Super Bomberman R 2 Review – A Disappointing Dud

To remain relevant, gaming franchises must evolve. If you want to stay relevant, your gaming franchise must evolve. Super Bomberman R 2’s attempts to change the formula have mostly failed. Online play can be hit or miss, but the story mode of Super Bomberman R 2 is disappointing. Konami deserves respect for trying something new with Bomberman. It was just a bad game in this instance.

First, a disclaimer. The game was reviewed primarily on the Switch. However, when I started it, the graphics shocked me. The textures are blurry and the lighting flat. Shadows appear pixelated. The first Super Bomberman R – a launch title for the Switch – looks much better in comparison. It’s like night and day between the Switch version and PlayStation 5 version. Both versions are equally good in performance but for the best visuals – especially when it comes to the story mode – I would recommend the non Switch version.

Super Bomberman R 2 as a screenshot. On the first planet, you’ll find a lot of blocky mushrooms.

This game’s main plot is its worst feature. White is introduced in a series cutscenes. White lives in a house with seven other Bomberman brothers, all of whom are written to be annoying. These writers did a fantastic job of making these scenes so annoying, I would have avoided as many as possible had I not been writing a review. The slow reading of lines and the overly dramatic performances are not helping. These cutscenes are based on the idea that an unknown Black Moon is attacking worlds and Bomberman’s crew must stop it.

In story mode, the gameplay tries to merge classic Bomberman with an open-world pseudo-design. You will find adorable creatures known as Ellons who can power your technology. They can be up to five and can accompany you to fast-travel points. But they also get killed by bombs so it is important to keep them near. Your Ellon total is then used to unlock new areas and enemy bases. Bomberman’s toolkit isn’t designed to explore. The search for Ellons becomes stale very quickly.

The majority of the new powers are not compatible with how this mode is designed. The ability to push bombs past walls or move faster is both helpful, but increasing your bomb’s explosive size can feel like an unnecessary upgrade. Unfortunately, the abilities that you unlock are not your choice. They’re unlocked automatically at certain levels.

Even when the explosions result in your own destruction, they are still fun. You can always jump back in a match if it gets you mad. If you run out of lives in the story mode, then you will have to go back and play areas that you already know. This dissonance in player abilities and the world’s design makes the majority of the game frustrating and at times boring.

The one part of the story mode that kind of works is also Super Bomberman R 2’s main innovation – Castle Mode. Castle Mode allows players to create a safe haven for their treasure by adding walls, traps and other hazards that they would encounter in the real world. I had a pretty good base by the time I reached the later game sequences. I am fairly certain I built an area that the A.I. I was literally not able to reach. Although I don’t know if it was intended, the moment was one of fun in an otherwise frustrating game mode.

There’s also the option to raid an enemy base, which adds a new level of challenge. Konami has turned the Bombermans’ irritation into gameplay. If they manage to reach the chest first you will lose. Although I was confused by the initial decision, it’s a good thing that the personalities of each character are consistent. This added obstacle was frustrating to me, but it did not engage me.

It’s a good thing that the story isn’t all there is to this game. Battle modes are also back, both online and locally. Battle 64 is a highlight, and it was originally found in Super Bomberman R Online. It’s similar to Tetris 99 or F-Zero 99 in that you play against other 63 players on a set of interconnected levels. It was my favorite mode as a solo online player.

Steam Screenshot of Battle 64 Mode.

There are also standard, crystals, castle, and other modes. However, if you wish to play the game online, then you will only be able play that mode in your current window. Today, I was only able to play Battle 64 from 8-11 am, Standard between 1-2 pm, and Crystals between 2-3 pm. Also, I had some trouble with human players. For example, in Standard, I played with the same player three times consecutively, even though we were only two players (out of four usual) in the lobby. Although they were way more skilled than me, I was forced to compete with them on a one-on and had no other choice. It’s still possible to have fun online, even if you are stuck in a mode all day. With a smaller player base, I understand why Konami needs to funnel them together for a better online experience, but that doesn’t make it fun in practice.

Super Bomberman R 2’s best parts are the ones carried over from older games in the series. If you just want to play with your friends, either locally or online, the game is still a good experience. Unfortunately, that’s a small portion of the game, making it hard to recommend.