Bomber Man
The player character, who clears maze stages by placing bombs and avoiding their blast waves.
Documented for this version
Joystick | Move Bomber Man Use the arcade joystick to move through the maze. |
|---|---|
Button 1 | Place a bomb The bomb detonates after its normal fuse period. |
Arcade control labels and button numbering may vary between cabinets.
Bomb blasts travel in straight lines and stop at solid obstacles.
How it plays
Each stage is viewed from above and is built around a maze of indestructible walls, destructible blocks, enemies, and a concealed exit. Bomber Man places bombs, moves away before they explode, and uses the resulting blast lines to clear paths and attack enemies.
The main objective is to destroy all enemies and reach the exit. Power-ups may improve bomb capacity, blast range, or movement, while later stages demand more deliberate timing. The arcade game supports single-player and multiplayer play where the cabinet configuration allows it; exact modes can vary by arcade version.
Plan your run
Clear blocks near safe corridors first, keeping at least one escape route open before placing a bomb. Do not trap Bomber Man against walls or newly opened dead ends.
Use blast lines to attack enemies from a distance, and collect power-ups only when the route remains safe. In multiplayer, separate opponents from their escape paths rather than placing bombs directly beside them.
Meet the cast
The player character, who clears maze stages by placing bombs and avoiding their blast waves.
Before you begin
Always identify an escape route before placing a bomb.
Use chain reactions carefully; an earlier explosion can trigger nearby bombs unexpectedly.
Clear a path to the exit before taking unnecessary risks.
Bomber Man is a 1991 arcade action-maze game developed and published by Hudson Soft. It presents the core Bomberman premise: guide Bomber Man through single-screen mazes, destroy soft blocks with bombs, defeat enemies, and find the exit. The top-down play style emphasizes positioning, timing, and careful escape routes rather than direct attacks. Stages introduce denser layouts and more dangerous enemies as the game progresses. Bomb blast patterns can destroy the player as easily as they destroy obstacles, making each move consequential. The arcade release is historically important for establishing the recognizable structure of Hudson's Bomberman series, although its reception and availability were more limited than those of later home-console installments.
Catalog entry maintained by EmuGamers Editorial Team
Community discussion
What are players saying? 0