Battle of the Ports - Bomberman (ボンバーマン) Show 512 - 60fps 

Wow. That OG version is absolutely not what I was expecting!

It's amazing how massive a graphical and gameplay leap the Nintendo FamiCom 1985 version of Bomberman made... it pretty much redefined and gives it the distinct identity that we are more familiar with and from a certain perspective seeing the original version on the NEC PC to the Nintendo FamiCom is like the game graduated onto real arcade hardware level of power. It is truly a shame that Bomberman was never localized to North America until 1989, it's crazy to think that Nintendo of America's management staff was able to become stable and robust in distribution and marketing of the NES that it just makes me feel that Bomberman would have become a much bigger franchise if it had been localized for 1986 or at least 1987.

I imagine the conversation at Hudson "We need to change the main character from Bakudan Otoko to someone more interesting and more marketable" "How about we use the unnamed Lode Runner character?" "Good idea! Promoted!"

Eric is notorious for leaving a few floaters behind.

That was actually really informative. Famicom was the first Bomberman that played really smooth and Lode Runner being a sequel was something I did not know

"Eric and the Floaters."

Those early versions where the bad guys can cross over bombs? Just feels wrong.

I would not have expected such humble/simple beginning for such a well known franchise, thanks for sharing! It is not surprising that Hudson Soft evolved this example game into a commercial one, then later further refined it into the core gameplay we are now used to and enjoy, that seems to be exactly what they would do. It is impressive how many things they dabbled into, from a BASIC compiler (which in the early 80s required technical know how) to commercial games, then to CPU extensions made for a very successful and powerful console (the PC-Engine). It is such a shame that they disappeared. They were eccentric and original and I am sure they would have thrived in the post 2000s Indie scene. I miss them.

A random fact is that since Eric and the Floaters is such a bizarre name change, someone spread in Latin America a rumour that an unrelated bootleg spanish game called Pepe y los Globos (Pepe and the Balloons) was the translated verion of Bomberman for Spain, since he confused it with Eric and the Floaters, and now many think that Bomberman had that name in Spain and make fun of them for that even though it's not true.

Gosh this series is older than I could've ever imagined.

I did play the ZX port 2 years ago. Wow, It's interesting how Bomberman looked and played differently from the Bomberman we know today!

I had no idea of Bomberman's original look! Interesting! That UK title though XD

The NES version of Bomberman was really common on bootlegs and multicarts, probably because it had a tiny file size and no advanced mappers.

I'm not the biggest fan of Bomberman games, but I've played them here and there over the years- I had no idea this is where it started! I was only familiar with the later version of the robot/astronaut looking Bomberman seen in later games. I guess I didn't start playing them until the 16 bit era, so I really didn't know where it started at all!

Never played the original version with the red bricks but the graphics are very nostalgic of pre-NES 8-bit computer gaming.

Bomberman is actually a fun game. He has changed quite a bit since his debut on PCs.

"Honey, there's a new RetroCore on, you can have the baby later!"

Never knew the history, thanks for teaching us.

While the NES version may be dated; it was still a major step forward for the series.

Ironically, the thumbnail says "Bombman", in which it's one of the six Robot Masters from the first Megaman game...

I thought I was the only one that remembered the NEC PC-6001 of Bomberman Mark. Glad that I'm not the only one out there that those bro. 8^) Anthony..

Good old *Eric and the floaters*

This sure is a classic:)

I was familiar with the story of Eric and the Floaters, but actually thought the visual style was also changed from the cutesy JPN version, the Famicom style. Live and learn.

Didn't know about this game 🤔... A true hidden gem in concept 😂. Good video to know about the origin of Bomberman beyond Famicom version

I love the Bomberman series. I think it's fair to say though that without the enhancements originating on the Famicom port that it never would have went much past a mild curiosity.

This is a nice surprise and it’s interesting seeing all the early versions of Bomberman but I do think that the Nintendo versions are the better versions but there isn’t really a bad version of bomberman and out of the bunch I’ve only played the GameBoy version which was known as Diyna blaster in Europe but I did play super Bomberman, which is the version I have the most nostalgia for anyway great battle of the ports as always and hopefully there will be a Battle of the ports of bomberman 94.

I love the origin of this franchise.

I don't think Bomberman was interesting until Turbo Bomberman, where they had cutthroat multiplayer.

So that was the reason for name change in case of Speccy. So name or visual changes due to real life events happened even in very early days of gaming...

Imagine if Eric and the Floaters: Act Zero existed. Also, the classic Famicom/NES that appears in various famiclones and ##-in 1's

Boy is Bomberman a classic computer game or what? It is a nice game after all! But wait, from the 1985 Famicom release, you mean to tell me that the Bomberman on that port was a robot this whole time?! That would explain that in a SNES Bomberman Game, when he dies, his eyes disappear and his screen turns off. It's kinda weird to me. Overall, one of the very good classic games!

I think the reason it took so long for the Bomberman series to reach the U.S was due to its similarity to the secont half of the Namco/Rock-Ola game Warp and Warp, where in the grid section the player character would lay bombs on a grid of halls to kill enemies and try to stay out of the path of the bombs' explosions. At least, that's the best reason I can come up with.

Does “floaters” carry the same toilet connotations in British English that it does in Murrican? Legit curious if the people who named the Spectrum version were trying to be cheeky.

I can remember playing Eric and the Floaters on MSX.

damn, Bomberman is my best games from Hudson Soft themselves. sadly, Hudson didn't live long. they was accquired by Konami and closed down in 2012-2015

Bomberman is one of those games where I absolutely understand how much fun it can bring to others, but I can't get into it myself (this also applies to faster and more varied sequels).

There was a game called 3D Bomberman on MSX that played like 3D Monster Maze. They also put out a game called Bomber King (Robowarrior) that was more of an adventure but did use the bomb dropping mechanics Bomberman Special was released on Beecard the MSX version of the Hucard I do remember Eric and the Floaters but to honest I liked Driller Tanks and Binary Land better

Didn't know the original version and definitely not what I'd have thought but cool to see.. I recently picked up Super Bomberman R on Switch, I know it had mixed reviews but hadn't played a Bomberman game in years so looking forward to seeing what it's like when I get time to play.

There’s actually so many versions that were made by Yuji Tanaka and Toshiyuki Sasagawa I can even name all of them that are confirmed to exist: MSX Sharp X1 Nec Pc-8801 Fujitsu Micro-7 Sharp Mz-2200 Nec Pc-8001MkII Hitachi Basic Master Level 3 Mark 5 Mitsubishi Multi-8 Sony SMC-777 Sharp Mz-700 Nec Pc-6001MkII Sharp Mz-5500 Toshiba Pasopia-7 ZX Spectrum Famicom

Nice history lesson.

Bomberman in this early form makes me think of the creepy Junji Ito story, Hanging Balloons. There aren't many stories or games where balloons are the antagonist.

I like this game i grew up playing the nes version

I think it would be very funny to see a video comparison of all 3D Bomberman ports lol

"I guess that would've been too cute for the western release" After seeing 3-D Bomberman, you'll definitely wish they stayed with no faces

And here I was thinking that the PC Engine version was the original.

Huh. You know, I'm honestly a little (just a little) surprised that it took this long to get to this one.

Really triggered by ennemies passing through the bombs in the first versions ^^

Bomberman botp? We are so not worthy! I bet there are tons of ports. Really super curious. Bomberman is my favortie multiplayer party game. Bomberman SS with ten people is the best experience hands down. Nothing comes close

Didn't know it was originally a tech demo from 1980! Also, you could add the great Amiga version, Bomber Man/Dyna Blaster. And do not forget the #AmigaZeux online version called dynAMIte (version I have Beta tested!)😉

Looks like the big change from the OG computer versions to the Famicom one was that the enemies could no longer walk through the bombs. Which would have been a significant strategy change for players.

Wow that is 8 bit gory when he dies. XD

Missing Dynablaster on the Amiga. Its Bomberman just called Dynablaster. :)

Really basic Bomberman. The first "Bomberman" I played was a clone on the C64, which came much later (1993)

I wish Hudson developed this concept a bit more. Not added things, improved. I guess people just known Bombman... Hudson IP's are owned by Konami I think.

Hi retro core

Always thought the franchise was born on Nec Pcengine 🤯

Ever seen the 8 hour long Bomberman lore video?

I think you missed ps1 version of Bomberman party edition has both remake and nes version

It wasn't until Famicom release that this became a fleshed out game. Original looks more like proof of concept, rather then a commercial product. I bet that the Japanese original (Famicom, at least) has the actual plot written in the game's manual🤔

I haven't played any version of the very first Bomberman. But i have Bomberman on the PSP, and Super Bomberman R on the Xbox Series X & Nintendo Switch. Of course they are different games.

No arcade port in "Dyna Blaster"?

I don't have much experience with the NES version, is the PC Engine version too different to qualify for this comparison?

I like the name atomik punk ....sound like comic book hero... Xd

There's a Hudson soft port called Dyna blaster on the amiga

The gameplay changed with the Famicom version, enemies could no longer pass through bombs (a good thing for strategy in my opinion). What about the Amiga/AtariST versions ? Do you think it's not part of the same lineage ?

What's up with the name of Bomberman and being related to terrorism? He's not a menace to society (mostly), he's just a video game charater.

Amiga version ❤️❤️❤️❤️ i love it most

It's missing the PlayStation version, which is a remake of the NES version

Best game where you use bombs in mine is of course Mine Bombers from Finland =)

Too bad the bootleg SG-1000 version of Bomberman Special was not featured, the poor audio handling for all music makes me laugh every time I play it for curiosity.

You forgot the Playstation version, that was like the NES version with updated graphics.

For me the NES version is the one.

Why no Amiga, Pc Engine or Pc ports?. Thanks for the video and the RU-vid channel.

wow the og looked like a mr do clone ..... they could of put the msx version on the colecovision easily

Obviously, the NES is the best of these, followed by MSX (Bomberman Special) and the Game Boy. Surprised you didn't talk about the PC Engine verzion, though I guess you could go all day talking about all the versions of Bomberman 1. Seeing all the different versions really makes you realize how violent Bomberman's death animation is. Also, he turns human in the end? What in the Bomberman Zero...?

So, I take it that the PC Engine version is too different to have a featured comparison?

thank god you haven't included sega sg-1000 version

Dynablaster Amiga, ST, PC DOS ? Its the same game just a euro name change.

Isn't there a PC engine original too?

The biggest surprise is that the game box art in the thumbnail makes it look like a cheap bootleg cart. It has that ripoff Atari 2600 cart vibe to it. Also, is it just me, or are the characters in all the previous version overly dramatic when they die? Cuz they just die so slowly with such pathetic sounds and movement. Kinda funny to watch, actually.

Don Pepe y los globos

Playstation 5 has the best graphics better than this boring