Bombs and Bugs Overview
Bombs and Bugs is a local multiplayer title for DOS that functions as a clean-room reimplementation of the Bomberman concept. The objective is to be the final survivor among up to four players, who can be human or computer-controlled, each maneuvering a character called a bug.
Gameplay revolves around placing bombs to clear obstructing tiles and eliminate opponents. Initial stages are densely packed with destructible blocks that must be removed to navigate and attack. Certain indestructible tiles offer some protection from bomb blasts. A key mechanical distinction is the bomb's explosion behavior, which destroys every destructible tile within its full range in all four cardinal directions, rather than stopping at the first one.
Destroyed blocks can release power-ups that any player can collect. These items modify abilities, such as expanding explosion radius, altering bomb timers, or reducing the delay before placing another bomb. Players must exercise caution, as it is possible to be caught in one's own explosion.
The presentation includes multiple graphical tilesets, with later versions supporting the download of additional sets. The development was notable as the author created it without having personally played the original series it emulates.
