Super Bomberman Collection: Review of the Bomb that Explodes and Resounds

The Super Bomberman Collection is one of those operations that one is surprised didn't come out sooner; this is an entire piece of video game history treated with almost philological respect. Already upon launching the collection, a particular care for the series' identity is perceptible: the menu that gathers the various games has an organized, modern interface that bridges the aesthetics of the past and the convenience of current consoles. 

An Explosive Return

The offering consists of the five chapters released on Super Nintendo, small masterpieces, of which I still jealously guard the second episode, accompanied by the two Bomberman games for NES. This selection allows one to observe the character's entire growth: from his earliest, most essential incarnations to the more mature and complete expression achieved in the 90s. What is surprising, especially for those who have known the series for a long time, is the presence of Super Bomberman 4 and Super Bomberman 5 in a finally localized version: two fundamental pieces that for years had remained confined to the Japanese market and can now be played with full understanding, fully appreciating both their structure and their variations on the theme.

One of the most interesting points of the collection is the integration of new support functions, designed to make the games more fluid, without however altering their identity. Time rewind, for example, allows players to correct fatal errors or remedy impossible situations, while still maintaining the game's rhythm. It's an ideal function for those who want to enjoy the experience without the anxiety of accidental explosions, but above all, it allows new players not to feel put off by the typical rigidity of titles from that era. Similarly, manual saving at any time is a valuable addition: you no longer depend on distant checkpoints or long, punitive runs, and you can tackle each level with greater freedom.

The Boss Rush mode is also particularly successful, a completely new addition that allows you to consecutively challenge bosses from all games in the compilation. Here, modern functions like instant saves and rewind are deactivated: the mode becomes a pure test of skill, designed both to challenge veterans and to offer additional content that gives cohesion to the collection. It's almost an interactive museum of all the most iconic challenges from the various chapters.

The graphics are faithful to the original games but enhanced by the ability to display everything up to 4K. The pixel art is neither touched nor filtered invasively: it appears clean, sharp, bright, exactly what one expects from a discreet restoration. The vibrant colors, the simple but iconic character design, and the unmistakable look of the labyrinths literally explode on screen, maintaining their visual strength intact. The modern interface, on the other hand, accompanies the experience without interfering, proving clear, convenient, and perfectly integrated.

The gameplay, then, remains the element that most surprises with its freshness. Despite its apparent simplicity, the Bomberman series has always had a unique rhythm, a perfect balance between strategy and controlled chaos. The levels are small explosive puzzles: every bomb placed requires a minimum of planning, every move a calculation, every upgrade can completely transform the approach to the game. In the more advanced chapters, the qualitative leap is clearly perceptible: the introduction of items like piercing bombs, full flame, permanent power-ups, the arrival of Rui as a rideable creature, increasingly rich competitive modes... everything contributes to making each episode an interesting variation on an already perfect idea.
And then there's Battle mode, which remains — now as then — the social soul of the series. Even played in its oldest versions, it retains an immediate and contagious fun: few rules, lots of chaos, even more laughter when playing with friends. The possibility of participating in battles even after elimination, in some versions, adds a level of unpredictability that can completely overturn the outcome of the match.