is a

multiplayer online battle arena Multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) is a subgenre of strategy video games in which two teams of players compete against each other on a predefined battlefield. Each player controls a single character with a set of distinctive abilities that im ...

(MOBA) video game developed by

Konami , is a Japanese Multinational corporation, multinational video game company, video game and entertainment company headquartered in Chūō, Tokyo, Chūō, Tokyo, it also produces and distributes trading cards, anime, tokusatsu, pachinko machin ...

and released for Japanese arcades on August 30, 2018. A

Microsoft Windows Windows is a group of several proprietary graphical operating system families developed and marketed by Microsoft. Each family caters to a certain sector of the computing industry. For example, Windows NT for consumers, Windows Server for serv ...

version was released in December 2021. It is a spin-off from the ''

Bomberman is a video game franchise originally developed by Hudson Soft and currently owned by Konami. The original game, also known as ''Bakudan Otoko'' (''爆弾男''), was released in Japan in July 1983 and has since spawned multiple sequels and sp ...

'' series, and is played similarly to previous titles, with characters that are all humanoid girls depicted in a bishoujo

moe Moe, MOE, MoE or m.o.e. may refer to: In arts and entertainment Characters * Moe Szyslak, from the animated television show ''The Simpsons'' * Moe, leader of The Three Stooges, played by Moe Howard * Moe Higurashi, supporting character in ''Yash ...

visual style. Eight players are split into two teams of four, who aim to destroy the other team's base by placing bombs and using character-specific abilities.

Gameplay

''Bombergirl'' is played similarly to other ''

'' games. Two four-player teams play the game at a time and control one of several different characters, in matches where the goal is to destroy the other team's base. The players can place bombs, as well as use character-specific abilities; for instance, Shiro can place several bombs, Momoko can create blocks, Oren can move quickly, and Emera can use ranged attacks. Throughout the match, characters' levels are raised, allowing the player to use special attacks such as a beam sword and a flaming sword. After a match, characters on the losing team are displayed with their clothes burned apart in a comically sexual manner. The game also features various Konami crossover characters among its original cast, such as Grim Aloe from ''Quiz Magic Academy'' and Sephia Belmont, an original character inspired by ''

Castlevania ''Castlevania'' (), known in Japan as is a gothic horror action-adventure video game series and media franchise about Dracula (Castlevania), Dracula, created and developed by Konami. It has been released on various platforms, from early system ...

''s "Belmont" protagonists.

Development and release

''Bombergirl'' was developed by

. The title was revealed at the

Japan Amusement Expo The Japan Amusement Expo (JAEPO) is an annual trade fair for amusement arcade products, such as arcade games, redemption games, amusement rides, vending machines, and change machines. The event is hosted one weekend per year in the Greater To ...

in February 2017 as an

arcade Arcade most often refers to: * Arcade game, a coin-operated game machine ** Arcade cabinet, housing which holds an arcade game's hardware ** Arcade system board, a standardized printed circuit board * Amusement arcade, a place with arcade games * ...

-exclusive game, twenty years after the previous arcade ''Bomberman'' game, and was playable at the event. The developers intended for the new game elements the game introduces to the series to make the game fun to watch in addition to fun to play. A

version was also developed. After two beta tests in January and November the game was released on December 22, 2021 for Konami's Konasute (Konami Amusement Game Station) service.

Reception

Polygon In geometry, a polygon () is a plane figure that is described by a finite number of straight line segments connected to form a closed ''polygonal chain'' (or ''polygonal circuit''). The bounded plane region, the bounding circuit, or the two toge ...

'' described the game as "horny", similarly to their earlier game ''

Otomedius is a side scrolling shooter by Konami which featured personification of space fighters from various Konami games. The name is a pun, being a portmanteau of the terms "Otome" and "Gradius", with a set of equipment resembling space fighters fro ...

'', a ''

Gradius is a series of shooter video games, introduced in 1985, developed and published by Konami for a variety of portable, console and arcade platforms. In many games in the series, the player controls a ship known as the Vic Viper. Games *''Scr ...

''-like shooting game where the player controls female characters rather than ships. ''

Destructoid ''Destructoid'' is a website that was founded as a video game-focused blog in March 2006 by Yanier Gonzalez, a Cuban-American cartoonist and author. Enthusiast Gaming acquired the website in 2017, and sold it to Gamurs Group in 2022. History ' ...

'' was positive to the pre-release footage, saying that they hoped it would be released in the West, and that they liked its cute aesthetic.

Notes

References

External links

* {{TwinBee series 2018 video games Arcade video games Windows games Bomberman Multiplayer online battle arena games Japan-exclusive video games Video games developed in Japan Video games featuring female protagonists Video game spin-offs