Super Bomberman R Preview

[Updated 2/17/17 – Multiplayer Configurations]:

At first glance the Nintendo Switch seems like a pretty straightforward device. You can play on the go in handheld mode, share the joy anywhere by propping up the kickstand for some 2-player action, or throw it in the dock and play on the TV. However, it can soon become confusing as to what configurations each game will support when it comes to multiplayer.

For example, with Super Bomberman R how many Nintendo Switches do you need to participate in 8-player battles? Well, that depends!

Konami shows that up to 8 Joy-Con controllers (or Pro Controllers) can be hooked up to a single Switch to play the game. It’s unclear if everyone could be looking at a single Switch screen, but we are assuming the preferred method here would be to put it in the Dock and play on the big screen. It would be insane to have 8 people hunched over a small Switch display.

For local battle you can pair up to 2 controllers per Switch. This means two people would share a Switch screen on the go, most likely in Tabletop Mode. Up to 4 Switches can then be connected, allowing for up to 8 people to do battle.

Online battle allow for up to 2 people per Switch to connect and play. So, up to 4 Switches can link up online and play 8 player. This is great if you and a buddy want to play on the TV and link up with someone online and battle.

[Updated 2/16/17 – More Character Art]:

[Updated 2/14/17 – Japanese Gameplay]:

[Updated 2/13/17 – Cinematic Introduction]:

[Updated 2/8/17 – White Bomber & Magnet Bomber]:

Super Bomberman R is fast approaching with a March 3, 2017 release date. It’s been a long time since we’ve played a brand game in the series, so we’re hyped up for the new game. The official Bomberman Facebook page has begun updating with heroes and villains artwork. It appears they will most likely dole these out every few days until launch. For now, here’s White Bomber and Magnet Bomber:

[Updated 1/19/17 – Price Announced & New Screens]:

Super Bomberman R for the Nintendo Switch will be available at retail on March 3, 2017 for $49.99. It had been listed as $59.99 previously. The lower price is definitely nice, but I was hoping for $39.99. Still, I’m a day one purchaser because I absolutely love the series and it’s been forever since one came to market. Here’s some more screens from the game:

[Updated 1/14/17 – Treehouse Live Gameplay Video]:

[Original Preview]:

One of my favorite games to play with a group of friends is Saturn Bomberman. It’s the ultimate pick-up and play party game that never gets old. Before that was Super Bomberman on the Super Nintendo, which was also a fantastic time with four players.

This new Nintendo Switch exclusive, called Super Bomberman R, has updated graphics and different modes for new players and veterans alike. There is a story mode that allows you and a buddy to go through cooperatively. There’s also a battle mode, which is the real meat and potatoes of the game. Here up to eight players can try and outsmart others by blowing them up with cleverly placed bombs.

Super Bomberman R will release in March. As of press time the game wasn’t up for pre-order on any retail sites, so we’re unsure if it’s a digital only experience or not. Shortly after posting this story, it did show up on GameStop’s site as a physical retail release. Pricing was still a full $59.99, which is hopefully a placeholder.

Craig Majaski

Craig has been covering the video game industry since 1995. His work has been published across a wide spectrum of media sites. He’s currently the Editor-In-Chief of Nintendo Times and contributes to Gaming Age.