The evergreen Bomberman series has enjoyed many years of affection from fans despite the fact that it has never significantly evolved since gamers first enjoyed Super Bomberman on SNES. Recent additions, such as Bomberman Land Touch! 2 on DS, added little more than throwaway mini-games, and the handheld’s first Bomberman was criticised for a below-par single-player mode that did little to complement the fantastic multiplayer.

This sequel seeks to resolve the problems that have plagued previous DS incarnations, with a greater focus on the single-player. Don’t get us wrong, the multiplayer is still there, and the eight-player split-screen antics are as anarchically entertaining as ever, it’s just that this time Hudson Soft has provided an engaging and addictive solo experience that feels exactly as a DS game should.

Mixing puzzles, action, and forward thinking into one neat package, Bomberman II ’s single-player offers all the depth and variety that was lacking from that of its predecessor. You’re tasked with guiding the titular pyromaniac through timed linear levels, each split into several rooms with a different challenge. Initially they require you to simply destroy a set number of enemies to obtain a passcard, but as the game progresses it expands the concept, sometimes providing a limited number of bombs or shortening the time limit. The usual array of power-ups are available – new additions include pick-ups such as extra time – but environmental items add even more variety to the numerous challenges. Jump pads, seesaws, conveyer belts, moving floor tiles – incorporating each of them into the puzzle-esque design of Bomberman II ’s levels makes this DS iteration as much about timing, patience, and forethought as blowing stuff up. The assortment of enemy design shouldn’t go without a mention either. Each robotic foe has a different attack or ability, such as the power to reposition your bombs, and the tricky boss battles make a welcome return. The result is a single-player with all the depth the series previously lacked.

A further twist on the series comes in the game’s light RPG elements. You’ll often pick up augmentative suit parts, which can be used to customise your character as you gain experience and level up. Each addition alters his powers, and finding the combination that suits your style of play is a nice departure from the game’s usual conventions.

The multiplayer is as riotous as ever, with the usual panoply of options, settings, and arenas for play with eight of your friends. But of course Bomberman rarely falters when it comes to multiplayer. No, what’s important here is that Hudson Soft has developed a single-player component that’s almost as addictive as the multiplayer, and furthermore, one that’s perfectly suited to the ten-minute blasts of play DS supports so well.