''The Bombing Islands'' ( in Japan) is a
puzzle video game
Puzzle video games make up a broad genre of video games that emphasize puzzle solving. The types of puzzles can test problem-solving skills, including logic, pattern recognition, sequence solving, spatial recognition, and word completion.
H ...
developed and published by
Kemco
Kemco (abbreviated from Kotobuki Engineering & Manufacturing Co., Ltd.) is a Japanese video game developer and publisher established in 1984. It is headquartered in Kure, Hiroshima.
One of its best known franchises is the ''Top Gear'' series ...
for the
PlayStation. It was later re-released for
Nintendo 64
The (N64) is a home video game console developed by Nintendo. The successor to the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, it was released on June 23, 1996, in Japan, on September 29, 1996, in North America, and on March 1, 1997, in Europe and ...
as ''Charlie Blast's Territory'' (whose working title was ''Charlie Blast's Challenge''
) in North America on April 2, 1999, and in Europe on June 18, 1999.
A cell phone game named "The Bombing Island" was also released in 2003 by Kemco, but with graphics from the game
Bombuzal with the main character changed to Kid Clown.
Gameplay
The player controls the game's main protagonist and is tasked to demolish a series of bombs located on 60 islands, taking place across six different environments. He must use these bombs and other things located on each island to help him clear the bombs so he can proceed to the next island. An island has a single red detonator bomb, which must be grouped alongside other bombs in the level by pushing the bombs (excluding ones planted in the ground) before lighting the detonator bomb, which allows for all the bombs to explode and destroy the island. If the player is either caught in an explosion or fails to remove all the bombs in the level, they are forced to retry the level from the start. As the player advances, additional hazards are added to make the game more challenging, such as moving platforms, spikes coming through the ground, and slippery surfaces that prevent him from pushing bombs across. After each island is cleared the player has given a password which consists of five playing cards.
Story and other differences in the versions
In the PlayStation versions of the game, the main character is Kid Clown, from the earlier
Kid Klown series of video games. He is given a message from the King Clown to rid the planet of the bombs on all six continents.
In the Nintendo 64 (N64) version, the hero is Charlie Blast, a demolition expert. His job is to clear the six rivers that have been dammed by the evil 'King of Industry'.
The play mechanics for both games are almost identical. However, in 'Bombing Islands' there is a step meter counting each step and move that Kid Clown makes. This earns the player Gold, Silver, Bronze or no medal. The N64 version doesn't have this step counting requirement. However, Charlie can jump without having to step on spikes to do so, while Kid Clown only jumps when having stepped on spikes. Some of the sixty levels in the game are the same from one version to the next. However, the graphics to both are completely different, even though the obstacles serve the same purpose with both versions.
Charlie Blast's Territory
The game was independently re-developed for the Nintendo 64 by
Realtime Associates
Realtime Associates is an American video game developer and publisher. The company was founded in 1986 by David Warhol and a group of ex-Mattel Electronics employees originally to create games for the Intellivision system. Since then, the compa ...
,
and game designer
Scott Kim
Scott Kim is an American puzzle and video game designer, artist, and author of Korean descent. He started writing an occasional "Boggler" column for ''Discover'' magazine in 1990, and became an exclusive columnist in 1999, and created hundreds of ...
.
In the early days of the games production it was titled "Charlie Blast's Challenge".
Besides changing the graphics, a four-player versus mode was also added wherein players can control Charlie or one of three other characters and must conquer as much of the land as possible with one's own bomb blasts. The multiplayer mode includes several bombs not featured in the main solo mode, like a freeze bomb, which when lit, will encase the other player(s) in blocks of ice, and a rainbow bomb, which is capable of exploding an entire row or column that the bomb is facing.
Reception
''Charlie Blast's Territory'' received mixed reviews, while ''The Bombing Islands'' received unfavorable reviews, according to the
review aggregation
A review aggregator is a system that collects reviews of products and services (such as films, books, video games, software, hardware, and cars). This system stores the reviews and uses them for purposes such as supporting a website where users ...
website
GameRankings.
''
GameSpot
''GameSpot'' is an American video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information on video games. The site was launched on May 1, 1996, created by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. In addition ...
'' criticized the graphics and the sound of the former version, noting, "... this game seems like a generally decent puzzle game in a substandard package."
''
IGN
''IGN'' (formerly ''Imagine Games Network'') is an American video game and entertainment media website operated by IGN Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Ziff Davis, Inc. The company's headquarters is located in San Francisco's SoMa distri ...
'' rated the game higher, and recommended it for hardcore puzzle gamers.
''
GamePro'' also noted the lackluster presentation.
''
Nintendo Power
''Nintendo Power'' was a video game news and strategy magazine from Nintendo of America, first published in July/August 1988 as Nintendo's official print magazine for North America. The magazine's publication was initially done monthly by Ninten ...
'' gave ''Charlie's Blast Territory'' a mixed review, a few months before the game was released Stateside.
In Japan, ''
Famitsu
formerly ''Famicom Tsūshin'', is a line of Japanese video game magazines published by Kadokawa Game Linkage (previously known as Gzbrain), a subsidiary of Kadokawa. ''Famitsu'' is published in both weekly and monthly formats as well as in the f ...
'' gave ''The Bombing Islands'' a score of 21 out of 40.
Notes
References
External links
The official 'The Bombing Islands' Japanese webpage, for the PSP/PS3 version.Charlie Blast's Territory, text and video walkthrough, by "Teary Eyes" Anderson at Archive.org.*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bombing Islands
1997 video games
Kemco games
Nintendo 64 games
PlayStation (console) games
PlayStation Network games
Puzzle video games
Realtime Associates games
Multiplayer and single-player video games
Video games about clowns
Video games developed in Japan
Video games developed in the United States
Video games set on fictional islands
Video games about bomb disposal