Bomberman Generation

This page details pre-release information and/or media for Bomberman Generation.

To do: Document any differences in the Spaceworld 2001 demo.

'...But what does it mean?' This game has text or audio that needs to be translated. If you are fluent with this language, please read our translation guidelines and then submit a translation! Notes: The Spaceworld website's text might contain some juicy prerelease info.

Coming off the heels of the Nintendo 64 duology, Bomberman Generation was the franchise's debut on the GameCube, as well as its first major release on sixth-generation consoles. For this entry, Hudson opted to outsource development to Game Arts (of Silpheed and Alisia Dragoon fame) rather than making it in-house, resulting in some major differences to the 64 games. Upon release, Generation would be a critical success (to the point where it got better scores than the 64 games) and commercial hit, but was met with mixed reception from fans who didn't like the gameplay changes or the abandonment of the 64 games' running plotline.

Retrospectively, Generation is seen as a good (if a little flawed) game that brought a new generation (no pun intended) of fans to the series, and is overall seen as one of the last good Hudson-era Bomberman games before its sudden decline in the next two mainline console games.

Spaceworld 2001#

Watch on YouTubeBomberman Generation was publicly unveiled at Nintendo's Spaceworld event in August 2001, with a playable demo being present on the showfloor (footage begins at 5:15). After the event, Nintendo would make a writeup of the game on their website. The game is visually similar to the final despite being 10 months away from release.

HUD#

The HUD was a bit different at this point in development. The Firepower count is just text instead of an icon and there's no Lightning Card or Charabom icons. The most interesting thing however is the timer, which uses Bomberman 64's time system instead of a more standard one. Since 64 locked one of its Gold Cards per stage behind a time limit, this suggests that Generation was supposed to be the same way (the final game only does this in certain boss battles).

Other Differences#

This section in OctoOcean contains more enemies than the final. Additionally, it's not possible to be in between the enemies like that. Lastly, Bomberman's idle animation is different.