Jump to content

Hi-Ten Bomberman

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Hi-Ten Bomberman
Developer(s)Hudson Soft
Publisher(s)Hudson Soft
Designer(s)Katsuhiro Nozawa
SeriesBomberman
Release
Genre(s)Action,maze
Mode(s)Multiplayer

Hi-Ten Bomberman[a]is a 1993action-mazevideo gamedeveloped and first showcased byHudson Softat theirSuper Caravanevents in Japan. It is amultiplayer-only entry in theBombermanfranchise,featuring support for up to ten players and widely regarded by many to be the first commercially created game forwidescreenHDTVs,as well as being regarded to be the basis forSaturn Bomberman,but it was never released for the general public.

Gameplay

[edit]
Gameplay screenshot

Hi-Ten Bombermanis a multiplayer-only action-maze game that plays very similarly like other games in theBombermanfranchise, featuring support for up to ten players, with each one being assigned to a different coloredBombermancharacter depending on which controller port is used with themultitapswhile utilizing a large, landscape-style HDTV widescreen to display its vast playfield.[1][2][3]The main objective of the game is to defeat all of the opponents filling the playfield by placingbombs,while destroying the blocks in the mazes may uncover useful items for the players including extra bombs, fire range increasers and other items.[3]

There are five different modes of play to choose from at the main title screen: Battle Royale, 2 Group Battle, 3 Group Battle, 5 Group Battle and 1 VS 9 Battle. Battle Royal, as the name implies, is a deathmatch mode between ten players where the last standing Bomberman becomes the winner. 2 Group Battle is a multiplayer mode where two teams consisting of five players battle against each other. 3 Group Battle is a nine-player-only battle mode in which three teams of three players are pitted against each other. 5 Group Battle is a cooperative multiplayer mode where five two-player teams battle to become the winner. 1 VS 9 Battle is a ten-player mode where one player is pitted against a large nine-player team.

History

[edit]

Hi-Ten Bombermanwas conceived by Katsuhiro Nozawa, who previously worked on several Hudson Soft titles such asStar SoldierandJ.J. & Jeff.[4][5][6]The game ran on a combination of twoPC Engineunits for basic hardware and controller inputs along with a customPC-basedPCBnicknamedIron Man,[b]which later became the basis for thePC-FXbut no plans for a home release on theplatformwere considered.[1][2][4][5][7]Between five and ten units were produced and each one cost aroundJP¥2,000,000.[2][6][8][9]In an interview withGamasutra,former Hudson Soft executiveTakahashi Meijinstated that the reason for the company in developing the project was due toNHKwanting to push the HDTV market in Japan at the time and the expanded16:9 aspect ratioallowed the team to have ten players on-screen but required writing a custom technology to do so.[2][7]

Hi-Ten Bombermanwas first showcased to attendees at the 1993 Super Caravan event hosted by Hudson Soft and was last seen playable at Studio Park on theNHK Broadcasting Centerin August 1997 in Japan, where it was available to play for the general public.[2][3][10][11][12]It is widely credited by video game magazines and other dedicated outlets to be the first commercial game created for widescreen HDTVs,[13]thoughNamco's 1988Homerun Contestpreceded it five years prior.[14][15][16]Despite being showcased only in Japan, Hudson Soft had plans to showcase the game across other regions, which never came to fruition for unknown reasons.[4][5]In 1994, an updated version ofHi-Ten BombermantitledHi-Ten Chara Bomb[c]was first showcased by Hudson Soft to the attendees at the 1994 Super Caravan event, which increased the arena's size and introduced selectable characters, most of which were from other Hudson properties such asBonk,Far East of Eden,Milon's Secret CastleandMomotaro Densetsu.[4][5][17]

Reception and legacy

[edit]

BothEdgeandNext GenerationpraisedHi-Ten Bombermanfor the gameplay and technological achievement.[4][5]Olivier Prezeau of French magazineJoystickregardedHi-Ten Chara Bombto be impressive due to its 16:9 aspect ratio display.[18]The game has been regarded to be the basis forSaturn Bomberman.[12]In 2019, multiple discs containing data of the title were found by Takahashi Meijin.[9][11]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^Japanese:HI-TEN ボンバーマン,Hepburn:Haiten Bonbāman
  2. ^Tetsujin(Thiết người)
  3. ^Haiten Kyarabomu(HI-TEN キャラBOM)

References

[edit]
  1. ^abYamanaka, Naoki (September 1993)."Basic Magazine News: テレビゲームにもハイビジョン の thời đại がやってくる!".Micom BASIC Magazine(in Japanese). No. 135.The Dempa Shimbunsha Corporation.p. 181.
  2. ^abcdeSzczepaniak, John (4 November 2015).Hudson Soft Chapter - Takashi TAKEBE.Vol. 2. S.M.G. Szczepaniak. pp. 71–83.ISBN978-1518818745.{{cite book}}:|work=ignored (help)
  3. ^abcハイテンボンパーマン(in Japanese). Aspect. May 1995.ISBN4-89366-369-0.{{cite book}}:|work=ignored (help)
  4. ^abcde"Prescreen - Hudson Soft".Edge.No. 17.Future plc.February 1995. pp. 46–49.
  5. ^abcde"Alphas - Hudson Soft".Next Generation.No. 3.Imagine Media.March 1995. pp. 78–81.
  6. ^abMeijin, Takahashi(March 12, 2019)."“Hi-Tenボンバーマン” の Disk ".16 liền bắn の つぶやき(in Japanese).Ameba.Retrieved2019-03-21.
  7. ^abSheffield, Brandon(October 2, 2008)."The Game Master Speaks: Hudson's 'Takahashi-Meijin' Goes Retro (Page 3)".Gamasutra.UBM Technology Group.Retrieved2019-06-15.
  8. ^Meijin, Takahashi(3 November 2005)."HiTENキャラボン の tư い ra".Cao kiều danh nhân BLOG『16 liền bắn の つぶやき』(in Japanese).Hudson Soft.Archivedfrom the original on 26 February 2006.Retrieved15 June2019.
  9. ^abMeijin, Takahashi."HI-TENボンバーマン".16shot.jp(in Japanese). Fields Corporation.Retrieved15 June2019.[dead link]
  10. ^"The Advent of HD Gaming...in 1993?!".Hudson Entertainment.Facebook.6 August 2010.Archivedfrom the original on 3 January 2014.Retrieved15 June2019.
  11. ^abWong, Alistair (March 15, 2019)."Long-lost Early HD Game Hi-Ten Bomberman Preserved Thanks To Hudson's Takahashi Meijin".Siliconera.Curse LLC.Retrieved2019-09-08.
  12. ^abHunt, Stuart (August 2009). "The Complete History Of Bomberman".Retro Gamer.No. 67.Imagine Publishing.pp. 27–34.
  13. ^Plunkett, Luke (May 12, 2011)."The HD Console Game From...1993?".Kotaku.G/O Media.Retrieved2019-09-30.
  14. ^"ハイビジョン dùng TVゲームを ナムコが khai phát 9 nguyệt から các nơi で giống nhau công khai へ".Game Machine(in Japanese). No. 342.Amusement Press, Inc.15 October 1988. p. 5.
  15. ^"26th Amusement Machine Show - ホームランコンテスト (ナムコ)".Game Machine(in Japanese). No. 343.Amusement Press, Inc.1 November 1988. p. 9.
  16. ^"Overseas Readers Column - New Videos Unveiled For Overseas Market".Game Machine(in Japanese). No. 343.Amusement Press, Inc.1 November 1988. p. 26.
  17. ^"News: This Month on Edge - A gloriously haphazard collection of rumours, short stories and stop-press gameshots".Edge.No. 13.Future plc.October 1994. pp. 18–19.
  18. ^Prezeau, Olivier (October 1994)."Consoles: Jouer À Dix À Bomberman?".Joystick(in French). No. 53.Hachette Digital Presse.p. 134.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hi-Ten_Bomberman&oldid=1221204531"