Saboten Bombers

Gameplay

Saboten Bombers is a single-screen platformer where players control two anthropomorphic cactus characters, Wanpi for the first player and Tsuupi for the second. The goal is to toss bombs at the pests that have taken over the cacti’s house, while dodging bombs thrown back by the enemies, much like in Taito’s Bubble Bobble. A key twist is that explosions from your own bombs can hurt you just as easily as they hurt foes. Since bombs move quickly and ricochet off walls, careless throws can be deadly. The game features a range of enemies and bright, varied backgrounds. Some enemies require multiple bomb hits to be defeated, while others can slip away from bombs but still get caught in the blast, forcing you to use several bombs at once. Touching standard enemies won’t harm you, but bumping into a boss will end your run. Clearing a stage means defeating every enemy, which then lets you advance. There are over 100 levels, with a boss fight every tenth stage. A versus mode is also included, pitting you against a computer-controlled opponent. Many items can be collected, with the most notable being the cake: gathering eight pieces grants an extra life.