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Bomb Jack

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ST Graveyard has written 62 additional reviews

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Written by ST Graveyard

May 30, 2002

Comments

Look, up there! It's a plane, it's a rocket...No, it's Super Man! eeerrrrr...Wrong scenario there...It's the almighty BOMB JACK !! Yeah, that's more like it. "Bomb Jack" is one of those good old arcade classic conversions. A game from the days when gameplay came first to graphical beauty! And although its hero wasn't nearly as famous as Super Man, it had a lot of success...Mainly cause it was addictive as hell. Originally created by Tehkan, the ST version was released by Elite and programmed by Paradox. This info might send shivers down the spine, as the latter mentioned team was responsible for some of the worst ST gaming experiences. But "Bomb Jack" is different...


Graphics

Dated. The graphics look pretty dull! We've seen a lot better on our machine. Every level is colorful, with it's own nicely detailed background image. It all looks just really like a C64 game...But don't let that ruin the fun!


Sound

A horrible chip tune, quality wise! But what did you expect from Paradox! People who have played more of their games might recognize the annoying sound effects used here! And the main theme...This one will have you singing all day long :-)


Gameplay

Most of you might have noticed it by now, you don't have to play this game for its graphics and sound effects. It's in gameplay were this thing shines! You play as Bomb Jack, and you have to defuse all the bombs on each screen, even though they'll never blow up! "Bomb Jack" is a game in the vein of "Bubble Bobble", only a bit faster. Our hero has no problem flying to the top of the screen. Just press the fire button to lift off, press the fire button again to make him stop and let him float down. Press the fire button repeatedly to skillfully glide through the air!


Once you got all the bombs in one city, you move on to the next! But there is some danger to take into account. Different kinds of enemies inhabit each screen, from flying UFO's to walking snails. It's all there, and the screen gets really crowded. Sometimes bonuses appear to help you complete a level. Like the "p" bonus, to make your opponents vulnerable, or the "E", for an extra life. But they are sparse! Look out for the bomb that has it fuse lit! If you manage to defuse this first, more bonuses will appear on screen, making it easier for you to complete your quest!


Conclusion

The beauty of "Bomb Jack" is its simplicity, and the perfect reaction to the controls. They are easy to master and the gameplay is absorbing. You'll be flying and jumping in no time and it's hard to stop once you started! It does get frustrating in a while, but it has this "let's try it again" factor. This game features a lot of levels and will have you playing for hours! You might call this game "Bubble Bobble with Bombs"...Or should I say "Balls" ?





Score
  • Graphics: 6
  • Sound: 5
  • Gameplay: 8
  • Overall: 6

Review Comments

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Zone Warrior

February 12, 2023 by AtariCrypt

Once again, pesky aliens are giving us Earthlings lots of grief. We previously fought them off but they managed to pinch a time machine so are using that to alter history and wreak havoc by taking crucial hostages from each period in an attempt to halt their influence. From the invention of the wheel in prehistoric times to England's King Arthur uniting Britain! And where would any of us be today without Japan and its technical wizardry? Yep, we cannot allow this - the fight is on!

Son Shu Shi

March 21, 2021 by ST Graveyard

What an accomplishment this game is. Created with such a small team, the result is really amazing. The game oozes creative passion. While the gameplay is really well balanced, it is a tough cookie, very hard from time to time with its moments of sheer frustration. As of level 3, timing becomes key. You will need to practice and learn the levels to complete this game, there are so many bad guys on screen it sometimes gets a bit hard to take.

Blood Money

April 4, 2020 by Morcar

Graphically, it's also nice on the eyes with well-defined graphics and animation. You really get the feeling that the developers put some thought and love into the game. Remember what I said about the large levels? Well these are wonderful and are very different to each other, they also scroll fairly smooth in all four directions.

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