Fetch Quest

An excellent sense of timing is an important skill to have in Bomberman. Every bomb you lay down has roughly a three second fuse, and intrinsically having a feel for just when it is going to explode can be the difference between a great player versus merely an average one. You'll lay out chains so the first will explode just as you get out of the way of the last one. You'll set down a bomb, wait until just the right moment, then kick it so it'll blow up right when it reaches the opposing player. Yes, a keen sense of timing is a big help in succeeding in the world of Bomberman. Well, at least until you can pick up the Detonator power up.

The Detonator gives you the ability to remote detonate your bombs at any time. You can let it sit there for one second or ten, it matters not. Believe me, this drastically changes the way you play the game. Before, you have to be somewhat cautious, calculating, planning out your lines and hoping to lure your opponent into the line of fire. Now, you can forget about that and just go nuts. Lay out remote bombs as haphazardly as you wish, blowing them up at random. Heave a pile of bombs in their direction, leaving them scrambling to find a safe spot to stand. Circle around them, laying several bombs at even intervals to make them feel surrounded. The game goes from a battle of wits between two evenly equipped combatants to one superior being barraging a poor chap still using equipment from the stone age.

Of course, too much power can be dangerous, and the Detonator is no exception to that rule. If I had a nickel for every time I accidentally blew myself into oblivion during an overzealous attempt to overwhelm a cowering opponent, I'd be one wealthy man. You have a tendency to throw caution to the wind when you have the ability to blow up your bombs whenever you feel like, which in this game, is a sure-fire path towards suicide. Granted, I'm not saying you shouldn't let loose a little - just don't push it too far. Another downside is that it's quite possible to get frustrated with the Detonator at times. Sounds silly, but it's true: quite often, when an opponent narrowly escapes a remote bomb explosion, it's your fault. If you had set it off a split second later or earlier, you would've gotten them! You don't have to worry about that with normal bombs; if you miss someone with those, you can blame it on them for having the smarts to avoid your traps.

Okay, so I'm grasping at straws a bit there. Nobody is going to avoid the Detonator for those piddling negatives. This is the power up that all Bomberman players strive for. Sure, some people enjoy the pure enjoyment you get of the Punch ability. Others may prefer the Golden Flame, sending your bombs' fires to the far reaches of the screen. But deep down inside, I think everyone knows which one is really the best: Detonator.