Silent Bomber

Silent Bomber (サイレントボマー, Sairento Bomā) is a 1999 arcade style action video game for the PlayStation, and the second game developed by CyberConnect. Silent Bomber is based on the classic top down shoot 'em up genre but with a twist: Instead of shooting the enemy, the player blows them up using bombs. In 2006, it was released for the PlayStation Network in Japan.

Silent Bomber
North American cover art
Developer(s)CyberConnect
Publisher(s)Bandai
Director(s)Hiroto Niizato
Designer(s)Takayuki Isobe
Composer(s)Chikayo Fukuda
Seizo Nakata
Platform(s)PlayStation, PlayStation Network
ReleasePlayStation
  • JP: October 28, 1999
  • NA: April 2000[1]
  • EU: July 21, 2000
PlayStation Network
  • JP: November 21, 2006
Genre(s)Action
Mode(s)Single-player multiplayer

Gameplay

The player takes control of the protagonist, Jutah, whose mission is to attack and destroy the facilities and defenses of the colossal space dreadnought Dante. The player can either plant bombs simply where they stand, or by launching them using the lock-on reticle. Bombs that are launched at enemies also attach to their target. Bombs can then be detonated at any time at the player's discretion. This introduces the chaining element of gameplay, where the number of enemies simultaneously destroyed awards more points. Bombs can also be "stacked", and a larger number of bombs in the same place is more destructive. Jutah can set only a limited number of bombs at one time, so the set bombs must be detonated before more bombs can be set.

Jutah also has access to material liquids, which are enhanced bombs with special effects. Napalm continues to burn after it is detonated, damaging enemies within the flames. It is also more effective against biological enemies. Gravity forms a miniature black hole, sucking in nearby enemies. Paralysis temporarily disables electrical devices. It also does extra damage to mechanical enemies. Material liquids can also be stacked and chained with standard bombs.

Jutah can upgrade the number of bombs he can plant before needing to detonate them, the range of his bomb-planting hologram and his resistance to enemy attack by using E-Chips hidden throughout the levels. Jutah's E-Chips can be configured at any time to adapt his skills to different situations.

In keeping with arcade style tradition, many levels end with a powerful boss that Jutah must destroy or repel to move on through the game's 14 levels.

Plot

The game begins with Jutah Fate, a war criminal, being drafted into a covert military operation by his home planet of Hornet. Because of events that occurred prior to the game, he is largely devoid of emotions. The mission is to destroy a space cruiser, known as the Dante, that is threatening the planet. Also part of the mission are Benoit Manderubrot, a political criminal; Micino Tifone, a spy; and John Loss, an escape artist and member of an oppressed tribe. The operation is headed by CO Annri Ohara.

Upon arrival at the Dante, their ship is shot down by Dante's anti-aircraft weapons. Everyone lands on the cruiser unharmed, but Jutah is separated from the group. As the game progresses and Jutah is asked to destroy various parts of Dante, Jutah and Annri begin to develop feelings for each other.

Finally, Jutah reaches Dante's bridge, but finds that the crew was killed by its own defenses. A hologram of Benoit appears and reveals that it was he who killed the crew, and that he had taken control of the ship and still planned to destroy Hornet. After Jutah refuses to join with Benoit, Benoit tries to kill Jutah by ejecting him into space. He is rescued by his crew as Benoit seals off Dante.

Jutah breaks back into the ship and destroys Dante's powerful cannon in time to save Hornet. With the cannon gone, Jutah Finds Benoit in the ship's core, and discovers that Benoit has bonded himself to the Dante's AI. After the final battle, Benoit activates Dante's self-destruct system. Jutah tries to get back to his ship, but his way is blocked, forcing the others to leave without him. The game ends with Jutah visiting Annri at her home three years later.

Characters
  • Jutah Fate: A genetically engineered man created by the military government Tarakhan and based on the planet controlled by it and named for it-Tarakhan-as part of its Elite Fighter Engineering Project. He was trained as a military weapon, specialising in spying, assassination, and demolition. He lived only to destroy. Then the military government collapsed, and he was sentenced to 300 years in prison. There, he had a mental breakdown. Now, he's fighting for his freedom. (English voice: Henry Douglas Grey)[2] (Japanese voice: Toshiyuki Morikawa)[3]
  • Annri Ohara: An elite military officer and computer specialist that graduated from the military academy at the head of her class. Annri sought fulfillment in the Hornet government maintaining planet-wide peace. But, after joining the Hornet army, she discovered there were problems with the government, as with any large institution. Annri is the only member of Operation Toroy from the Hornet Military. (English voice: Debbie Derosa)[2] (Japanese voice: Kyōko Hikami)[3]
  • Benoit Manderubrot: An international political criminal and chess master who has joined and led seven major revolutions. Benoit assumed a different identity and embraced a different ideology for each conflict. He believes that revolution is like chess, and uses people as game pieces. He volunteered for Operation Toroy. Benoit is considered the most mysterious member of the troop, his ability as a soldier exceeding even Jutah's. (English voice: Richard Cansino; as Richard Hayworth)[2] (Japanese voice: Kaneto Shiozawa)[3]
  • Micino Tifone: A professional spy who will do anything for money. Micino has stolen state secrets by seducing government officials with her beauty. Her strong points are her physical strength and cat-like agility, and her uncanny sixth sense. (English voice: Bridget Hoffman; as Ruby Marlowe)[4][5] (Japanese voice: Ryōka Yuzuki)[6]
  • John Loss: A hero, he uses guerrilla tactics to fight for the liberation of the oppressed Nufu tribe, a 'primitive' tribe held in government "preservation". He agreed to join Operation Toroy on condition that the tribe be freed. His character is described as intelligent and quiet, but once he's on the battlefield, his bravery and ferocity are unmatched. (English voice: Kirk Thornton; as Sparky Thornton)[4] (Japanese voice: Daiki Nakamura)[6]
  • Tim Palmer: The youngest member of the mission, Tim is a brilliant and resourceful pilot. He needs only a few minutes to master any vehicle. He gets his nickname "Mr. Escape" from his previous career of breaking prisoners out of jail. He's a talented weapons operator and is master of the hasty retreat. (English voice: Sean Mitchell)[4] (Japanese voice: Kappei Yamaguchi)[6]

Reception

The game received favorable reviews according to the review aggregation website GameRankings.[7] In an early review, Jeff Lundrigan of NextGen called it "An engrossing, challenging game with a very different approach than most."[17] In Japan, Famitsu gave it a score of 29 out of 40.[10]

References
  1. Harris, Craig (May 26, 1999). "Silent Bomber (Preview)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  2. CyberConnect. Silent Bomber. Bandai. Scene: Ending credits (English version), 18:44 in, English Voices.
  3. CyberConnect. Silent Bomber. Bandai. Scene: Ending credits (Japanese version), 34:05 in, Voice Actor.
  4. CyberConnect. Silent Bomber. Bandai. Scene: Ending credits (English version), 18:51 in, English Voices.
  5. Becker, Josh. "Josh Becker: Q & A archive, page 52". Beckerfilms.com. Archived from the original on September 23, 2015. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
  6. CyberConnect. Silent Bomber. Bandai. Scene: Ending credits (Japanese version), 34:11 in, Voice Actor.
  7. "Silent Bomber for PlayStation". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on December 5, 2019. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  8. EGM staff (April 2000). "Silent Bomber". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 129. Ziff Davis.
  9. Ellis, Keith "DNM" (July 5, 2000). "Silent Bomber". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on August 16, 2000. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  10. "サイレントボマー [PS]". Famitsu (in Japanese). Enterbrain. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  11. Helgeson, Matt (March 2000). "Silent Bomber". Game Informer. No. 83. FuncoLand. Archived from the original on December 2, 2000. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  12. Weitzner, Jason "Fury" (April 2000). "Silent Bomber". GameFan. Vol. 8 no. 4. Shinno Media. p. 32. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  13. Mylonas, Eric "ECM"; Ngo, George "Eggo"; Rodriguez, Tyrone "Cerberus" (April 2000). "Silent Bomber". GameFan. Vol. 8 no. 4. Shinno Media. p. 12. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  14. The D-Pad Destroyer (March 27, 2000). "Silent Bomber Review for PlayStation on GamePro.com". GamePro. IDG Entertainment. Archived from the original on September 9, 2004. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  15. Mielke, James (January 13, 2000). "Silent Bomber Review [Import] [date mislabeled as "May 5, 2000"]". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  16. Perry, Douglass C. (April 19, 2000). "Silent Bomber". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  17. Lundrigan, Jeff (March 2000). "Silent Bomber". NextGen. No. 63. Imagine Media. p. 90. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  18. Rybicki, Joe (March 2000). "Silent Bomber". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine. Vol. 3 no. 6. Ziff Davis. p. 94. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
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