BomberSnake for Windows

Mash-up of Pac-Man and Bomberman

BomberSnake is a combination of the bomb-dropping shenanigans and baddie-dodging of Pac-Man. Procedurally-generated maps also mean no two games are the same. It is available as a free download for Windows and Mac.

Video games often combine more than one genre or idea. BomberSnake starts off well by mixing two classics. Its execution doesn't live up to its central concept.

Pac-Man and Bomberman are two games that capture the magic of 'easy-to-learn, hard-to-master'. BomberSnake is a game where players must navigate maze-like paths to collect coins, fruit, treasure, and points. To destroy the snake they hunt, they can also drop bombs.

Players can move 8-directionally from a top-down view, but coins, fruits, and other power-ups will spawn according to a grid. The only thing that can stop players from moving is the movement blocks. These turn the levels into narrow corridors.

The snake that hunts and causes a brief 'game over' seems like it teleports along the same grid as pick-ups. It is very strange to use different movement rules for the enemy and the player for no discernible reason. This discrepancy makes it almost impossible to see the enemy approaching and stop it.

Low resolutions can make pixel art look amazing, as is the case for the player character. Although the animation doesn't match the speed of the movement, it does the job. However, the animation of the snake is not for movement or idle.

Procedural generation can be a simple, but effective way to increase replayability in a game. BomberSnake allows you to enter a custom seed in order to create your own map. Each map contains the same grey blocks, enemy types, and collectibles.

Although the core idea is good, the game has many issues that the three-person development group should have addressed before it was released. The HUD is confusing and chaotic, the music is not appropriate, and there is no 'game over'. Only download if you are curious.