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|developer=[[Hudson Soft]]
|developer=[[Hudson Soft]]
|publisher=[[Nintendo]]
|publisher=[[Nintendo]]
|release={{release|Japan|August 10, 1994|USA|November 1994<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20081003181232/http://www.nintendo.com/consumer/gameslist/manuals/dmg_games.pdf Nintendo ''Game Boy (original) Games'' release chart.] Archived October 3, 2008.</ref> or December 1994<ref>''Nintendo Power'' Volume 67, page 106. [https://randomhoohaas.flyingomelette.com/bomb/gb-1/ref.html#magazine Bomberman Shrine scan.]</ref>|Europe|June 29, 1995|Australia|June 29, 1995}}
|release={{release|Japan|August 10, 1994|USA|November 1994<ref>{{cite|deadlink=y|format=PDF|archive=web.archive.org/web/20081003181232/http://www.nintendo.com/consumer/gameslist/manuals/dmg_games.pdf|title=Game Boy (original) Games|publisher=Nintendo of America|language=en-us|accessdate=June 27, 2024}}</ref> or December 1994<ref>{{cite|date=December 1994|language=en-us|publisher=Nintendo of America|title=''Nintendo Power'' Volume 67|page=106}}</ref>|Europe|June 29, 1995|Australia|June 29, 1995}}
|languages={{languages|en_us=y}}
|genre=Action
|genre=Action
|modes=Single player, 1-4 players simultaneous ([[Super Game Boy]] only)
|modes=Single player, 1-4 players simultaneous ([[Super Game Boy]] only)
Line 12: Line 13:
|platforms=[[Game Boy]]
|platforms=[[Game Boy]]
|input={{input|gb=1}}
|input={{input|gb=1}}
|media={{media|gb=1}}
|format={{format|gb=1}}
|serials={{serials|USA|DMG-EE-USA-1}}
}}
}}
'''''Wario Blast: Featuring Bomberman!''''' (Japanese: ボンバーマン{{ruby|ＧＢ|ジービー}}, ''Bonbāman Jībī'') is a crossover game between the [[Wario (franchise)|''Wario'' franchise]] and [[Hudson Soft]]'s {{wp|Bomberman|''Bomberman''}} series that was released in 1994 and 1995 in North America and Europe, respectively. The game is a reskinned version of ''Bomberman GB'', which was released in Japan in August 1994. The ''Wario'' series theme was exclusively added to Western releases. Aside from Wario's presence, the game is mostly unchanged and plays like other ''Bomberman'' titles. The ''Bomberman GB'' released in the West is actually the Japanese ''Bomberman GB 2''.
'''''Wario Blast: Featuring Bomberman!''''' is a crossover game between the [[Wario (franchise)|''Wario'' franchise]] and [[Hudson Soft]]'s ''{{iw|wikipedia|Bomberman}}'' series that was released in 1994 and 1995 in North America and Europe, respectively. The game is a reskinned version of ''{{iw|nwiki|Bomberman GB}}'', which was released in Japan in August 1994. The ''Wario'' franchise theme was exclusively added to Western releases. Aside from Wario's presence, the game is mostly unchanged and plays like other ''Bomberman'' titles. The ''Bomberman GB'' released in the West is actually the Japanese ''Bomberman GB 2''.


The player takes the role of either [[Wario]] or [[Bomberman]] and fights against up to three copies of the other character. Wario's goal is to rob [[Bomberland]], while Bomberman's is to protect it. In every round, the player has to defeat the enemies by strategically placing [[bomb]]s, while the enemies are able to do the same.
The player takes the role of either [[Wario]] or [[Bomberman]] and fights against up to three copies of the other character. Wario's goal is to rob [[Bomberland]], while Bomberman's is to protect it. In every round, the player has to defeat the enemies by strategically placing [[bomb]]s, while the enemies are able to do the same.
==Story==
==Story==
[[File:Wario Blast Title Screen.png|thumb|left|256px|Title screen, as played on [[Super Game Boy]].]]
'''Story from the instruction booklet'''<ref>{{cite|title=''Wario Blast: Featuring Bomberman!'' instruction booklet|page=4|date=1994|publisher=Nintendo of America|language=en-us}}</ref>
'''Story from the instruction booklet'''<ref>''Wario Blast: Featuring Bomberman!'' North American instruction booklet, page 4.</ref>
:'''''WARIO INVADES THE LAND OF THE MADBOMBERS!'''<br><br>Wario, in his constant search for new lands to conquer and trea-<br>sures to gain, has found the extra-dimensional portal<br>that links his world with the one that Bomberman<br>inhabits. Thinking that the Madbombers will make a<br>nice addition to his legions of mindless minions (as<br>well as a new source of funds for his nefarious<br>schemes), Wario steps through the gate... and soon<br>finds that the Madbombers are not quite the dim-wit-<br>ted flunkies he originally thought them to be!
:'''''WARIO INVADES THE LAND OF THE MADBOMBERS!'''<br /><br />Wario, in his constant search for new lands to conquer and trea-<br />sures to gain, has found the extra-dimensional portal<br />that links his world with the one that Bomberman<br />inhabits. Thinking that the Madbombers will make a<br />nice addition to his legions of mindless minions (as<br />well as a new source of funds for his nefarious<br />schemes), Wario steps through the gate... and soon<br />finds that the Madbombers are not quite the dim-wit-<br />ted flunkies he originally thought them to be!
{{br|left}}
{{br|left}}


[[File:Planetbomber.png|thumb|left|The ending cutscene]]
[[File:Planetbomber.png|thumb|left|The ending cutscene]]
After completing the game, regardless of which character the player chose, Bomberman rides a [[Moto|motorcycle]] across a canyon. Wario appears, also on a motorcycle, and the two chase each other back and forth indefinitely until the player resets the game.
After completing the game, regardless of which character the player chose, Bomberman rides a [[moto]]rcycle across a canyon. Wario appears, also on a motorcycle, and the two chase each other back and forth indefinitely until the player resets the game.
{{br|left}}
{{br|left}}


==Gameplay==
==Gameplay==
[[File:WarioBlast.png|thumb|left]]
[[File:WarioBlast.png|thumb|Gameplay screenshot]]
The player can choose to play as either Wario or Bomberman, but this does not change any aspects of gameplay, other than reversing the passwords for each level. There are eight rounds in total, including three regular levels and one boss level per round.
The player can choose to play as either [[Wario]] or [[Bomberman]], but this does not change any aspects of gameplay, other than reversing the passwords for each level. There are eight rounds in total, including three regular levels and one boss level per round.


The game shares its objective with other ''Bomberman'' games. The player has to blow up between one to three opponent(s) via the use of bombs to advance, while they try to do the same to the player. The entire game is played from a top-down perspective. The player maneuvers around a grid-like playing field, setting off bombs to blow up unsuspecting enemies, and destroy walls to clear the way and to reveal occasional power-ups. The player wins by defeating the enemy [[Madbomber]]s (which take on the appearance of the character not chosen). Every level is played with a best-of-3 rule. If the player wins two times, they gain access to the next level. Failure to do so results in a [[Game Over]].
The game shares its objective with other ''Bomberman'' games. The player has to blow up between one to three opponent(s) via the use of bombs to advance, while they try to do the same to the player. The entire game is played from a top-down perspective. The player maneuvers around a grid-like playing field, setting off bombs to blow up unsuspecting enemies, and destroy [[block (Wario Blast: Featuring Bomberman!)|block]]s to clear the way and to reveal occasional [[Normal Item]]s. The player wins by defeating the enemy [[Madbomber]]s (which take on the appearance of the character not chosen). Every level is played with a best-of-3 rule. If the player wins two times, they gain access to the next level. Failure to do so results in a [[Game Over]].


When playing the game on the [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System]] with a [[Super Game Boy]], an additional multiplayer mode for up to four players is available, known as the Battle Mode.<ref>''"Of course, what would a Bomberman game be without a Battle Mode?"'' &mdash; ''Wario Blast: Featuring Bomberman!'' North American instruction booklet, pages 4 and 5.</ref> In this mode, two or more players are able to play against each other, with up to four players being supported using the [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System#Super Multitap|Super Multitap]].
When playing the game on the [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System]] with a [[Super Game Boy]], an additional multiplayer mode for up to four players is available, known as the Battle Mode.<ref>{{cite|date=1994|publisher=Nintendo of America|quote=Of course, what would a Bomberman game be without a Battle Mode?|title=''Wario Blast: Featuring Bomberman!'' instruction booklet|language=en-us|page=4-5}}</ref> In this mode, two or more players are able to play against each other, with up to four players being supported using the [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System#Super Multitap|Super Multitap]].


The game also contains a secret game mode called "[[The Battle]]" (not to be confused with the Battle Mode), available by entering the password 6565 on the title screen to play as Wario, or 5656 to play as Bomberman. The passwords to access this mode can be found in [[Burn Zone]]. In this mode, the player starts with all power-ups, and the goal is to defeat endless waves of opponents to obtain a high score.
The game also contains a secret game mode called "[[The Battle]]" (not to be confused with the Battle Mode), available by entering the password 5656 on the title screen to play as Bomberman, or 6565 to play as Wario. In this mode, the player starts with all power-ups, and the goal is to defeat endless waves of opponents to obtain a high score.
{{br|left}}
{{br|left}}


==Bosses==
==Bosses==
At the end of each world, the player faces a boss. A certain strategy is required for each of them.
At the end of each round, the player faces a boss that requires a strategy. The first five bosses drop a [[Special Item (Wario Blast: Featuring Bomberman!)|Special Item]] upon defeat.
*World 1: [[Cup King]]
*Round 1: [[Cup King]]
*World 2: [[Top Man]]
*Round 2: [[Top Man]]
*World 3: [[T-Bear]]
*Round 3: [[T-Bear]]
*World 4: [[P-Flower]]
*Round 4: [[P-Flower]]
*World 5: [[Thunder Cloud (Wario Blast: Featuring Bomberman!)|Thunder Cloud]]
*Round 5: [[Thunder Cloud (Wario Blast: Featuring Bomberman!)|Thunder Cloud]]
*World 6: [[Pukupuku (Wario Blast: Featuring Bomberman!)|Pukupuku]]
*Round 6: [[Pukupuku (Wario Blast: Featuring Bomberman!)|Pukupuku]]
*World 7: [[Gururin Knight]]
*Round 7: [[Gururin Knight]]
*World 8: [[Mad-Bomber]]
*Round 8: [[Mad-Bomber]]


==Staff==
==Staff==
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==Development==
==Development==
''Bomberman GB'' was shown off at Summer {{wp|Consumer Electronics Show|CES}} 94, where it was reportedly known as ''Bomberman'' and involved the title character stopping a new enemy named Mad Bomber from causing destruction in a location called Big City.<ref>''Club Nintendo'' (Chile) Año 3 No. 10, [https://archive.org/details/ClubNintendo26Ano03N10Chile/page/n21/mode/2up page 20.]</ref>
''Bomberman GB'' was originally known as ''{{fandom|Bomberman|Bomber Boy}} 2'' during development.<ref name=bomber>{{cite|language=ja|author=nori_bomber|date=November 20, 2021|url=x.com/nori_bomber/status/1462247400672690176|title=元々はボンバーボーイ2でした。　#ボンバーマンGB　のGBはゲームボーイの略称とグレイトバトル(Great Battle)の略称のダブルミーニングです。私が描いたラフ画を元にゲーム内画像の原画として、水野さんにリライトしてもらいました。|publisher=Twitter|accessdate=June 27, 2024}}</ref> It was demonstrated at Summer {{wp|Consumer Electronics Show|CES}} 94 as ''Bomberman'', and reportedly involved the title character stopping a new enemy named Mad Bomber from causing destruction in a location called Big City.<ref>{{cite|title=''Club Nintendo'' (Chile) Año 3 No. 10|url=archive.org/details/ClubNintendo26Ano03N10Chile/page/n21/mode/2up|page=20}}</ref>


For the Western release, [[Mario]] was considered as the protagonist at first, but there were concerns that having him use bombs to defeat his enemies would be out-of-character.<ref name=noribomber>[https://twitter.com/nori_bomber/status/1365848274960146432 nori_bomber (Norio Ohkubo) on Twitter] (February 27, 2021). ''Twitter''. Retrieved February 28, 2021 ([https://twitter.com/PushDustIn/status/1365874820395589638 English translation by PushDustIn])</ref> The development team pondered which [[Nintendo]] character who could feasibly use a bomb as a weapon and not be injured by its blast, eventually settling on [[Wario]].<ref name=noribomber/> Even though Wario was a new character at the time, Nintendo sent the developers a list of approved and forbidden actions for the characters, which designer Norio Ohkubo likened to the approval process for using {{wp|Disney}} characters in term of strictness.<ref name=noribomber/>
While ''Bomberman GB'' was getting ready for a {{wp|Western word|Western}} release, [[Nintendo]] approached [[Hudson Soft|Hudson]] about doing a [[Mario]] collaboration.<ref name=ohbuko>{{cite|author=nori_bomber|date=August 18, 2023|publisher=X|url=x.com/nori_bomber/status/1692744409488765431|title=ボンバーマンGBを海外展開させようとした時に任天堂さんからマリオとコラボできないか、との打診。マリオに爆弾持たせるのはイメージ的にどうなの?ってことになり、当時売出し中のワリオならOKでしょ。で、本来主役のボンバーマンも登場させなきゃってことでのクロスオーバー作品。|accessdate=June 27, 2024|language=ja}}</ref> Concerns about [[Bomberman]]'s overseas popularity prompted the idea to replace the main character.<ref>{{cite|author=nori_bomber|language=ja|date=March 21, 2023|url=x.com/nori_bomber/status/1638034407692058624|title=ボンバーマンGBを米国で売ろうとした時にボンバーマンの知名度に不安があったので主役キャラ交代。当初はマリオの名が挙がっていたが、マリオに爆弾テロのイメージ持たせちゃマズイだろ、ということで悪いことしても憎まれないワリオになったの。 #自分が知っている大人の事情を挙げる|accessdate=June 27, 2024}}</ref> Mario was considered as the protagonist at first, but there were concerns that having him use [[bomb]]s to defeat his enemies would be out-of-character and off-brand.<ref name=nori>{{cite|author=nori_bomber|language=ja|date=February 27, 2021|url=x.com/nori_bomber/status/1365848274960146432|title=Tweets by Norio Ohkubo|publisher=Twitter|accessdate=February 28, 2021}}</ref> The development team suggested [[Wario]], who had his own games on the market, and since it was insisted to keep Bomberman, the game became a crossover.<ref name=ohbuko/> Even though Wario was a new character at the time, Nintendo sent the developers a list of approved and forbidden actions for the characters, which designer Norio Ohkubo likened to the approval process for using {{wp|Disney}} characters in term of strictness.<ref name=nori/>


==References in later games==
==References in later games==
''Wario Blast: Featuring Bomberman!'' is not directly referenced in later games, but it began a trend in Nintendo spin-offs that associates Wario with [[bomb]]s. Technically, bombs having any relevance to Wario first appeared in ''[[Wario's Woods]]'', but in this game, they are solely used against him. Beginning in ''[[Mario Party]]'', Wario has an association with [[Bob-omb]]s as his home stage, [[Wario's Battle Canyon]], features the landscape of a canyon wrought with explosions from a war between Bob-ombs and [[Bob-omb Buddy|Bob-omb Buddies]], which Wario appears to be manipulating out of greed. In ''[[Mario Party 3]]'', Wario's association with [[Bob-omb]]s continues, as one is his default partner in the game's duel mode. In ''[[Mario Tennis]]'', Bob-ombs line the walls in Wario's home stage, [[Wario Court]], as well as his joint venture with Waluigi, [[Wario & Waluigi Court]]. In ''[[Mario Kart: Double Dash!!]]'', Wario's special item is the Bob-omb. In ''[[Super Mario 64 DS]]'', Wario is one of the two characters who has a Bob-omb themed minigame in the [[Rec Room]]. In ''[[Mario Hoops 3-on-3]]'', Wario's home stage [[Wario Factory (Mario Hoops 3-on-3)|Wario Factory]] has several Bob-ombs (ones larger than the Bob-omb one gets as an item) that appear as stage-exclusive hazards for the players. In ''[[Mario Super Sluggers]]'', Wario hits a bomb in addition to a baseball as his special move. In the ''[[Club Nintendo (magazine)|Club Nintendo]]'' comics, Wario is the owner of a bomb shop. Lastly, the timer and logo for the minigames in the ''[[WarioWare (series)|WarioWare]]'' games is a [[bomb (WarioWare series)|bomb]] with Wario's mustache on it.
''Wario Blast: Featuring Bomberman!'' is not directly referenced in later games, but it began a trend in [[Nintendo]] spin-offs that associates [[Wario]] with [[bomb]]s. Technically, bombs having any relevance to Wario first appeared in ''[[Wario's Woods (Nintendo Entertainment System)|Wario's Woods]]'', but in this game, they are solely used against him. Beginning in ''[[Mario Party]]'', Wario has an association with [[Bob-omb]]s as his home stage, [[Wario's Battle Canyon]], features the landscape of a canyon wrought with explosions from a war between Bob-ombs and [[Bob-omb Buddy|Bob-omb Buddies]], which Wario appears to be manipulating out of greed. In ''[[Mario Party 3]]'', Wario's association with Bob-ombs continues, as one is his default partner in the game's duel mode. In ''[[Mario Tennis (Nintendo 64)|Mario Tennis]]'', Bob-ombs line the walls in Wario's home stage, [[Wario Court]], as well as his joint venture with [[Waluigi]], [[Wario & Waluigi Court]]. In ''[[Mario Kart: Double Dash!!]]'', Wario's special item is the Bob-omb. In ''[[Super Mario 64 DS]]'', Wario is one of the two characters who has a Bob-omb themed minigame in the [[Rec Room]]. In ''[[Mario Hoops 3-on-3]]'', Wario's home stage [[Wario Factory (Mario Hoops 3-on-3)|Wario Factory]] has several Bob-ombs (ones larger than the Bob-omb one gets as an item) that appear as stage-exclusive hazards for the players. In ''[[Mario Super Sluggers]]'', Wario hits a bomb in addition to a baseball as his special move. In the ''[[Club Nintendo (magazine)|Club Nintendo]]'' comics, Wario is the owner of a bomb shop. Lastly, the timer and logo for the minigames in the ''[[WarioWare (series)|WarioWare]]'' games is a [[bomb (WarioWare series)|bomb]] with Wario's mustache on it.


==Gallery==
==Gallery==
===Artwork===
===Artwork===
;''Bomberman GB''
<gallery>
<gallery>
Black Bomberman GB.jpg|[[Madbomber|Bombermen]]
Moto Bomberman GB.jpg|[[Bomberman]] riding [[Moto]]
Moto Bomberman GB.jpg|[[Bomberman]] riding [[Moto]]
Normal Item Bomberman GB.jpg|Bomberman using [[Normal Item]]s
Normal Item Bomberman GB.jpg|Bomberman using [[Normal Item]]s
Line 74: Line 77:
Gururin Knight Bomberman GB.jpg|[[Gururin Knight]]
Gururin Knight Bomberman GB.jpg|[[Gururin Knight]]
Death Bomber Bomberman GB.jpg|[[Mad-Bomber]]
Death Bomber Bomberman GB.jpg|[[Mad-Bomber]]
</gallery>
;''Wario Blast: Featuring Bomberman!''
<gallery>
Kicks Wario Blast.png|[[Kicks]]
Kicks Wario Blast.png|[[Kicks]]
Dashin Wario Blast.png|[[Dashin]]
Dashin Wario Blast.png|[[Dashin]]
The Trouncer Wario Blast.png|[[The Trouncer]]
The Trouncer Wario Blast.png|[[The Trouncer]]
Liner Wario Blast.png|[[Liner]]
Liner Wario Blast.png|[[Liner]]
Moto Wario Blast.png|Moto
Moto Wario Blast.png|[[Moto]]
BombermanWB.png|[[Madbomber]]
</gallery>
</gallery>


===Sprites===
===Sprites===
;''Bomberman GB'' / ''Wario Blast: Featuring Bomberman!''
<gallery>
<gallery>
Teacup'n.png|[[Cup King]]
Teacup'n.png|[[Cup King]]
Line 92: Line 98:
Gururin Knight.PNG|[[Gururin Knight]]
Gururin Knight.PNG|[[Gururin Knight]]
DeathBomber.png|[[Mad-Bomber]]
DeathBomber.png|[[Mad-Bomber]]
WarioBlastMadBombers.png|[[Madbomber|Bombermen]]
Explosion Expander Wario Blast.png|[[Explosion Expander]]
Extra Bomb Wario Blast.png|[[Extra Bomb]]
Skull Wario Blast.png|[[Skull (Wario Blast: Featuring Bomberman!)|Skull]]
</gallery>
;''Wario Blast: Featuring Bomberman!''
<gallery>
WBFBWarioSprite.png|[[Wario]]
WBFBWarioSprite.png|[[Wario]]
WBFBWarioStartRoundSprite.png|Wario
WBFBWarioStartRoundSprite.png|Wario
Line 97: Line 110:
WBFBWarioBossRoundSprite.png|Wario
WBFBWarioBossRoundSprite.png|Wario
WBFBWarioRoundCountSprite.png|Wario
WBFBWarioRoundCountSprite.png|Wario
WarioBlastMadBombers.png|[[Madbomber]]s
Explosion Expander Wario Blast.png|[[Explosion Expander]]
Extra Bomb Wario Blast.png|[[Extra Bomb]]
Skull Wario Blast.png|[[Skull (Wario Blast: Featuring Bomberman!)|Skull]]
</gallery>
</gallery>


Line 106: Line 115:
<gallery>
<gallery>
WBFB Title Screen.png|Title screen
WBFB Title Screen.png|Title screen
Wario Blast Title Screen.png|Title screen, as played on [[Super Game Boy]]
WBFB The Battle Game Mode.gif|"[[The Battle]]" game mode
WBFB The Battle Game Mode.gif|"[[The Battle]]" game mode
Normal Zone Wario Blast.png|[[Normal Zone]]
Normal Zone Wario Blast.png|[[Normal Zone]]
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Power Zone Wario Blast.png|[[Power Zone]]
Power Zone Wario Blast.png|[[Power Zone]]
Wario Blast Featuring Bomberman Game Over.png|[[Game Over]] ([[Wario]])
Wario Blast Featuring Bomberman Game Over.png|[[Game Over]] ([[Wario]])
</gallery>
===Box art===
<gallery>
WBFB Box DE.jpg|German box art
</gallery>
</gallery>


Line 127: Line 142:
|Jap=ボンバーマン{{ruby|ＧＢ|ジービー}}
|Jap=ボンバーマン{{ruby|ＧＢ|ジービー}}
|JapR=Bonbāman Jībī
|JapR=Bonbāman Jībī
|JapM=Bomberman GB
|JapM=Bomberman GB; "GB" can stand for "Game Boy" or "Great Battle"<ref name=bomber/>
}}
}}


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[[Category:Crossover games]]
[[Category:Crossover games]]
[[Category:Wario Blast: Featuring Bomberman!|*]]
[[Category:Wario Blast: Featuring Bomberman!|*]]
[[Category:Reissues]]
[[Category:1994 games]]
[[Category:1994 games]]
[[Category:1995 games]]
[[Category:1995 games]]
[[de:Wario Blast: Featuring Bomberman!]]
[[de:Wario Blast: Featuring Bomberman!]]
[[it:Wario Blast: Featuring Bomberman!]]
[[it:Wario Blast: Featuring Bomberman!]]

Revision as of 11:45, September 14, 2024

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Wario Blast: Featuring Bomberman!
The game cover of Wario Blast: Featuring Bomberman!
North American box art
Developer Hudson Soft
Publisher Nintendo
Platform(s) Game Boy
Release date Template:Release
Language(s) English (United States)
Genre Action
Rating(s)
ESRB:K-A - Kids to Adults
Mode(s) Single player, 1-4 players simultaneous (Super Game Boy only)
Format
Game Boy:
Game Pak
Input
Game Boy:
Serial code(s) Template:Serials

Wario Blast: Featuring Bomberman! is a crossover game between the Wario franchise and Hudson Soft's Bomberman series that was released in 1994 and 1995 in North America and Europe, respectively. The game is a reskinned version of Bomberman GB, which was released in Japan in August 1994. The Wario franchise theme was exclusively added to Western releases. Aside from Wario's presence, the game is mostly unchanged and plays like other Bomberman titles. The Bomberman GB released in the West is actually the Japanese Bomberman GB 2.

The player takes the role of either Wario or Bomberman and fights against up to three copies of the other character. Wario's goal is to rob Bomberland, while Bomberman's is to protect it. In every round, the player has to defeat the enemies by strategically placing bombs, while the enemies are able to do the same.

Story

Story from the instruction booklet[1]

WARIO INVADES THE LAND OF THE MADBOMBERS!

Wario, in his constant search for new lands to conquer and trea-
sures to gain, has found the extra-dimensional portal
that links his world with the one that Bomberman
inhabits. Thinking that the Madbombers will make a
nice addition to his legions of mindless minions (as
well as a new source of funds for his nefarious
schemes), Wario steps through the gate... and soon
finds that the Madbombers are not quite the dim-wit-
ted flunkies he originally thought them to be!
The ending cutscene

After completing the game, regardless of which character the player chose, Bomberman rides a motorcycle across a canyon. Wario appears, also on a motorcycle, and the two chase each other back and forth indefinitely until the player resets the game.

Gameplay

Gameplay screenshot

The player can choose to play as either Wario or Bomberman, but this does not change any aspects of gameplay, other than reversing the passwords for each level. There are eight rounds in total, including three regular levels and one boss level per round.

The game shares its objective with other Bomberman games. The player has to blow up between one to three opponent(s) via the use of bombs to advance, while they try to do the same to the player. The entire game is played from a top-down perspective. The player maneuvers around a grid-like playing field, setting off bombs to blow up unsuspecting enemies, and destroy blocks to clear the way and to reveal occasional Normal Items. The player wins by defeating the enemy Madbombers (which take on the appearance of the character not chosen). Every level is played with a best-of-3 rule. If the player wins two times, they gain access to the next level. Failure to do so results in a Game Over.

When playing the game on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System with a Super Game Boy, an additional multiplayer mode for up to four players is available, known as the Battle Mode.[2] In this mode, two or more players are able to play against each other, with up to four players being supported using the Super Multitap.

The game also contains a secret game mode called "The Battle" (not to be confused with the Battle Mode), available by entering the password 5656 on the title screen to play as Bomberman, or 6565 to play as Wario. In this mode, the player starts with all power-ups, and the goal is to defeat endless waves of opponents to obtain a high score.

Bosses

At the end of each round, the player faces a boss that requires a strategy. The first five bosses drop a Special Item upon defeat.

Staff

Main article: List of Wario Blast: Featuring Bomberman! staff

Development

Bomberman GB was originally known as Bomber Boy 2 during development.[3] It was demonstrated at Summer CES 94 as Bomberman, and reportedly involved the title character stopping a new enemy named Mad Bomber from causing destruction in a location called Big City.[4]

While Bomberman GB was getting ready for a Western release, Nintendo approached Hudson about doing a Mario collaboration.[5] Concerns about Bomberman's overseas popularity prompted the idea to replace the main character.[6] Mario was considered as the protagonist at first, but there were concerns that having him use bombs to defeat his enemies would be out-of-character and off-brand.[7] The development team suggested Wario, who had his own games on the market, and since it was insisted to keep Bomberman, the game became a crossover.[5] Even though Wario was a new character at the time, Nintendo sent the developers a list of approved and forbidden actions for the characters, which designer Norio Ohkubo likened to the approval process for using Disney characters in term of strictness.[7]

References in later games

Wario Blast: Featuring Bomberman! is not directly referenced in later games, but it began a trend in Nintendo spin-offs that associates Wario with bombs. Technically, bombs having any relevance to Wario first appeared in Wario's Woods, but in this game, they are solely used against him. Beginning in Mario Party, Wario has an association with Bob-ombs as his home stage, Wario's Battle Canyon, features the landscape of a canyon wrought with explosions from a war between Bob-ombs and Bob-omb Buddies, which Wario appears to be manipulating out of greed. In Mario Party 3, Wario's association with Bob-ombs continues, as one is his default partner in the game's duel mode. In Mario Tennis, Bob-ombs line the walls in Wario's home stage, Wario Court, as well as his joint venture with Waluigi, Wario & Waluigi Court. In Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, Wario's special item is the Bob-omb. In Super Mario 64 DS, Wario is one of the two characters who has a Bob-omb themed minigame in the Rec Room. In Mario Hoops 3-on-3, Wario's home stage Wario Factory has several Bob-ombs (ones larger than the Bob-omb one gets as an item) that appear as stage-exclusive hazards for the players. In Mario Super Sluggers, Wario hits a bomb in addition to a baseball as his special move. In the Club Nintendo comics, Wario is the owner of a bomb shop. Lastly, the timer and logo for the minigames in the WarioWare games is a bomb with Wario's mustache on it.

Gallery

Artwork

Bomberman GB
Wario Blast: Featuring Bomberman!

Sprites

Bomberman GB / Wario Blast: Featuring Bomberman!
Wario Blast: Featuring Bomberman!
  • Wario

    Wario

  • Wario

    Wario

  • Wario

    Wario

  • Wario

    Wario

Screenshots

Box art

  • German box art

    German box art

Miscellaneous

  • German advertisement

    German advertisement

Names in other languages

Language Name Meaning Notes
Japanese ボンバーマンＧＢジービー[?]
Bonbāman Jībī 		Bomberman GB; "GB" can stand for "Game Boy" or "Great Battle"[3]

References

  1. ^ 1994. Wario Blast: Featuring Bomberman! instruction booklet. Nintendo of America (American English). Page 4.
  2. ^ "Of course, what would a Bomberman game be without a Battle Mode?" – 1994. Wario Blast: Featuring Bomberman! instruction booklet. Nintendo of America (American English). Page 4-5.
  3. ^ a b nori_bomber (November 20, 2021). 元々はボンバーボーイ2でした。　#ボンバーマンGB　のGBはゲームボーイの略称とグレイトバトル(Great Battle)の略称のダブルミーニングです。私が描いたラフ画を元にゲーム内画像の原画として、水野さんにリライトしてもらいました。. Twitter (Japanese). Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  4. ^ Club Nintendo (Chile) Año 3 No. 10. Page 20.
  5. ^ a b nori_bomber (August 18, 2023). ボンバーマンGBを海外展開させようとした時に任天堂さんからマリオとコラボできないか、との打診。マリオに爆弾持たせるのはイメージ的にどうなの?ってことになり、当時売出し中のワリオならOKでしょ。で、本来主役のボンバーマンも登場させなきゃってことでのクロスオーバー作品。. X (Japanese). Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  6. ^ nori_bomber (March 21, 2023). ボンバーマンGBを米国で売ろうとした時にボンバーマンの知名度に不安があったので主役キャラ交代。当初はマリオの名が挙がっていたが、マリオに爆弾テロのイメージ持たせちゃマズイだろ、ということで悪いことしても憎まれないワリオになったの。 #自分が知っている大人の事情を挙げる. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  7. ^ a b nori_bomber (February 27, 2021). Tweets by Norio Ohkubo. Twitter (Japanese). Retrieved February 28, 2021.
[Edit]
Wario Blast: Featuring Bomberman!
Characters Wario • Bomberman • Madbombers
Bosses Cup King • Top Man • T-Bear • P-Flower • Thunder Cloud • Pukupuku • Gururin Knight • Mad-Bomber
Rounds Normal Zone • Warp Zone • Arrow Zone • Fire Zone • Coma Zone • Ice Zone • Burn Zone • Power Zone
Normal Items Explosion Expander • Extra Bomb • Skull
Special Items Kicks • Dashin • The Trouncer • Liner • Moto
Objects Block (Regenerating Wall) • Bomb • Bomb-Guiding block • Heated Vent • Warp Hole
Other Bomberland • Staff • The Battle
[Edit]
Wario games
WarioWare series Main WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$! (2003, GBA) (Bird & Beans [2008, DSiWare] • Paper Airplane Chase [2008, DSiWare]) • WarioWare: Twisted! (2004, GBA) • WarioWare: Touched! (2004, DS) • WarioWare: Smooth Moves (2006, Wii) • WarioWare: Snapped! (2008, DSiWare) • WarioWare: D.I.Y. (2009, DS) • WarioWare: D.I.Y. Showcase (2009, WiiWare) • Game & Wario (2013, Wii U) • WarioWare Gold (2018, 3DS) • WarioWare: Get It Together! (2021, Switch) • WarioWare: Move It! (2023, Switch)
Ports WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Party Game$! (2003, GCN)
Wario Land series Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3 (1994, GB) • Virtual Boy Wario Land (1995, VB) • Wario Land II (1998, GB/GBC) • Wario Land 3 (2000, GBC) • Wario Land 4 (2001, GBA) • Wario Land: Shake It! (2008, Wii)
Other Mario & Wario (1993, SNES) • Wario's Woods (1994, NES) • Wario's Woods (1994, SNES) • Wario's Whack Attack (1998, Adobe Shockwave) • Picross NP Vol. 7 (2000, SFC) • Welcome to Greedville (Wario's Grab Bag • Wario's Crazy Caps • Wario's Dunk Tank • Greed $chool Test) (2001, Adobe Flash) • Wario World (2003, GCN) • WarioWare Twisted Marble Maze Game (2004, Adobe Shockwave) • Wario: Master of Disguise (2007, DS) • Play Nintendo activities (2014–present)
Pitches Wario Pool (GBC)
Crossovers Super Smash Bros. series Super Smash Bros. Melee (2001, GCN) • Super Smash Bros. Brawl (2008, Wii) • Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS (2014, 3DS) • Super Smash Bros. for Wii U (2014, Wii U) • Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (2018, Switch)
Rhythm Heaven series Rhythm Heaven Fever (2011, Wii) • Rhythm Heaven Megamix (2015, 3DS)
NES Remix series Main NES Remix 2 (2014, Wii U)
Reissues NES Remix Pack (2014, Wii U)
Other Wario Blast: Featuring Bomberman! (1994, GB)
[Edit]
Game Boy games
Super Mario franchise Alleyway (1989) • Baseball (1989) • Super Mario Land (1989) • Golf (1989) • Dr. Mario (1990) • Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins (1992) • Donkey Kong (1994) • Mario's Picross (1995) • Picross 2 (1996)
Donkey Kong franchise Donkey Kong (1994) • Donkey Kong Land (1995) • Donkey Kong Land 2 (1996) • Donkey Kong Land III (1997)
Yoshi franchise Yoshi (1991) • Yoshi's Cookie (1992) • Tetris Attack (1996)
Wario franchise Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3 (1994) • Wario Blast: Featuring Bomberman! (1994) • Wario Land II (1998)
Miscellaneous Tetris (1989) • The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening (1993) • Game & Watch Gallery (1997) • Game & Watch Gallery 2 (1997)
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