Bomberman Live

Those crafty buggers at Hudsonsoft must be laughing all the way to the bank after bringing one of the most cherished multiplayer experiences of past generations to the fore front of modern online gaming. Bomberman feels perfect on XBOX live and shows that even after over forty installments of the series that it is a formula that never ages.

One of eight players control their bomberman (basically a biker helmet with arms and legs) around a square stage littered with power-ups and hazards and the aim is to simply blow up everyone else and be the last man standing. Each bomb has a blast radius that requires skillful dodging and a cool head to survive. Power-ups allow you to kick bombs, set timed charges, hurl bombs over walls and other devious skills. Each one feels balanced and pivotal to the fight.

Presented in glorious 1080p the block colours and twee presentation makes this look like an explosion in a crayola factory. Unlockable outfits let you dress up your bomberman (or girl) as a cowboy, spartan warrior, astronaut or mix and match elements to make one of many bizarre combinations. It's the little hints of customiation that give your character identity and sets the wacky tone.

While there is a simple offline mode tailored to playing with your mates this is essential buying only if you intend to take the fight online. The fast pace and frenzied nature of games (especially those that run into sudden death) will keep you coming back for more. What impresses further is that there is never a lack of online competition even as Call of Duty 4 and Halo 3 continue to dominate the multiplayer arena and proves that it is a game that has and always will keep a special place in people's hearts. So don't worry about there being a lack of people to play because Bomberman is a survivor and always will be.

It's also interesting to see how much new content Hudsonsoft keep releasing in the marketplace. Picture packs, new levels and additional game modes keep things fresh in what is already an exhaustive package. Zombie is the probably the most fun way to play because all bombermen are invincible and the aim is to paint all the tiles in the stage by blowing them up. The person who dominates the most floor space at the end wins. It's pure nonsense as players dart about kamikaze-style blowing the shit out of everything with no regard for personal safety.

And this is the embodiment of the series; balls to the wall chaos mixed with a healthy dose of no holds barred fun. This is the perfect remedy for those stuck in a rut over which of the many FPS games to dedicate their online time to because lets face it, 'saturated' doesn't even begin to cover the online shooter market at the moment. Take a break, take a Bomberman.