Super Bomberman R Reviews
Hudson Soft's much-loved series gets a surprise revival where great local multiplayer is balanced out by weak online and a premium price.
Super Bomberman R’s multiplayer versatility and boss-filled story mode are laudable retreads of classic gameplay, but its depth and customizability are disappointing. By contrast, the aforementioned Bomberman Live was a brilliant, fully featured Bomberman for Xbox 360 that came out 10 years ago, and it only cost $10. It’s reasonable to expect a bit more from a $50 Bomberman game in 2017.
A terrible continue system further drags down an otherwise mediocre story mode, and the lack of depth in multiplayer is immediately apparent
Nintendo Switch gets a blast of nostalgia with the return of Bomberman.
It’s good to have Bomberman back and in a meaningful way.
Super Bomberman R is a no-frills entry in a series which has been dormant for far too long. It's hard to believe, but it has been nearly 10 years since we had a proper Bomberman title on a Nintendo console, and the Switch's unique focus on local multiplayer makes this a perfect fit - we can finally put the Sega Saturn version with its cable-tangling multitap accessory in the cupboard. Support for Switch Pro Controller as well as single and dual Joy-Con play - along with local network and online multiplayer - make this the go-to multiplayer launch title for old-school gamers who those who have never played a Bomberman title before and want to see what all the fuss is about. If you're looking to share the joy with your friends at launch, Super Bomberman R is your best bet, but for those flying solo, it might be a less fulfilling experience.
If you can ignore the sheer cost, Super Bomberman R is a great way to have fun; get it and have a blast.
Super Bomberman R is living among a wave of re-imagines of classic titles and often feels too traditional for its own good. Despite terrific post-launch support from Konami and a creative level design, the thoughtful online modes and customization are hindered by terrible infrastructure that drags down the experience.
A revival done wrong. Everything on Super Bomberman R could have been much better with not a lot of effort: its campaign is boring, and the online multiplayer doesn't work.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Super Bomberman R makes its grand debut on PlayStation 4 without any significal changes. The fun part of the game stays with its story mode as well as the local multiplayer, due to the fact that there are barely any active online sessions. The gameplay, albeit simple and effective, feels old-fashioned and it becomes repetitive after some time.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Good 'ol Bomberman is still crazy after all these years, but there's nothing really new, it lacks some options, the story mode is nothing exciting and the game is a bit too pricey.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Super Bomberman R is the game that Switch needed at its begining. Quick plays and lots of action with your friends in a very entertaining game that brings back the nostalgia.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
I think Bomberman is cool and cute, but this title is not the launch that the Nintendo Switch deserved. By either offering more new content or pricing the game reasonably, Konami could have jump started the Bomberman franchise, which has been MIA for years. Instead, Super Bomberman R just doesn't give the value or the fun that the price commands.
The $50 asking price of Super Bomberman R is hardly worth it to play by your lonesome, but as a go-to for when Zelda exhaustion kicks in or siblings get sick of hogged Joy-Cons, there's little reason not to award a sturdy recommend. It provides serious multiplayer mileage, and acts as a return-to-function for the Bomberman franchise, hopefully assisting a more dramatic former-glory restoration sometime in the future.
Bomberman R isn’t remotely a £50 game. It is, at its base, a solid entry in a much-loved franchise, and one that plays to the Nintendo Switch’s strengths, even if will require plenty of investment to get the most out of it. The current online woes also do little to make it feel like a well-rounded package, making it difficult to recommend to anyone but the most committed Bomberman fan.
Bomberman itself is still a classic, and works very well on the Switch, but the insanely high price makes this impossible to recommend.
And that's it. It's Bomberman, man. It feels like an arcade game with a $50 price tag. The campaign isn't as strong as it could be, but there's enough here to keep the series going until Konami can muster up a little more for the next iteration.
For the price, Super Bomberman R is a tough sell. It does deliver on the promise of a return to the classic multiplayer that we all love. And the Switch is starving for content, as all newly launched systems do. If you really love Bomberman's signature multiplayer, or if you really have to have a new Switch game, then Super Bomberman R will serve its purpose. If you want a full, content-rich experience then you'll want to wait for something else.
Overall Super Bomberman R is a great take on the classic formula. I enjoyed what it delivered and the extra characters add that nostalgia meter rise for me. I just wish Konami was bringing them to more franchises outside of this one. Still, this game serves its purpose and it is nice to finally see it on other consoles outside of the Switch. [OpenCritic note: Ken McKown separately reviewed the Switch (6) and Xbox One (7) versions. The scores have been averaged.]
While future Bomberman games have the potential to assert themselves as more lengthy and strategy-demanding titles deserving of a mind-blowing rating, the current release really is just lighthearted and fun … and that's just fine.