Retro throwback games are a dime a dozen these days, so a game must be very special if it is to stand out and fortunately Explosive Jake does just that. At its core, the game is a throwback to the classic Bomberman games, but with some ideas added to help make the concept its own. What makes the game stand out though, is the presentation choices the developers have made, and how the game goes the extra mile to be a call back title.
Explosive Jake has a certain charm to it that manages to make it stand out from the crowd. The visual style the developers went with has managed to capture that retro feel, complete with a screen filter that resembles a classic CRT display. This, combined with the overall minimalist look of the presentation and the nature of the gameplay, works to the game’s advantage. Explosive Jake looks like a game from decades ago that you would play on an 8 bit system or microcomputer, now brought to the modern systems for fans to rediscover. Even the soundtrack and sound effects are authentic to that era, and it is clear that a lot of love and care went into this product and making it look as good as it did.
But that is not enough for a game as it is. What helps Explosive Jake stand out in that respect is the way the developers added new ideas to the classic bomberman formula. Not only do you have to navigate mazes to blow up enemies, but you need to ignite your weapons, dodge traps and obstacles and search for objects hidden away as well. This is not just a simple bomb the enemies and win type of game, but rather requires you to do some exploring. The levels will get more advanced the more you progress, with the mazes becoming larger and more elaborate, but this just adds to the appeal of the game.
If there is any criticism I have of the game, it is that Explosive Jake requires a lot of memorization, more than skill. This is not a major issues but will throw you off quite a bit until you figure that detail out. Remembering the patterns and how the traps and obstacles work is key to getting through, as one hit will send you back where you started. I am not opposed to difficult games, but would feel the game could explain itself a bit better.
Overall I love Explosive Jake. Its a decent throwback game and captures the spirit of the era well. If you like classic Bomberman and want more like it, then you should check this out.
Disclaimer: A review key was provided.