Bomb Jack

Bomb Jack title screen. Bomb Jack gameplay screenshot. Bomb Jack gameplay screenshot.
Bomb Jack gameplay screenshot. Bomb Jack gameplay screenshot. Bomb Jack gameplay screenshot.

Bomb Jack is an arcade platform game that was released in 1984 by Tehkan (known today as Tecmo). It was followed by two official sequels, the console and computer title Mighty Bomb Jack, and the arcade game Bomb Jack Twin.

The player controls Jack, a superhero who can leap and glide. Someone has planted 24 bombs at famous tourist sites. Jack must fly around the screen to collect the bombs. Each screen uses a different configuration of platforms upon which Jack may run and jump. Eventually, the levels reoccur a number of times with increasing difficulty.

Jack "defuses" the bombs by simply touching them. As soon as he has touched the first, he triggers a sequence in which another bomb's fuse lights up, and so on. A player can score a bonus in each round by touching 20 or more bombs in the correct lit-fuse sequence. Jack may also defuse an unlit bomb by touching it, but this impedes his opportunity to score the bonus for that screen. It also delays the appearance of the game's bonuses and power-ups. The lit fuses have no strategic purpose other than the bonus; a lit bomb left unattended does not explode.

Enemies such as birds, mummies, turtles, and orbs float around the screen, making Jack lose a life if he touches them. A circle-shaped bouncing P will, when collected, renders all the enemies helpless for a short period in which Jack may kill them. Other similar bonuses are the B, giving extra points, the E, giving an extra life, and the rare S, giving an extra game. (Wikipedia)