Review: Bomb

Have you ever wanted to be Michael Bay? Well, OK, probably not, but have you ever wanted to have Michael Bay's success? Because if so, Bomb has more than enough explosions and to go around!

The Bomb ability first appeared in Kirby Super Star, and has been a mainstay in the series since. As such, one of the upsides to this ability is how frequently it appears, and how consistently it has worked. While many abilities may gain radically new techniques or change just enough from one game to another to throw one off, Bomb is mostly the same from when it began. There have been a select few aiming differences from one game to another, Super Star had the aiming reticle go up as long as one held down the attack button, and after Kirby was aiming straight up, he would never be able to aim down again until the bomb had been thrown. Kirby and the Amazing Mirror and Kirby Squeak Squad had several predetermined throwing arcs, easier to decide, but less precise. Then Return to Dreamland came along and allowed the player to control the aiming reticle with the control pad freely, giving us the Bomb we always deserved, the perfect fusion of precision and practicality.

Of course, throwing bombs at varying angles is not the only technique available with this explosive weapon. If one dashes and then throws a bomb, it will go straight forwards. This can be quite helpful in areas with low ceilings or when an opponent is very close by, as most arcs would travel over it. In Return to Dreamland and onwards, these bombs do slightly follow gravity, going lower over time, and will eventually fall on to ground, rolling for a moment before becoming stationary. Fortunately, this rarely presents any issues, as the bombs still travel far enough across the screen to hit just about anything one would be aiming for.

An often overlooked function of this ability is setting a bomb down in front of oneself. The bomb will then be on a timer, exploding when time runs out or when an enemy touches it. Given that this move has next to no range and most players will try to rush through levels rather than wait for an enemy to walk into their trap, it is often seen as an inconvenient way to take out most foes. However, it still does have its uses. Notably, hitting an enemy directly with a bomb does less damage than hitting an enemy with a bomb's explosion. This is difficult to make use of when throwing bombs around, as the player would need to hit the ground or wall next to an enemy to deal this extra damage, and considering most enemies go down in one hit anyway, this extra damage is superfluous. However, against certain bosses this extra damage can shine, especially if they are stationary. Repeatedly setting down bombs in front of oneself can quickly defeat bosses such as Whispy Woods or Computer Virus. On top of this damage boost, repeatedly setting bombs down can also act as a defensive option. Many projectiles bosses throw can themselves be destroyed. By repeatedly setting down bombs, one will then proceed to create what is essentially a shield of explosions, blocking many incoming dangers by destroying them before they reach Kirby.

Bomb is one of Kirby's most reliable and versatile projectile abilities. While many other projectiles may have downsides such as limited range, required charging, or low power, Bomb is above average in all of these areas, and can even hit opponents from beyond walls or other obstructions. So next time you're having difficulties hitting that awkwardly positioned enemy, consider utilizing explosions to maximum effect.

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