The first time five friends could fit on one screen — and nobody walked away the same.
Hudson shipped plenty of Bomberman games, but this 1992 HuCard is the one where the multitap stopped being a curiosity and became a reason to own a PC Engine. Five players, one grid, eight arenas — and the strange social truth that the gentlest person in the room turns ruthless once the bombs start ticking. The single-player chase across seven planets is good; the four friends shouting on your couch is what you actually remember.
About this game
Bomberman '93 is a action game for the PC Engine, from Hudson Soft. Part of Enjoy Game Japan Museum's record of Japanese originals.
Gallery
Tricks & Tales
Five players at once was the headline: with the TurboGrafx-16/PC Engine multitap, Bomberman '93 let five people battle simultaneously across eight selectable arenas — a scale of local multiplayer few consoles could match in 1992. The single-player mode hides a story: Black Bomberman steals seven chips from a galactic computer and scatters them, and White Bomberman gives chase across themed planets — 56 stages over seven worlds, each capped by a boss. No Louie here yet: the rideable egg-hatched companions that fans associate with the series debuted in the following year's Bomberman '94, so '93 is the pure, on-foot version of the formula.
Collector's Guide
Region & Compatibility
The PC Engine (Japan) and TurboGrafx-16 (North America) share the same physical HuCard slot shape but are not compatible with each other's software. NEC deliberately reversed the data bus wiring between the two regions: data pin D0 on the PC Engine corresponds to D7 on the TurboGrafx-16, and so on through all eight lines. Beyond the hardware wiring difference, most North American HuCards contain region-checking code that detects a Japanese console and immediately crashes. Converters that electrically flip the data bus do exist and allow cross-region play. CD-ROM² discs themselves carry no region protection and play freely on both systems—however, the System Cards required to boot CD software are region-locked in the same way as HuCards, so a Japanese System Card cannot be used in a TurboGrafx-16 and vice versa.
Maintenance Tips
HuCard contacts are the most common maintenance point on the PC Engine and TurboGrafx-16. The card's edge connector oxidizes over decades of storage, causing failure-to-read and graphical glitches. Cleaning with 90%+ isopropyl alcohol on a cotton swab—gently wiping the gold contacts on the card itself—resolves most contact issues; stubborn oxidation responds to dedicated contact cleaners such as DeoxIT. Never blow into the card slot with your mouth, as moisture accelerates the very corrosion you are trying to remove. On systems equipped with the CD-ROM² or Super CD-ROM² add-on, the optical drive is subject to the same age-related laser and sled degradation seen in any CD system of that era; the laser assembly uses a KSS-220a-type unit on the Super CD-ROM² and replacement parts remain available.
Going deeper
Explore the machine this game ran on, and what to check before you buy or care for one:
What to Watch Out For
Before buying, these are the points worth knowing — from someone who handles original Japanese Bomberman '93 copies regularly.
Is this the same as Bomberman '94?
No. They are separate PC Engine games released a year apart. '94 added the rideable Louie companions and is often considered the bigger battle game; '93 is the leaner, foot-only original that established the five-player multitap battle. If you specifically want Louies, you want '94.
Do I need anything extra to play five players?
Yes — the five-player battle requires the multitap accessory plus enough controllers. The HuCard alone gives you the full single-player adventure and lower player counts, but the headline five-way chaos needs the tap and the extra pads.
Before You Buy
Things worth knowing before you buy Bomberman '93
A short checklist for buying used PC Engine software wisely — useful with any seller, anywhere.
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Choose a seller who tests it before shipping
A copy that has actually been powered on and checked is a known quantity. An untested one is a gamble you only settle after it arrives.
Look for a seller who states it was function-tested and says what they confirmed. A serious seller can tell you exactly what was checked.
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Make sure it fits your console
Japanese PC Engine HuCards and CDs are not compatible with the North American TurboGrafx-16 — the formats differ. Use a Japanese PC Engine system.
Play it on a matching Japanese console or a region-free system, and confirm the listing states the region.
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HuCard or CD-ROM² — know which you're buying
PC Engine games come on HuCard chips or on CD-ROM². CD titles also require the right CD system and a working System Card.
Confirm the format in the listing, and for CDs check the disc surface and that saves are supported.
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Check that the contacts are clean
Dirty edge contacts are the most common cause of startup and sound trouble in cartridges of this age.
Choose a seller who cleans the contacts before shipping. A note that it was tested and cleaned means the basics were handled.
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Read the seller's reviews and return policy
A 100% positive record across thousands of sales is close to a guarantee — packing, communication and problem-solving all work for everyone. A return policy protects you if something is off.
Read the feedback and confirm a clear return window before you buy.
The last step before buying anywhere is knowing what it's worth.
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This is a young museum, and this page is still waiting for its first voices. The memories people send reach Taisei personally, and the ones that move him find a home here over time — always with the writer's blessing. Yours could be the very first for this game.
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