Bomb Jack is back – again – and this time it’s the 1993 arcade follow-up Bomb Jack Twin, arriving on modern consoles as part of Hamster’s Arcade Archives series.
If you only know the original Bomb Jack, this one might surprise you. Bomb Jack Twin takes the same basic idea – dodge enemies, grab bombs, chase high scores – but wraps it in cuter graphics, faster action, and proper two-player simultaneous play.
Incredibly, Bomb Jack itself was added to the Arcade Archives back in 2014 (PS4) and 2019 (Nintendo Switch) so this follow up is overdue.
What is Bomb Jack Twin?
Bomb Jack Twin was released in arcades in 1993 by NMK, based on the original Bomb Jack concept from what is now Koei Tecmo. The rules are simple:
- Dodge enemies
- Collect all the bombs on each stage
- Go for the lit bombs first if you want big scores
The twist is that you can play with two people at the same time, turning it into a mix of cooperation and competition as you race around the screen trying not to get wiped out.
Visually, it’s more colourful and playful than the earlier games, but it’s also tougher. Enemies are quicker, patterns are trickier, and mistakes are punished fast.
What Arcade Archives adds
As usual with the record-breaking Arcade Archives line, this is a faithful arcade version with a few modern extras:
- Adjustable difficulty and settings
- Display options to mimic old arcade screens
- Online leaderboards for global high score chasing
You’re getting the original arcade game, not a remake – just cleaned up enough to work nicely on modern TVs and consoles.
You won’t believe this, but…
Bomb Jack Twin isn’t as famous as the original Bomb Jack, but that’s part of the appeal. It’s a later, slightly oddball sequel that many people never saw outside of arcades – and plenty of players never saw at all.
But I have a confession: I had completely forgotten that Bomb Jack was an arcade game in the first place! Both the Spectrum and Commodore 64 ports were so — ahem — bombastic, that I’d changed history in my head, rewriting it as an excellent original game by Elite.
Bomb Jack Twin is out this week on consoles as part of Arcade Archives, where you will find the correct regional link to your preferred storefront. If you’ve ever had a soft spot for the series, or just like discovering forgotten arcade games, this is an easy one to recommend.
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Christian Cawley is the founder and editor of GamingRetro.co.uk, a website dedicated to classic and retro gaming. With over 20 years of experience writing for technology and gaming publications, he brings considerable expertise and a lifelong passion for interactive entertainment, particularly games from the 8-bit and 16-bit eras.
Christian has written for leading outlets including TechRadar, Computer Weekly, Linux Format, and MakeUseOf, where he also served as Deputy Editor.
When he’s not exploring vintage consoles or retro PCs, Christian enjoys building with LEGO, playing cigar box guitar, and experimenting in the kitchen.
