Bomber Man
Bomber Man - Action Classic
Bomber Man on MSX 1 is a port of the arcade hit Bomber Man World, released in 1992 by Irem under license from Hudson Soft. This version brings the classic bomb-dropping action to home computers, letting players experience the same maze-clearing gameplay on an 8-bit system. While the arcade original was a coin-op for two players, this MSX1 adaptation retains the core loop of laying bombs to blast through enemies and obstacles.
You control Bomberman through top-down mazes filled with destructible blocks and roaming enemies. The goal is to plant bombs with precise timing to destroy everything in your path while avoiding the explosions yourself. Hidden power-ups can increase your bomb blast radius, let you plant more bombs at once, or even kick bombs across the floor. Each stage ends when all enemies are eliminated and you step onto the exit door that appears.
Today this version is worth a look if you are curious about how the Bomberman formula translated from arcades to early home computers. The MSX1 port may lack the polish of later console releases but it captures the same addictive tension of room-clearing puzzle action. It is a niche title even among retro fans, but for those exploring early Hudson Soft games it offers a snapshot of the series before it became a household name.
How to Play Bomber Man Online
Start a new game by pressing Enter. You begin in a single-screen maze with soft blocks and enemies scattered around. Use the Arrow Keys to move Bomberman, press S to drop a bomb at your feet. The bomb will explode after a few seconds, destroying nearby blocks and harming enemies caught in the blast. Your first objective is to clear a path to the exit door, which appears once all enemies on the stage are defeated.
The core loop is simple: explore the maze, place bombs strategically to eliminate enemies and uncover power-ups, then head to the exit. Power-ups appear when you blow up certain blocks - pick them up to gain extra bomb capacity, longer blast range, or the ability to kick bombs. Avoid touching enemies or getting caught in your own explosions. As you progress, mazes become more complex and enemies smarter.
If you are playing the Japanese version, menus are in Japanese - but the game is straightforward enough that you can navigate by trial and error. The main options are usually Start Game and Continue. Once in-game, the controls are all you need. No save feature exists; you must finish the game in a single session.
Bomber Man Keyboard Controls
Controls
- Arrow Keys: D-Pad / Movement
- X: Trigger 1
- S: Trigger 2
- Enter: Start
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