Super Bomberman R Online

Genre: Arcade

Players: 64 Competitive (Online)

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Review:

Super Bomberman R Online is the latest entry in the long-running series of Arcade-style Party games. Originally released as a Google Stadia exclusive in 2020, this game has now been ported to multiple platforms in 2021, including Nintendo Switch. And while it may share much of its name with the prior entry in the series, Super Bomberman R, this game is a very different experience.

Firstly, this game is free-to-play, with the only monetization coming in the form of a “Premium” version of the game players can upgrade to, unlocking more playable characters and settings options for private matches. And secondly, this is a game that is focused squarely on battle royale-style 64-player online competitive play. Combine this with a different presentation, and the similarities between this game and Super Bomberman R seem like they hardly warrant the similar naming scheme.

Where Super Bomberman R presented a version of the series’ cartoony 3D visuals with a higher level of detail and some nice lighting and shadow, this game opts to go the cel-shaded route, and is probably better off for it, with characters looking more distinctive against the backgrounds, and with the game overall having a nice colorful look that, while not impressive in any way, is at least functional. This is paired with an energetic soundtrack of remixes of classic themes from various Konami franchises. It’s a little light on content (it’d be nice to have more songs to unlock), but overall this game’s presentation works well enough.

As for the gameplay itself, if you’ve played a Bomberman game before, this is that, but with 64 players. Players are initially separated into individual rooms with only 4 players each, but gradually as players whittle down their number they’ll be given the opportunity to move to adjacent rooms, and eventually will be forced to do so until the game has only one winner. This battle royale style of play makes for a lot of fun chaos, and it’s a nice new take on a classic franchise that brings to mind other battle royale-style remixes of classic games on the Nintendo Switch like Tetris 99 and Pac-Man 99. Players can even swap out characters to get unique character bonuses.

Overall, this is a great new way to play a beloved classic, but I’m a tad disappointed that this version of the game doesn’t give players any way to experience the classic way to play that beloved classic – that is, there’s no option for local multiplayer play. Bomberman has always been at its best as a local multiplayer Party Game, and it’s a tad disappointing that this version of the game gives players no way to throw down with friends sitting on the couch with you. There’s another flaw here too – this game is bogged down by some pretty bad loading times, which really drag down the game’s otherwise frenetic energy.

While I’m disappointed in the lack of local multiplayer and frustrating loading screens, overall I have to say that Super Bomberman R is a joyous surprise on the Nintendo Switch, with some great online multiplayer play that makes for a great new spin on a classic series. And being able to play the core of this game for free just makes it even easier to hop right into it. Definitely give this game a try – it costs you nothing, and you may find it to be a delightful new addition to the Nintendo Switch’s online game library.

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tl;dr – Super Bomberman R Online, while still an Arcade-style game with the same basic mechanics as most games in the series, manages to have a really inventive approach to the classic series formula, turning it into a 64-player online Battle Royale-style game. And while the lack of local multiplayer is disappointing, and the frequent loading screens are a major annoyance, the free price tag makes this game a no-brainer. Definitely give it a try.

Grade: B-

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This game has been nominated for one or more of eShopperReviews 2021 Game Awards:

Runner-Up: Best New Free-To-Play Game, Most Underrated, Best Arcade/Party Game

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