Bomberman 64

Bomberman is one of those names that even someone who has never held a controller recognizes, and Bomberman 64 was an attempt to carry this iconic explosive gameplay into three dimensions. That is a bold move in itself, because the whole magic of Bomberman traditionally rested on a clean 2D grid, where you calculated the reach of every bomb down to the exact tile.

The action and party heart of the series remains here: you plant bombs, destroy obstacles, take out opponents, and above all try not to blow yourself up. The move into 3D, however, added a new layer of spatial thinking, where you have to judge blasts and movement across sloped and rugged arenas rather than just a flat, tiled field. For fans of the original games it was an interesting, at times addictive, at times frustrating paradigm shift.

On the Nintendo 64 there is one absolutely essential discipline, and that is multiplayer. Bomberman always shone brightest when several of you gathered around one screen and turned friendship into temporary hostility full of explosions, traps, and mocking laughter. The N64, with its four controller ports, was practically made for couch battles like these, where quick reflexes and a pinch of cunning decide the outcome.

Alongside matches against friends, the game also offers a single-player campaign that guides you through a series of environments and boss fights, so there is plenty to sink your teeth into on your own as well. It is precisely this combination of a solo challenge and wild multiplayer that keeps Bomberman firmly in players' hearts across console generations.

It is a title best taken for exactly what it is: a fast, loud, and fun party affair that is more about laughter and chaos than perfect technique.

Why play: For indestructible explosive multiplayer fun that, even in 3D form, can unleash just the right kind of couch chaos.