Bomberman Act: Zero
- September 14, 2006 11:30 AM PST
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Classic Bomberman is scrapped for a darker, less friendly take on the series, one where a world war rages on, and an immoral quest for ultimate power leads to human experimentation. But is Bomberman's next-gen facelift and gritty new storyline enough to save Bomberman: Act Zero from being a dud?
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PROTIP: Don't be shy about blocking often because it reduces the damage you take.
Available in 8 Colors
The minute you insert your copy of Bomberman: Act Zero into your Xbox 360, you will notice a few things. The first is that the cartoon look of every Bomberman game since the NES original has been dumped. He is no longer the little robotic man without a mouth, but a menacing cyborg with razor-sharp claws, sort of a crossbreed of Samus and Soul Caliber's Voldo. You'll also be able to select either Bomberman or Bomberwoman and spray the color of your choice onto their armor.
Another thing that you'll notice is that you have two options to play the main game, FPB mode and Standard mode. Standard mode functions like classic Bomberman, where one hit kills you and the camera is pulled back so you can see the maze in its entirety. In FPB mode you have a health bar and the camera is zoomed in on your character. Although Standard mode does have its advantages, such as being able to see all power ups available in arena, the mode is useless if you don't have a gigantic TV, and it will look like ants are running through a labyrinth on your screen.
PROTIP: Use earlier, less hairier levels to stock up on power ups.
Befitting is Thy Name
While there certainly isn't anything wrong with updating a classic video game franchise, sometimes much is lost in the process. Such is the case with Bomberman: Act Zero. The core elements are there: you run around in a maze, placing bombs to blow up enemies and blocks, but it simply gets boring after two and a half minutes. With 99 levels and no option to continue or save your game, beating the game is undesirable and highly unlikely. You can play the game online, but even that doesn't add much to your enjoyment. One of the only things that does work for the game is the name. It is a zero. Not only is Bomberman: Act Zero the worst game in the series, it's the worst game available on Xbox 360.
I couldn't help but feel that there ought to be some sort of melee attack in this game. Your Bomberman doesn't come off as much of a killing machine when you can't throw a punch or kick in their direction. What's the point of those deadly claws?
I sincerely hope that this is not the first Bomberman game that anyone plays, and if you're curious as to what has made such a simple concept survive after all these years, check out Super Bomberman for Super Nintendo, or any other game in the series. Even if you're a diehard fan of the series, there is absolutely nothing to love about Act Zero.
PROTIP: Trap enemies in corners by sandwiching them between the wall and a bomb
PROTIP: Penetrating bombs tear through soft blocks like they're made out of cardboard.
