Bomberman [DS]

Trying to update a classic series is always a tricky proposition, but developer Hudson Soft has managed to do just that with the latest version of Bomberman. Combining new features with old-school 2D gameplay, the game is easy to learn and highly addicting. If you happen to have a few friends around, it's also one of the best multiplayer experiences on the DS.

A mainstay of classic gaming, the Bomberman series has come a long way since its initial inception. Though the premise is simple -- blow stuff up -- the intricacies of gameplay require players to always be thinking three steps ahead... or walk into an explosive surprise.

Bomberman's single-player component of consists of 100 different levels where you facing off against increasingly aggressive enemies and environmental hazards. Though the first few levels are restricted to a single screen, they soon expand into much larger arenas allowing for more complex bombing patterns and massive chain reactions.

One major change from the older games is your ability to stock power-ups. They're banked and displayed on the lower screen. To apply a power-up, simply tap it. This allows you to get back up to speed quickly after a death or save an item for when you need it most. Unfortunately, there's no limit to what you can bank, so the game loses some of the challenge from earlier titles. While single-player is still fun, it pales in comparison to the multiplayer battle mode.

Always the high point of Bomberman games, the battle mode is quite possibly the best version to be released since the 10-player madness of Saturn Bomberman back in the day. Supporting up to eight players on a single cart, battle mode is the perfect way to turn a room of normal adults into raving, swearing maniacs. On the off chance you don't have seven DS owning friends, the game will let you fill the empty slots with eerily accurate bots, ensuring a highly competitive match.

Battle mode drops the item bank in favor of adding a second screen to the play area, effectively doubling your visibility. Power-ups are instant pickup and can be limited by type during game setup. A wide variety of arenas and game types are available, including a classic mode which replicates the original style perfectly.

Additions specifically for the DS include a voice mode that allows you to cause mass destruction by yelling into the DS and a "revenge" option that arms dead players with bomb-shooting cannons at the bottom of the screen. Use the stylus to fire the bomb and pray you hit an opponent -- if a shot connects, you're back in the game.

Don't be fooled by the tile-based graphics and the 2D overhead view -- Bomberman might look a little retro, but the game is more fun than ever. The new additions on the DS blend in seamlessly with the original game and the end result is fantastic.