Bomb Jack
| Industry | Video games |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1981 |
| Headquarters | Japan |
Bomb Jack[1] is a platform video game originally developed and released by Tehkan in 1984 for arcade machines. Subsequently, it was adapted for various home consoles and personal computers. The title achieved commercial success, leading to the creation of multiple follow-ups: the console and computer release Mighty Bomb Jack, the arcade sequel Bomb Jack Twin,[2] and Bomb Jack II, which was exclusively licensed for home computer platforms.
Gameplay
In this game, players take control of Bomb Jack, a character capable of executing high jumps and briefly hovering in midair. The primary goal on each level is to gather all 24 red bombs while evading adversaries such as birds and mummies. When enemies descend to the screen’s bottom, they transform into more formidable threats like flying saucers and orbs that cause the player to lose a life upon contact.
Collecting bombs initiates a sequence where illuminated bombs appear sequentially; capturing these accelerates the increase of the bonus meter. Once filled, the meter produces a bouncing "P" power-up that temporarily converts enemies into collectible bonus coins. Additional power-ups include B (Bonus), which raises the score multiplier up to five times, E (Extra), granting additional lives, and the rare S (Special), which awards a free game. The game comprises five unique screens, each featuring distinct background designs and platform arrangements, with the exception of the final screen that lacks platforms entirely. Extra bonuses are granted for collecting between 20 and 23 lit bombs at the conclusion of a round.
Ports
- 1985: SG-1000, PC-88
- 1986: Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum, Commodore 16
- 1988: Atari ST, Amiga
- 1992: Game Boy
- 1997: Windows
- 2003: Java ME
- 2015: PlayStation 4
The Commodore 64 adaptation features Jean-Michel Jarre's composition Magnetic Fields Part II as its soundtrack.
Reception
In May 1984, Game Machine placed Bomb Jack as the third highest-grossing table arcade game in Japan. In April 1986, it reached number one on the UK software sales chart across all formats, with the Commodore 64 version topping its specific hardware chart. The ZX Spectrum edition was prevented from claiming first place by Green Beret. Two years later, following its re-release under the Encore budget label, the game again ascended to the top of the UK sales rankings.
The ZX Spectrum version received a strong endorsement from Crash magazine with a score of 92%, highlighting it as "an excellent arcade conversion." Conversely, Zzap!64 rated the Commodore 64 port significantly lower at 47%. The Amiga version earned a moderate review of six out of ten from Commodore User, which remarked that the platform was capable of delivering superior performance for an arcade title that was already four years old.
Sequels
Developed by British publisher Elite Systems in 1986 for 8-bit home computers, Bomb Jack II initially secured the top position in UK sales charts before being surpassed by Feud.
Released in 1986, Mighty Bomb Jack maintained many elements from its predecessor but introduced interconnected map-style levels linked by side-scrolling sections. Despite these enhancements, it garnered less favorable critical reception compared to the original.
In 1993, NMK launched Bomb Jack Twin, which incorporated simultaneous two-player gameplay into the series.
Re-releases
This title saw a reissue as part of Tecmo Hit Parade for the PlayStation 2 in 2004, followed by inclusion in Tecmo Classic Arcade on the Xbox in 2005. It was subsequently made available on the Virtual Console for the Wii in 2009. Later, Hamster Corporation added the game to their Arcade Archives collection, releasing it for the PlayStation 4 in 2014 and for the Nintendo Switch in 2019.