Bomberman Live: Battlefest Review

Previous Bomberman games have tried to force a single-player story down our throats, but Bomberman Live: Battlefest cuts the crap and just focuses what makes the franchise fun: competitive multiplayer. With a few new modes and avatar customization options, Battlefest brings nothing to the table that will shock longtime fans, but is fun and currently popular enough to warrant a purchase from anyone looking to blast away some online players. If you’ve played competitive multiplayer in a Bomberman title, then you’ll understand the core mechanics of Battlefest. Up to eight players (or AI-controlled bots) are on a grid, planting explosives so that they can blast their way to their opponents and eventually kill them. Along the way, players gain power-ups by blasting away parts of the environment, and work with the unique conditions of the level – such as stages where bombs will slide around, or where the level layout changes on a whim — to try and outsmart their opponents.

Sure, Battlefest doesn’t do anything to change the basic gameplay – it’s still all about strategic bomb placement and awesome timing – but the new modes actually keep it from becoming stale as fast as it used to. Team modes like VIP (each side has a specific player they have to kill to win), and Capture the Flag are good distractions from the basic deathmatch mode. I also really enjoyed Bankroll (use cash obtained by killing opponents or found during each round to buy power ups for the next), and Capture the Crown (players battle for who can hold onto a crown the longest, with points ticking up every few seconds that someone holds onto it). None of the new modes are better than classic deathmatch, though. The array of powers and customization allowed when creating a match makes this a game type that you can play for hours. You can choose which special powers you want to be unlocked, how many rounds have to be won to complete the match, whether or not you want players to have a chance to get revenge (read: firing bombs from the sidelines after an initial defeat). Most online matches also take only a few moments to play, and allow up to four local players to jump online if you’re playing an unranked match, making Battlefest a great way to entertain a group of people for a few minutes when you’re looking to kill some time.