Bomb Mania
Platform: Commodore 64
Gametype: Undefined
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Bomb Mania is a Commodore C64 game for 2 to 4 players that relies on the classic Bomberman/ Dynablaster principle. In a nutshell, players trapped in a maze bomb their paths through the walls, collect power-ups and try to eliminate each other.

While the gameplay itself is well-known, Bomb Mania's main attraction is its multi-player mode. Thanks to the "4JOY"-Four-Player-Adaptor (specifically created for this game and afterwards used by various other Protovision titles), up to four players can take part simultaneously to fight it out and blow each other up to be the last man standing.

Various power-ups exist. There are the typical upgrades on the explosion range or the number of bombs as well as a speed-up. Special extras are the ability to kick bombs around like a football and the remote bombs (aka R-bombs) that can be blown up synchronously at the opportune moment.

The game offers eight different levels:

- Just fun: A basic round to get the players started.

- Ghost Attack: An R-bombs dropping ghost dominates the level.

- Hide and Seek: The level introduces pipes for hiding or placing bombs inside them.

- Under Pressure: The screen is bricked up slowly but steadily and forces the players to head for the middle of the field trying to wipe out their opponents before the screen is completely walled up.

- Kick It: Every player is able to kick the bombs like a football without collecting the corresponding extra.

- Night Shift: A level in complete darkness except for the occasional flashes of light which show briefly what's going on.

- Mushroom Party: Mushrooms pop up randomly. They carry on the bombs' explosions and can cause heavy chain reactions.

- Crazy!: All players are fully equipped with loads of bombs in high explosion range and there are no blocks to blow up first – the aisles are clear.

After each single level a podium shows the current standings.

It's an open end game. When having played level eight, the game starts again with the first one and the next round begins.

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Bomb Mania offers even more than the 4 player mode: The gameplay itself was enhanced with several features which are not available in any other of the Bomberman-variants on the C64. Let's take a look at the extras: Next to more bombs and stronger explosion vehemence you can, with the right extra, deploy remote bombs (R-bombs) which can be blasted remotely. There is another extra which gives you the ability to kick bombs around just like a ball - your opponents will look quite surprised. And there's even more - the game offers eight different levels:

Mushroom Party

Mushrooms pop up everywhere that carry on the bombs' explosions and thus cause heavy chain reactions.

Ghost Attack

Some nice ghosts with R-bombs in the back-pack tend to appear here. The explosions are mostly fatal - at least to some players.

Kick It

Here every player is able to kick the bombs with their feet (without collecting the corresponding extra). The best direction for this probably would be the position of some other players.

Night Shift

Never sleep, never rest - Lay bombs at night! And train your memory, because you can see the bombs only when it flashes - and this does not happen that often!

Hide and Seek

Here you can hide wonderfully in the pipes... or place bombs inside them. But beware, the other players might do this as well!

Under Pressure

The screen is bricked up after some time. This is going to be a narrow thing really!

Crazy!

All players are fully equipped with lots of bombs and high explosion range. Good luck while trying to escape!

Just fun

This a normal round, no special happenings here. If there wouldn't be this time pressure...

Especially with such a great game concept, graphics and sound shouldn't be just average. That's why Bomb Mania offers four nicely pixelled graphic sets within the game as well as overlay-sprites for the players, which of course are animated in many phases. A perfect fitting in-game music accompanies the action, and surprisingly, it won't get on your nerves even after hundreds of rounds. :)


http://www.mobygames.com/game/c64/bomb-mania
http://www.protovision-online.com/games/bombmania.php?language=en
