Bomb Jack (set 1)

Bomb Jack (set 1)

Powered by EmulatorJS · Arcade

Console
Arcade
Release
1984
Players
2P alt

About Bomb Jack (set 1)

Arcade Video game published 42 years ago:

Bomb Jack (c) 1984 Tehkan.

Bomb Jack is a fast-moving platform game in which the aim is to collect all of the bombs on each level before progressing to the next. A variety of constantly spawning mechanical enemies patrol the platforms and airspace so the longer a player takes to collect all of the bombs, the more difficult progress becomes.

Extra point bonuses are awarded for collecting bombs with their fuses lit. Only one bomb at any time has a lit fuse, and collecting twenty or more of these lit bombs on any given level will earn the player points bonus (see TIPS AND TRICKS for details). Jack is pursued around each level by the spawning enemies and when he gets killed, he drops down to the nearest platform, always landing on his head.

A 'Powerball' appears at semi-regular intervals and moves diagonally around the screen. If the player manages to grab this, all of the level's monsters are frozen for several seconds and can then be killed by having Jack fly into them (similar to the 'Powerpill' feature in "Pac-Man"). Collecting the Bonus 'B' symbols will increase the amount of points awarded for collecting bombs with their fuses lit. Picking up an 'Extra' symbol awards the player with an additional life, while catching the 'Special' symbol will give the player an extra credit.

Player layout in our catalog: 2P alt.

If you are exploring by feel rather than by title, jump from the tags above into the matching genre rooms, or return to the Arcade hall for the full wall.

Open Play on this page to start Bomb Jack (set 1). Keyboard, USB/Bluetooth pads, and the on-screen touch gamepad all work inside the emulator bar. Save states and fullscreen live on that same bar so you can pause mid-session and resume later.

Bomb Jack (set 1) — play guide

What Bomb Jack wants from you

Bomb Jack (set 1, Tehkan, 1984) is a fast platform collect: gather every bomb on the screen, use platforms and power-ups, dodge enemies before continues empty. Collect honesty beats mash. Learn bomb order and enemy patrols cold—do not paste later Bomb Jack sequels blindly. Calm first screens until collect routes are narratable; bomb chrome is packaging, not free invincibility.

First minutes in Bomb Jack

First screens: plan a bomb route that doesn’t trap you, watch enemy patrols before flying vanity paths. Power-cycle once so Tehkan chrome stops looking like a different platformer. Early stages teach Bomb Jack grammar: planned collects before mash routes that death-tax mid-screen when denser enemy scripts arrive on later boards.

Core systems in Bomb Jack

Jump/fly as wired, bomb collects, platforms, enemies, power-ups, lives/continues, and Bomb Jack UI define the systems. Skill is route discipline under pressure—not grabbing the nearest bomb into a corner death. After continues, reconfirm which bombs remain before racing again. Keep a one-sentence collect route before the second screen.

Score, continues, and resources in Bomb Jack

Screen clears and survival score the run; deaths tax continues. Continues are coins. Fewer panic grabs and fewer ignored patrols keep credits alive. Farming early screens forever without reading denser layouts still leaves set 1 unread. Progress is Tehkan chrome that no longer forces death loops mid-screen on later boards.

Mistakes that burn credits in Bomb Jack

Grabbing bombs without a route, ignoring enemy patrols, vanity flying into corners, tunneling on sparkle while a enemy finishes you, and rage-continuing the same screen burn credits. Power-cycling mid-tilt without a plan burns another credit. Next credit: route first, collect second—stop mash tourism for scenery and patrol panic on later Tehkan boards.

Next steps after Bomb Jack

When Bomb Jack screens clear without constant death loops, compare Bomb Jack Twin or other Tehkan platforms deliberately, then return with route drills on set 1. Keep playing until panic-grab empties stop ending sessions mid-screen on later boards. Cousin collect platforms help as contrast after Bomb Jack feels automatic—not as escape from screens you still rush for chrome. Clear one full screen carefully before you chase vanity flight again.

Sources cited below under Further reading.

Cabinet dossier

Bomb Jack (set 1) is filed in our catalog as a 1984 release.

Player layout on this cabinet: 2P alt.

Genre tags on Classic Arcade Games: Platform.

Credit line lists Tehkan (Tecfri license) as developer.

Screenshots

Bomb Jack (set 1) screenshot 1Bomb Jack (set 1) screenshot 2Bomb Jack (set 1) screenshot 3

Next cabinets

Nearby cabinets you may also open from this hall (each on its own play page):Vs. Mighty Bomb Jack (Japan), Bombjack Twin (set 1), Alex Kidd: The Lost Stars (set 2, unprotected), Arabian, Athena, Bagman, Baluba-louk no Densetsu (Japan), Burger Time (Bandai), Ben Bero Beh (Japan), Bogey Manor, Boggy '84, Bongo

How to play Bomb Jack (set 1) online

  • Arcade stick feel: Arrow keys for the joystick, X/Z (and nearby keys) for buttons, Enter=Start.
  • USB / Bluetooth pads map cleanly; six-button fighters use the face-button cluster.
  • On phones, open the on-screen pad from the emulator bar; rotate sits next to fullscreen.
  • Save states, load, volume, and fullscreen stay on the emulator bar between credits.

Studio notes — Tehkan (Tecfri license)

Tehkan (Tecfri license) appears on this cabinet’s credit line. Browse more titles from the same studio on the developer shelf, or stay on this page and try the next cabinets in the same hall.

Retro games by Tehkan (Tecfri license)

Can I play Bomb Jack (set 1) free in a browser?

Yes. Classic Arcade Games hosts Bomb Jack (set 1) as a Arcade cabinet you can start on this page. The emulator loads in the browser; you do not need to install a separate app.

What controls does Bomb Jack (set 1) support?

Arcade stick feel: Arrow keys for the joystick, X/Z (and nearby keys) for buttons, Enter=Start. USB / Bluetooth pads map cleanly; six-button fighters use the face-button cluster.

Are there other games in the same series as Bomb Jack (set 1)?

Yes — related series cabinets on this site include Vs. Mighty Bomb Jack (Japan), Bombjack Twin (set 1). Each has its own play page with the same browser emulator path.

Further reading

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