

== See also ==
* [[Battle royale game]]
* [[Last man standing (video games)]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist|2}}

== External links ==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100305185855/http://bomberman.jp/ Bomberman Series Official Site] – Hudson Soft (Japanese) on Wayback Machine
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20101129223305/http://hudsonentertainment.com/features/detail/Bomberman-Portal-Page Hudson – Bomberman Portal Page] – Hudson Soft (US) on Wayback Machine
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100315103405/http://bomberman.jp/series.html Bomberman Series Game List] – Hudson Soft (Japanese) on Wayback Machine
*[http://www.mobygames.com/game-group/bomberman-games ''Bomberman'' games] on [[MobyGames]]

{{Bomberman}}
{{Konami franchises}}

[[Category:Bomberman| ]]
[[Category:Hudson Soft games]]
[[Category:Konami franchises]]
[[Category:Sega video games]]
[[Category:Video game franchises]]
[[Category:Video game franchises introduced in 1983]]
[[Category:Video games developed in Japan]]
[[Category:Westone Bit Entertainment games]]