is a maze video game developed and published by Hudson Soft. The original home computer game was released in July 1983 for the NEC PC-8801, NEC PC-6001 mkII, Fujitsu FM-7, Sharp MZ-700, Sharp MZ-2000, Sharp X1 and MSX in Japan, and a graphically modified version for the MSX and ZX Spectrum in Europe as Eric and the Floaters. A sequel, 3-D Bomberman, was produced. In 1985, Bomberman was released for the Nintendo Entertainment System. It spawned the Bomberman series with many installments building on its basic gameplay. Gameplay In the NES/Famicom release, the eponymous character, Bomberman, is a robot that must find his way through a maze while avoiding enemies. Doors leading to further maze rooms are found under rocks, which Bomberman must destroy with bombs. There are items that can help improve Bomberman's bombs, such as the Fire ability, which improves the blast range of his bombs. Bomberman will turn human when he escapes and reaches the surface. Each game has 50 levels in total. The original home computer games are more basic and have some different rules. Notably, completing the NES and Famicom version reveals that the game is a prequel to Hudson Soft's NES port of Broderbund Software's 1983 game Lode Runner. Upon clearing the final screen, Bomberman is shown turning into Lode Runner's unnamed protagonist. In the Japanese version of the game, the player is explicitly told that Bomberman will 'See [them] in Lode Runner''', while in the international version, they are instead asked if they can recognise the protagonist from another Hudson game. DevelopmentBomberman was written in 1980 to serve as a tech demo for Hudson Soft's BASIC compiler. This very basic version of the game was given a small-scale release for Japanese PCs in 1983 and the European PCs the following year. The Famicom version was developed (ported) by Shinichi Nakamoto, who reputedly completed the task alone over a 72 hour period. According to Zero magazine, Bomberman adopted gameplay elements from the Coreland/Sega arcade hit Pengo (1982). The European home computer versions were released as Eric and the Floaters to avoid any association with a series of terrorist bombings carried out by the Irish Republican Army during The Troubles. Enhanced ports and re-releasesBomberman is most known for the NES version released in Japan on December 19, 1985 and in North America in January 1989. Hudson Soft's director of research and development, Shinichi Nakamoto, commented