Super Bomberman R came out on March 2, 2017, a stand-alone retail title for the Nintendo Switch.
Though the game had mixed reviews, it eventually made its way to the PS4, Xbox One, and PC.
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In 2020, a free battle-royale style edition of Super Bomberman R Online was released for Google's Stadia, and it's now finally made its way to the PS4/5, Xbox One/Series X, PC, and Nintendo Switch.
A Real Blast
Super Bomberman R Online pits 64 players against each other in 16 different areas.
As players blast blocks, pick up powerups and blast each other, they are allowed to move to different areas that are adjacent to the one they are currently in at specified time intervals.
Once a player is eliminated, they are completely out of a match, with the last Bomber standing declared the winner.
At its core, Super Bomberman R Online offers a classic Bomberman experience with all the powerups fans expect, like additional bombs, jelly bombs, gloves, and boots.
There are different gameplay modes to unlock as time goes on, but the 64 player battle royale is the real meat of the game.
Lacking Louies
Super Bomberman R Online is missing one key Bomberman staple, and that is Louies.
Originally introduced in Bomberman '94, Louies are kangaroo-like creatures that Bombers can ride, with each color Louie having a different special power.
They are super cute, and it is a travesty that they are not in Super Bomberman R Online.
Hear that, Konami? A travesty.
Microtransactions and Technical Woes
Super Bomberman R Online starts to fall apart a bit when players start to dig into the game's microtransactions, Battle Pass and experience some technical issues with the game.
The game offers players various color Bombers to play as, each with their own stats.
Special characters can be obtained through play, or even quicker if purchased, with additional special abilities, making them a better choice over the standard characters.
While these Bombers are awesome, like Alucard, Richter Belmont, Vic Viper, and Old Snake, it feels a bit cheap that players can purchase these to gain an edge over players who choose not to spend money on the game.
Similarly, the Battle Pass feels tacked on, detracting from the core aspects of classic Bomberman gameplay.
As for technical issues, matches can often freeze in the middle, and it takes forever to queue into a match.
Verdict
Super Bomberman R Online suffers from some technical and speed issues but is a blast to play online, offering classic Bomberman gameplay with enough pizzaz to keep the battle royale aspect of the title interesting.
While there is a pay-to-win aspect to the game, it is not as bad as it could be, offering free players ample opportunity to earn new characters and cosmetic items.
Overall, the microtransaction system and Battle Pass feel wholly unnecessary, detracting from the core Bomberman style of play.
Still, Super Bomberman R Online offers enough of a classic Bomberman experience for free and should not be passed up by fans of the series.
3/5
Super Bomberman R Online is freely available on the Stadia, PS4/5, Xbox One/Series X, PC, and Nintendo Switch.
Reviewed on the Nintendo Switch.
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