Video Game Series Reboots That Failed
Bomberman: Act Zero
In hindsight, applying an ungodly amount of edge and grittiness to the otherwise cheery Bomberman franchise wasn’t the best idea in the world.
And yet, back in 2006, that’s exactly what developer Hudson Soft unleashed upon the world with Bomberman: Act Zero.
Meant to take fans into the harder, edgier phase of gaming culture that had caught on, it reveled in its darker atmosphere, more realistic characters and a cyberpunk aesthetic that was intended to represent the series moving forward.
Unfortunately, this only stood to put off fans that had grown up with the series. No one wanted a grittier design to the game, and when they laid eyes on it, most were immediately put off from even touching the poorly thought out reboot.
Those that did give it a chance weren’t rewarded for their open-mindedness either, treated to a title with shoddy gameplay, a forgettable soundtrack and load times that bring any fun you could have with the game to a screeching halt.
As a result, this take on the series was unceremoniously shelved, with the series returning to its more traditional design in the following years.
