Bomberman Max

Bomberman Max is a game released for Game Boy Color on December 17, 1999. It is the first Bomberman game to feature two playable versions, available in two different colors. Blue: Champion lets the player control Bomberman while the Red: Challenger lets the player control Max. Differences between both versions are that there are different Charaboms to be acquired. A special third edition called Bomberman Max: Ain Version (By Pentel Ain) was distributed exclusively in Japan. Outside of some instances of product placement, it is essentially the Blue version with all levels unlocked without the need for connectivity. There is also an even rarer fourth edition called Bomberman Max: Complete Edition, too.
==Story==
On the far edge of the universe were five planets. The center most one named Future Star had its super computer infiltrated by an alien shadow. That alien is named Brain and he has sent his minions to the surrounding planets and turned the natural wildlife into mechanical beings. Dr. Ein notices this problem and dispatches both Bomberman and Max to deal with the situation. It should be noted that both versions share the same story.
==Gameplay==
Bomberman Max features the traditional Bomberman gameplay where the player must defeat enemies and exit the stage through a portal. However one notable difference is that the stage begins with an objective that is presented by Dr. Ein. This goal can include defeating all enemies, defeating only certain types of enemies, releasing a Charabom or other types of requirements.
Upon completing the objective, the word exit appears on screen to let the player know they can exit the stage. Two types of portals can be found: a red and a blue one. The stages in this game are in a non-linear fashion and allow the player to select whichever portal they wish. If a player chooses a blue goal, they will play a stage that is new and if they chose a red goal, they will be taken to a stage previously completed.
Instead, if the player fails the objective, the same blue portal appears near the player, but will return to the same area to start over.
There are five planets and each one has a boss with three different stages. Each one of the boss stages pits you against the same boss but at different difficulty ranges. The boss will move much quicker in the more difficult levels.
There are 100 stages in total, but in Blue Champion and Red Challenger versions, only 80 of them are playable by default, as the other 20 stages are version-exclusive. To unlock those version-exclusive stages the player must link the Game Boy Color with another one having the opposite version using the infrared sensors in the Pitch Area.
When the player defeats the final boss they will be given one of two endings depending on the percent of stages completed. If the player has completed less than 80%, they will receive the bad ending and only see a single screen with the character and the word end. If the player completes at least 80% they will be given the good ending. It should be noted that by completing all the regular stages in the game gives you 80% completion. The remaining stages can be unlocked in the Pitch Area, by linking up a Game Boy Color with a friend who has the opposite version using the infrared sensors.
The player can see their completion percent and player rating after a Game Over.
==Stages==
===Stage 1: Zaurus Star===
*Boss: Colossus
===Stage 2: Secret Star===
*Boss: Kabukibot
===Stage 3: Battle Star===
*Boss: Tankbot
===Stage 4: City Star===
*Boss: Tian Lung
===Stage 5: Future Star===
*Boss: Brain
==Hidden Areas==
In normal mode, some areas have a special tile. If the player steps on it, they will be asked to start remote controller input, if the player chooses to start it, a remote controller must be pointing to the Game Boy Color infrared sensor and press any button. If this has been done correctly, the player can be sent to a Hidden Area where the player can get some Food Items for their Charaboms and can rescue Charaboms that can't be rescued anywhere else.
==Charaboms==
Charaboms are small animals that resemble Pokémon. They can be collected in certain levels in the game along with power ups to increase their attributes. In battle mode, they can be pitted against one another by linking two Game Boy Colors with both games using the infrared sensors. The games can also be linked to fuse a Charabom of the Blue Version and a Charabom of the Red Version and collect some of the rarer creatures.
==Battle==
In battle mode, two players linking their Game Boy Colors using the infrared sensors can battle using the Charaboms rescued in normal mode. The Charabom level depends on how much Food Items are obtained in normal mode, one Charabom is feed at once so if the player want to feed another Charabom, in the pause menu along with Save option, the Charaboms can be selected, the current selected Charabom will be feed with the Food Items and increase their levels.
== Ain and Complete Data Versions ==
From this site: 
"本作には非売品としていくつかのバージョンが存在する。例えば、ぺんてるのキャンペーンに応募して抽選で入手できる『ボンバーマンMAX Ain（アインバージョン）』は「光の勇者」と「闇の戦士」をミックスした内容になっており、2つのバージョンのステージを1度に楽しむことが出来る。
他にもNINTENDO64用ソフト『爆ボンバーマン2』とのタイアップキャンペーンの1つである「爆ボン2解く得キャンペーン」に応募することで入手できる『ボンバーマンMAX 完全データバージョン』は全ステージ、全キャラボンのデータが入っており、光の勇者か闇の戦士のいずれかが贈られてくる。『Ainバージョン』『完全データバージョン』共に、非売品のため現在入手は困難。
There are several versions of this work that are not for sale. For example, "Bomberman MAX Ain (Ain version)", which can be obtained by lottery by applying for Pentel 's campaign  is a mixture of "Hero of Light" and "Warrior of Darkness", and there are two versions. You can enjoy the stage at once  .
In addition, "Bomberman MAX Complete Data Version", which can be obtained by applying for the " Bakubon 2 Unlock Campaign  ", which is one of the tie-up campaigns with the Nintendo 64 software " Baku Bomberman 2 ", is available for all stages, It contains the data of all characters, and either the hero of light or the warrior of darkness is given. Both "Ain Version" and "Complete Data Version" are not for sale and are currently difficult to obtain."
The Complete Data Version includes an insert with similar information which is translated below.
"Bomberman Max Complete data version
Congratulation on your selection.
This Bomberman Max complete data version is not for sale.
For questions about this product, please use the contacts below.
For questions concerning the game content's contact Hudson game support center, detail are on the back of the manual included with the game.
For questions concerning a defective product contact the Hudson soft Bomberman department.
Business hours: 10AM - 5PM
Closed on Saturday, Sunday, and holidays
Phone number 03-3542-4625
Attention:
The complete data is already saved onto file 2. If you want to play with the complete data, please select file 2. If you delete or save over file 2, the complete data will be lost, so be careful.
(Except in the case of a defective product this product can not be repaired or replaced)"
==Gallery==
Bomberman Max Blue JP.jpg|Blue Champion JP Box
Bomberman Max Red JP.jpg|Red Challenger JP Box
Bomberman and Max's Ships.png|Bomberman and Max's Ships
Title Screens.png|Title Screens
Time Over Screens BM1.png|Time Over Screens
Clear Screens.png|Stage Clear Screens
Game Over Screens.png|Game Over Screens
Bad Endings.png|Bad Endings
Good Endings.png|Scenes from the Good Endings
Bosses.png|The Bosses
19.jpg|Scene with Kabukibot
20.jpg|Scene with Tankbot
21.jpg|Scene - White vs. Brain
22.jpg|First Area Scene
23 BM.jpg|Second Area Scene
24.jpg|Third Area Scene
25.jpg|Fourth Area Scene
26.jpg|Fifth Area Scene
Ad 1.jpg|Advertisement in Nintendo Power #132
175px-MAX Charaboms Fire.jpg|Every Fire Charabom (Dorako, Ceedrun, Twin Dragon, Pteradon and Iron Dragon)
143px-MAX Charaboms Water.jpg|Every Water Charabom (Kai-Man, Marine Eel/Unagi, Sibaloon, Sharkun and Iron Squid)
MAX Charaboms Electric.jpg|Every Electric Charabom (Pommy, Pommy Knuckles, Pommy Animal, Hammer Pommy and Pommy Beast)
159px-MAX Charaboms Earth.jpg|Every Earth Charabom (Elifan, Panther Fang, Big Ox, Youno/Unicornos and Mecha Kong)
134px-MAX Charaboms Combined.jpg|Every Combined Charabom (Aqua Dragon, Pommy Dragon, Thunder Kong, Thunder Shark, Rock Snakey and Fire Force)
143px-MAX Charaboms secret.jpg|Every Secret and Rare Charabom (Shardra, Ox Battra, Heat Rock and Octo Kong)
File:Ain Front.jpg|Ain Version Box
File:Ain Manual.jpg|Ain Version Manual
File:Ain Cart.jpg|Ain Version Cart
File:Complete Data Carts - Both Versions.jpg|Complete Data Version - Both Version Carts
File:Bomberman Max - Complete Data Insert.png|Complete Data Version Insert
File:5411779.jpg|Ain Version Intro
File:5411780.jpg|Ain Version Title Screen
File:5411781.jpg|Ain Version Area Clear
File:NP Max Ad.jpg|Nintendo Power Ad
File:BM 1.jpg|Nintendo Power Volume 132
File:BM 2.jpg
File:BM 3.jpg
File:BM 4.jpg
File:BM 5.jpg
File:Now Playing 2.jpg
== References ==
* https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%9C%E3%83%B3%E3%83%90%E3%83%BC%E3%83%9E%E3%83%B3MAX
* https://archive.org/details/bombermanmaxcompletedataversion
es:Bomberman Max
Category:Bomberman Games
Category:Bomberman Max
Category:Portable Games
Category:Game Boy Color Games