Developer: Konami / Hexadrive
Genre: Party / Action
Platform: Nintendo Switch
Release Date: March 3rd, 2017
Price: $49.99 / £49.99 / €49.99
Story Mode - After a 20 year hiatus, the Super Bomberman series makes its long-awaited comeback on Switch! Choose from the eight members of the Bomberman Bros. and travel through over 50 stages across five worlds in single-player or local co-op to defeat the evil Buggler and his Five Dastardly Bombers. For the newcomers among you, Bomberman is a game where you traverse grid-based stages using bombs to defeat enemies and the occasional boss. The challenge lies in not only avoiding the baddies and hazards, but also making sure you don't blow yourself up with friendly fire. Note: don't expect a story mode like that of Bomberman 64, Bomberman Quest, or any of the other non-traditional entries, as this game is not like those games. It sticks strictly to its old-school identity while also including modern features such as 3D graphics and voiced cutscenes.
Battle Mode - Of course, it wouldn't be a Bomberman game without multiplayer! The gameplay is much the same as the Story Mode, only instead of slow-moving AI you have to contend with intelligent humans trying to trap you in a corner with various deadly explosives. Though not as extensively customizable as some previous Bomberman games, the maps come complete with stage gimmicks, revenge carts, power-ups, and special abilities. You can play with up to 8 players locally by using 8 controllers with a single Switch, or 4 Switch consoles with 2 controllers each. There's also 4-player online play with a lobby system, though it's quite laggy at the moment and Konami is looking into it.
In-Game Shop - Gems earned through playing the game can be used to buy cosmetics for your Bomber, as well as new maps/characters for multiplayer and extra continues for Story Mode.
Nintendo Life - 8/10
If you're looking to share the joy with your friends at launch, Super Bomberman R is your best bet, but for those flying solo, it might be a less fulfilling experience.
Cubed3 - 8/10
The White Bomber and family head up a worthy return for the Nintendo Switch. Barring hiccups with online lag and repetitious voice clips, Super Bomberman R is a satisfying candidate for multiplayer competitions and online battles.
Destructoid - 7/10
It's Bomberman, man. It feels like an arcade game with a $50 price tag. The campaign isn't as strong as it could be, but there's enough here to keep the series going until Konami can muster up a little more for the next iteration.
Metro - 6/10
Bomberman itself is still a classic, and works very well on the Switch, but the insanely high price makes this impossible to recommend.
The Sixth Axis - 6/10
Bomberman R isn't remotely a £50 game. It is, at its base, a solid entry in a much-loved franchise, and one that plays to the Nintendo Switch's strengths, even if will require plenty of investment to get the most out of it. The current online woes also do little to make it feel like a well-rounded package, making it difficult to recommend to anyone but the most committed Bomberman fan.
Attack of the Fanboy
If you really love Bomberman's signature multiplayer, or if you really have to have a new Switch game, then Super Bomberman R will serve its purpose.