Developer: CyberConnect Publisher: Bandai Release: 04/00 Genre: Action
Bomberman Act Zero is an embarrassment to the venerable series. I can understand the reasoning behind its creation: with an aging gaming population Hudson wanted to create a version of the series that was more “mature”. But they went about it in the worst way possible and insulted the fans instead. Seriously the only thing they did not do was have him chug a Mountain Dew. Had they studied Silent Bomber instead Hudson Soft would have found the blueprint for everything they were looking for and more. Silent Bomber is one of my favorite PlayStation games and is absolutely fantastic.
Silent Bomber follows Jutah, a war criminal and genetically engineered soldier. Events from his past have robbed him of his emotions and he blindly follows orders as a result. On a mission to destroy the Space Cruiser Dante that is threatening his home planet Jutah is separated from his crew and must act with little assistance to complete the mission. The events that unfold will not only spark growth in his character but may also help him reconnect with his lost emotions….
Silent Bomber is an action platformer that moves at a brisk pace. That may seem at odds with the idea of placing bombs and waiting to detonate them. However the game’s mechanics are such that they enable you to blow shit up and stay on the move at all times. In fact one of the areas you are graded on at level’s end is time. Despite the pace platforming is solid but minimal. The Bomberman games on Nintendo 64 tried to do this and succeeded in some respects but failed in others. That Silent Bomber succeeds where so many 3d action games of that era failed yet went unnoticed is an absolute crime.
Conceptually Silent Bomber has many similarities with the N64 Bomberman games. You can drop bombs at any time and manually detonate them. Jutah can stack multiple bombs on top of each other to create larger explosions as well. You can chain explosions together to light up the playing field too. But it goes a step further. By holding the button you will bring up a targeting reticle. You can launch bombs at anything caught in its radius and they will stick. This includes walls, locks, and especially enemies. This one feature eliminates most of the frustrations associated with aiming in 3d action games. Jutah is not immune to his explosions but the game equips you with a Buster Drive to quickly dodge if necessary.
Initially you are weak. You can only drop three bombs simultaneously and your range is short. Between levels you can boost your stats using E-Chips. These chips are everywhere throughout the levels, encouraging you to destroy the environment. With this you can dramatically increase your range, reduce damage significantly and eventually plant up to eight bombs. The cool part of this system is that you can adjust your stats at any time which can be crucial during boss battles. Together with the three liquids (napalm, paralysis, and gravity) that complement your bombs you have a full featured arsenal.
Even though Silent Bomber takes place entirely on a war ship its mission objectives are varied. Some levels task you with destroying a set number of targets. Other times you must protect your commander while she completes an important task. Even when mission parameters are similar the game throws curve balls to vary it up. With its destructible environments the game practically begs for you to cause wanton destruction. And you should; you are graded at the end of each level and your grade unlocks new characters for the game’s multiplayer VR arena. The scoring mechanics encourage chaining kills to maximize your multiplier and add a layer of depth for those who want it.
Speaking of depth, there is plenty more. There are many advanced mechanics like wall jumping, explosion jumping, and combining liquids with bombs for new effects. While these are not required they help in getting more E-chips for customization. You will need them as Silent Bomber puts up a fight. The pacing is perfect outside of one late game mission that is annoying. Although it will test your skills after every rough battle the game gives you the opportunity to collect items before moving on. You can always see where there is room to improve and the game is fair with its checkpoints. I especially like the boss battles. They strike the perfect balance between pattern based gameplay and execution. They will kick your ass but you will have fun the entire time. My one annoyance is the camera; the overhead perspective sometimes obscures enemies but these situations are not common.
In Closing
Silent Bomber is one of the best action games for the PlayStation. CyberConnect nail almost every single element, graphics, music, and gameplay to deliver an experience unlike any other on the system. I can understand why it flew under the radar; Bandai was not the greatest publisher at the time. This is the rare instance where an otherwise subpar publisher releases an absolute banger of a title. I still revisit this one every now and then to this day, it is that good. Buy this game people.
