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As we all anxiously await the upcoming launch of Bomberman Live: Battlefest it's a good time to reflect on some of the things that have made Bomberman a standout series. One feature that has been synonymous with Bomberman is the wealth of power-ups at the White Bomber's disposal. By now, all true Bomberfans are well-educated about the few enduring power-ups that have withstood the test of time to become mainstays in the series. Bomb-Up, Fire-Up, Full Fire, Power Glove, Bomb Punch, Speed-Up, and Bomb Kick are old hat, but that doesn’t mean that Bomberman hasn’t experienced some pretty unusual items in his games in the past. Let’s take a look of 5 of the more unique power-ups that have been lost to history.
1. Louies/Tirras
Circled in red are the Louies and Louie eggs from Super Bomberman 3 in the background and a Tirra from Saturn Bomberman in the foreground
Fans will not be surprised by the first power-up on our slate today as it remains highly popular to this day. The power-up offers a change of pace from Bomberman’s normal tactics as it allows him to travel in style. I’m talking, of course, about the kangaroo-like Louies and the dinosaur-like Tirras which have both been Bomberman’s favored choice of transportation at some point. Both Louies and Tirras are very similar in that they come in various colors which correlate to different abilities, hatch from eggs, can withstand one bomb blast before disappearing, and are utterly adorable to even the most hardened gamer. The Tirras made their first appearance in Saturn Bomberman while the Louies hopped into our gaming lives in Super Bomberman 3. Apart from nobly sacrificing themselves to prolong the life of Bombermen, Louies and Tirras can also be found spending their time being ridden by Bombermen in races of a fantastical nature. It’s a difficult life when you exist solely to benefit the protagonist of a video game series.
2. Bomb Change
Red Bomberman knew he would see weird things with all these mushrooms about.
The second power-up is more along the lines of traditional Bomberman item in that it bestows a special ability directly upon your character for the game. The “Bomb Change” power-up allowed the player to transform into a deadly bomb and control its movements and detonation while at the same time still laying down bombs of your own. When properly executed the player can hide among the chaos of war sneaking up on an unsuspecting target when before they know it…BOOM! “Bomb Change” is a relatively new power-up having been introduced in Bomberman Blast on WiiWare™. Although not included in Bomberman Live: Battlefest, fans can get their fix of unique new power-ups that’ll be introduced.
3. Lightning Blade
Bomberman Online Japan, a Japanese PC game that was the sequel to
Online Bomberman, features the last three power-ups we’ll be examining.
Bomberman Online Japan had a heavy emphasis on multiplayer action with a
subscription fee to play using dedicated servers. Unfortunately, the
online hosting was ended in 2009 and with it came the demise of
Bomberman Online Japan. The three power-ups we’ll be looking at today
were exclusive limited-time items which were given to players of
Bomberman Online Japan who created a save file during the game’s
launch. Just like the game from whence they came, these power-ups are
obscure, unique, and very interesting.
Bomberman used Lightning Blade. It's super effective!!!
Leading the pack is the fearsome-sounding “Lightning Blade.” Discontent with sticking to explosives, this weapon allowed the wielder to randomly summon thunderstorms to the battlefield. The electrical storms first struck with bolts of lightning that would instantly eliminate someone if they were hit and followed up with residual voltage that would disable a character for some time if they were caught in its wake. The unpredictability and power of this particular item makes it one of the most memorable power-ups the series has seen.
4. Pippocon Hammer
Stop! Hammer time.
Second in the trio of trickery is the “Pippocon Hammer.” The Pippocon
Hammer was an item that could only be used by Bomber Rabbit. When used,
the Pippocon Hammer would slam into the ground and confuse and
disoriented all of your opponents in the arena for a period of time.
While dazed, your opponents will be unable to move as normal with button
presses to the right resulting in leftwards, upwards, or any motion
that wasn’t rightwards. It became quite easy to take advantage of their
helplessness at this point and trap them with a deadly bomb barricade.
Unless your opponent figured things out very quickly, the Pippocon
hammer was nothing but bad news to them.
5. Dekadeka Milk Bomb
Bomber SMASH!
Lastly, and most strangely there was the Dekadeka Milk Bomb. The name itself invites bewilderment and hesitation. What the heck is a milk bomb, let alone a Dekadeka Milk Bomb?! Well, confusing though it may seem, the Dekadeka Milk Bomb wasn’t really a bomb at all offensively. Upon using the item, Bomberman would temporarily grow to be huge, which is what dekadeka means in Japanese, with the ability to walk through and smash soft blocks and even kick and attack their opponents with his gargantuan frame. Oh, and if that weren’t enough he’s also invincible during this time. Dang, White Bomber, I know milk does a body good but how much have you been drinking?!
Although expert Bomberman players stand by the most basic of power-ups to preserve the integrity of competition and emphasize personal skill rather than luck or circumstance, they would surely be captivated by the ingenuity of these particular aspects of the game. Although the frenetic competition of Bomberman dictates the series, there is clearly a goofy and fun side that can co-exist so that everyone can play. If sometimes playing a game with the Dekadeka Milk Bomb is wrong, then this Bomberfan doesn’t want to be right.
Do these old power-ups bring back memories of long hours playing classic Bomberman games? Already planning on starting a petition to include one of these old power-ups into the next Bomberman game? Sound off at our forums, Facebook, or on Twitter @HudsonEnt and let us know!
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