Atomic Punk

Overview

Atomic Punk, known in Japan as Bomber Boy and in Europe as Dynablaster, is a top-down action game developed by Hudson Soft and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy in Japan (on August 31, 1990), in North America (on May 5, 1991), and in Europe (sometime in 1991).

Part of the Bomberman series, Atomic Punk has players moving around the maze, laying bombs to destroy enemies and blocks with their blasts in an effort to find the exit. Along with the main single-player mode, it includes a port of the NES version of Bomberman, as well as two-player link-cable competitive multiplayer (making it the first game in the series to include the series' popular Versus Mode).

The game's main mode puts players as "Kid" (implied to either be Bomberman's son or a young Bomberman) as he ventures around the world to rescue his compatriots from the invading "Nukies" in eight nearby nuclear facilities. The game can be progressed in any order, with each of the eight starting stages unlocking new upgrade power-ups (or "Panels") to buy with collected Gold.

The game later received two sequels: Bomberman GB (known outside of Japan as Wario Blast) and Bomberman GB 2 (known outside of Japan as Bomberman GB). The game was later included in the Japan-exclusive 1996 compilation Bomberman Collection, as well as the Korea-exclusive 2003 compilation Bomberman Selection (which updates it for the Game Boy Color).

Gameplay

In the single-player game of Atomic Punk there are two different modes, Game A ("Bomber Boy") and Game B ("Bomber Man").

• Game A includes a world map and allows players to tackle each of the seven starting stages in any order, prior to one final stage. Gold is earned through completion, with the amount earned dependent on the speed finishing the level and the amount of destructible blocks that were destroyed. Gold can be used to buy various Panels (or power ups) that players start each round with, and players can unlock new Panels by completing their corresponding stage.

• Game B is a port of the NES version of Bomberman. Much of the game is identical to the original, with slightly altered stages and a zoomed-in camera.

There is also a two-player link-cable versus mode included in the game, with both players fighting to blast their opponent first. This mode includes two sub-modes:

• Panel Mode has both players starting off at their weakest, and must upgrade themselves by collecting Panels revealed (either Fire Up and Bomb Up) by destroying blocks.

• Powerful Mode has both players starting off at their strongest, with no Panels to upgrade with.

Panels

Players start the main game with 100 Gold and an initial set of Panels (four Elixer, two Bomb Up, and two Fire Up), and can use the Panel Shop to buy and sell their current inventory. As player complete stages, they unlock new Panels that can be purchased.

Round Panels

These panels upgrades the player's speed and performance, with additional copies further upgrading those capabilities.

• Bomb Up (50 gold) - Allows the player to lay another bomb while one is already deployed. Unlocked from the start. These are automatically upgraded after completing Wather, doubling its effect.

• Fire Up (50 gold) - Extends the bomb blasts by another tile. Unlocked from the start.

• Speed Up (20 gold) - Speeds up the player's movement.

Square Panels

These panels give special limited-use power-ups to the player, most of which are automatically used throughout the entire round.

• Elixer (100 gold) - Revives the player once they are killed, as an extra life. Only lost after use. Unlocked from the start.

• Remocon (30 gold) - Allows the player to set off bombs remotely using the B button.

• Wallpass (50 gold) - Allows the player to walk through destroyable blocks.

• Bombpass (40 gold) - Allows the player to walk through bombs.

• Timer (50 gold) - Temporarily pauses the game timer at the start of the round.

• Firepass (100 gold) - Allows the player to walk through bomb blasts.

Stages

• Hevol - Five rounds. Unlocks the Speed Up panel.

• Thulia - Six rounds. Unlocks the Bombpass panel. Inner wall blocks can be destroyed with two blasts.

• Jagoraz - Six rounds. Unlocks the Timer panel. Certain floor tiles obscure those that enter it, and can be destroyed.

• Grad - Seven rounds. Unlocks the Remocon Panel. Parts of the playfields are sectioned-off, requiring teleportation from cave tiles.

• Cuolece - Eight rounds. Unlocks the Wallpass panel. Most blocks take two blasts to destroy.

• Windpass - Nine rounds. Unlocks the Firepass panel. The player's movement is affected by wind.

• Wather - Nine rounds. Upgrades the Bomb Up panel. Floor tiles are slightly obscured by water.

• Faria - Ten rounds. The game's final stage. Inner wall blocks are flame tiles that kill the player. Enemies can also walk through these tiles.