The PC Engine's Bomberman '94 finally has an English translation

A complete English fan translation for the PC Engine version of Bomberman '94 is now available. Hacker Pizzano released the patch on Romhacking.net, backporting the localized text from the Sega Genesis port to the 1993 original.

This is my favorite Bomberman game. I have this for the PC Engine, and I always wish it came out for the TurboGrafx-16 in North America. Hudson Soft localized the previous game for Western audiences, but they skipped the 1994 sequel entirely. We eventually got it on the Wii Virtual Console and PlayStation Network years later, but those digital re-releases kept the original Japanese text.

Five players instead of four

Hudson Soft didn't ignore the Western market completely in 1995, but they handed the localization project to Westone. That version became Mega Bomberman on the Sega Genesis. The Genesis port is fine, but it has a fatal flaw. Because of the Sega hardware limitations, it drops the maximum player count from five down to four. It also suffers from noticeable slowdown and altered music arrangements.

Before Westone took over, Factor 5 actually pitched an eight-player version for the Genesis using two Team Player adaptors. Hudson Soft passed on it. That left the PC Engine version as the definitive multiplayer experience. Pizzano's patch takes the English menus, stage intros, and map typography from Mega Bomberman and injects them into the superior PC Engine code. You get the pristine sound design and optimal performance of the 1993 classic, and you won't have to guess what the menus say.

I will defend the kangaroos

Bomberman '94 introduced several series staples, including the modern White Bomberman design. It also introduced Louies. These are the rideable kangaroo mounts that give you special abilities, like jumping over walls or kicking bombs across the map.

Many people were turned off by the Louies. But I loved them. They add a layer of unpredictability to the grid that completely changes the late-game strategy. If you get trapped between two bombs, a Louie can save your life. It doesn't just add a gimmick. It completely alters how you approach the board.

The intro still holds up

The intro graphics blew me away. According to Wikipedia, the plot involves the evil Bagular destroying the Spirit Pictures and splitting Planet Bomber into five pieces. You don't need to know any of this to blow up your friends. The visual presentation is just spectacular for 1993 hardware.

Hudson Soft co-created the PC Engine with NEC, and they knew exactly how to squeeze every drop of color out of the system. The sprite work is incredibly vibrant. The translation patch finally makes the story sequences readable for English speakers, bridging a gap that has existed for over thirty years. It's a great excuse to get four friends together and ruin your friendships over a misplaced bomb.