View source for Bombuzal

{{Short description|1988 video game}}
{{Redirect|Kablooey|the 2008 film|Kabluey}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Bombuzal
| image = Bombuzal c64 box art.jpg
| caption = [[Commodore 64]] cover art
| developer = [[Image Works]]
| publisher = Image Works <br> [[Kemco]]
| designer = [[Antony Crowther]] <br> David Bishop
| genre = [[Puzzle video game|Puzzle]]
| released = 1988
| modes = [[Single-player video game|Single-player]]
| platforms = [[Amiga]], [[Atari ST]], [[Commodore 64]], [[MS-DOS]], [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|Super NES]]
}}
'''''Bombuzal''''' is a [[puzzle video game]] designed by [[Antony Crowther]] (credited as "Ratt" in the game) and David Bishop for [[Image Works]].<ref>[http://hol.abime.net/180 Bombuzal] on Hall of the Amiga site</ref> The game was released in 1988 for the [[Amiga]], [[Atari ST]] and [[Commodore 64]]. It was also released in 1989 for [[MS-DOS]] and in December 1990 in Japan for the [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|Super Famicom]], with the North American version released in August 1992 renamed as ''Ka-Blooey''.
The game has a sequel/remake available for the [[Nintendo 64]] called ''[[Charlie Blast's Territory]]''. Among its notable features is the ability to play using either an overhead or [[isometric projection|isometric]] view.
==Gameplay==
[[Image:Bombuzal Ingame.png|left|thumb|Teleporter as rescue]]
To complete each of its 130 levels, the avatar has to destroy all bombs on the level. It must stand on top of the bomb to light it, then is only able to take one step away before the bomb explodes; it can also pick up and move bombs, but only the ones that are on Rail tiles. Bombs come in different sizes and it is only possible to ignite the smallest kind without dying. In most cases, the bombs have to be set off using a [[chain reaction]] to prevent the avatar from being killed in the explosion; at other times, separated small bombs can be destroyed one at a time. Each bomb/mine has a reaction zone. For example, a small bomb will only destroy the tile it is on, but will affect any other bombs/mines one tile away in the four main directions. A large bomb will destroy 13 tiles, and its reaction zone will be one tile farther away than the tiles destroyed in each of the four directions, and diagonally between these four points.<ref>Super Nintendo Instruction Booklet page 21.</ref> The game features level designs by several gaming celebrities, including [[Jon Ritman]], [[Andrew Braybrook]], [[Geoff Crammond]] and [[Jeff Minter]].
There are also two enemies, Sinister and Dexter, appearing on some levels. These continuously travel along with the level, with Sinister always turning left and Dexter always turning right. Neither Sinister nor Dexter actively pursues the avatar, but contact with either is fatal.
==Reception==
{{Video game reviews
| Z64=97%<ref>Zzap!64 review, [[Newsfield Publications]], issue 44, page 18</ref>
|award1Pub = ''Zzap!64''
|award1 = Gold Medal
}}
The game received mixed reviews. It received 97% and 92% ratings from [[Zzap!64]]<ref>{{Citation|title=Bombuzal review|publisher=[[Zzap!64|Zzap]]|issue=44|pages=18–19|author1=Maff Evans |author2=Paul Glancey |author3=Kati Hamza |date=December 1988}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|title=Bombuzal review|publisher=[[Zzap!64|Zzap]]|issue=45|pages=103|author1=Gordon Houghton |author2=Kati Hamza |date=January 1989}}</ref> magazine for the C64 and Amiga versions respectively, compared to a review in [[Commodore User]]<ref>{{Citation|title=Bombuzal review|publisher=[[Commodore User]]|pages=26–27|author=Tony Dillon|date=November 1988}}</ref> magazine awarding a mere 49%. The former reviews hailed it as an addictive puzzle game with "cute" graphics, while the latter criticized gameplay, graphics, and controls.
The game was released by Spotlight Software and distributed by [[Cinemaware]] in the compilation ''BrainBlaster'' with ''[[Xenon 2]]'' for the [[Amiga]]. This compilation was reviewed in 1991 in ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' #165 by Hartley, Patricia, and Kirk Lesser in "The Role of Computers" column. The reviewers gave ''BrainBlaster'' 5 out of 5 stars.<ref name="Dragon165">{{Citation
|title=The Role of Computers
|last1=Lesser|last2=Lesser|last3=Lesser|first1=Hartley|first2=Patricia|first3=Kirk
|journal=Dragon
|issue=165
|date=January 1991
|pages=47–55
|postscript=.}}</ref>
The Amiga version of ''Bombuzal'' was included as a fully working game on the [[Covermount|cover disk]] of the first issue of ''[[Amiga Power]]''.
The Super Famicom incarnation of the game was later released for release on the [[Nintendo Switch Online|Online service]] for the [[Nintendo Switch]] console in July 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2021-07-21-nintendo-switch-onlines-next-three-snes-games-revealed|title = Nintendo Switch Online's next three SNES games revealed| website=[[Eurogamer]] |date = 28 July 2021}}</ref>
==References==
<references/>
==External links==
* {{abime|id=180}}
* {{moby game|id=/bombuzal|name=''Bombuzal''}}
* {{lemon64 game|id=337}}
* [http://www.m3dr.com/projects/bombzuka/index.html Remake in 3D for PC]
[[Category:1988 video games]]
[[Category:Amiga games]]
[[Category:Atari ST games]]
[[Category:Cancelled ZX Spectrum games]]
[[Category:Commodore 64 games]]
[[Category:DOS games]]
[[Category:Kemco games]]
[[Category:Nintendo Switch Online games]]
[[Category:Puzzle video games]]
[[Category:Single-player video games]]
[[Category:Super Nintendo Entertainment System games]]
[[Category:Video games about bomb disposal]]
[[Category:Video games developed in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Image Works games]]