《Bomb Jack》（ボンジャック）是日本遊戲公司Tehkan（後來的 Tecmo）於1984年推出的固定畫面動作平台遊戲。由於採用直立縱向螢幕的配置，加上節奏明快、飛行跳躍極具特色的操作手感，遊戲上市後迅速在全球街機市場掀起熱潮，並成功移植至多個家用平台，成為80年代街機文化的代表作之一。

故事雖然簡單，卻充滿冒險氛圍。主角傑克（Jack）是一名專門回收炸彈的英雄，他的任務是前往世界各地的著名地標與歷史遺跡，回收敵人預先設置的炸彈，以保護文化與建築不受破壞。每一關的背景均以實際景點為靈感，包括埃及金字塔、雅典衛城與璀璨的城市夜景，使得遊戲在視覺上呈現出當時街機少見的精緻感。

雖然操作方式僅依靠一支搖桿與一個按鈕，本作的空中動作卻蘊含極高深度。傑克能以驚人的高度跳躍，在空中可透過按住上方向延長滯空時間，或按下方向快速下降，以便調整飛行軌跡。快速連按跳躍鍵亦能延長空中停留，使其成為面對高密度敵人時的重要技巧。這些靈活的空中控制，使得玩家能在畫面中自由穿梭，呈現出近乎空中舞動般的節奏感。

主要目標是在每個固定畫面中收集所有炸彈，其中部分炸彈會隨機點燃導火線，能帶來更高分數。如果依照導火線點燃的順序連續收集，可大幅提高該回合的額外得分，因此高分玩家常以此作為核心策略，形成深度與技巧並重的玩法。同時，敵人會依一定規律追擊玩家，初期皆以骷髏姿態登場，但若從高處落下便會變成不同種類的怪物，使得局勢變化更加難以預料。只要被敵人碰觸即會死亡，因此玩家必須依靠巧妙的空中微調來逃脫包圍或反向穿越敵陣。

在收集炸彈的過程中，符合特定條件會出現各式道具，包括提升分數倍率、增加生命、獲得額外遊戲次數等。當玩家累積足夠炸彈，畫面也會生成「P」的圖示。取得後所有敵人會瞬間變成能安心收集的金幣，形成整場遊戲中最令人期待的短暫爽快時刻。

其美術風格同樣受到高度讚賞。主角與敵人採取輕快可愛的設計，但背景卻採寫實風格，並細緻描繪全球著名場景，其中「金字塔與獅身人面像」與「絢爛夜景」尤其為人津津樂道，甚至成為玩家心中辨識度最高的象徵性畫面。音樂方面更是本作一大亮點，街機版採用三首曲目，其中包含動畫《湯匙阿嬤》的片尾曲《蘋果森林的小貓們》、披頭四的名曲《Lady Madonna》，以及一首專為本作製作的原創曲。由於涉及版權問題，後續多數移植版本無法保留原曲，使得街機版的音樂更顯珍貴而具代表性。

遊戲的深度來自其「易上手、難精通」的特質。若單純以破關為目標，只需逐一收集炸彈即可；但若追求高分，就必須精準判斷敵人動向與導火線順序，並控制滯空與加速下落的節奏，使其成為技巧型玩家長年挑戰的對象。遊戲節奏明快，空中控制感優秀，使熟練玩家能在敵陣間高速移動，形成極具爽快感的遊玩體驗。也因此，《Bomb Jack》常被視為80年代動作遊戲完成度極高的作品之一。然而，本作也存在一些缺點。隨著關卡推進，尤其自第五關開始，大量高速移動的UFO會大幅提升壓力；若無法迅速收集炸彈，極易被圍攻。此外，採用循環制關卡，對只追求破關的玩家而言，背景與音樂的變化較少，可能略顯單調；但對高分玩家而言，這種固定架構反而提供研究與競技的空間。

因極高人氣而被移植到多種平台，包括SG-1000、PC-8801、Windows與Wii虛擬主機等。然而由於音樂版權問題，多數移植版本不得不更換BGM，甚至取消音樂。只有PC-8801與Windows版本仍保留街機原曲，其中Windows 95／NT4.0 版本因忠實還原街機體驗而備受推崇。本作也衍生數款續作，包括加入橫向卷軸設計的《Mighty Bomb Jack》、歐洲家用電腦限定的《Bomb Jack II》，以及具備雙人模式、難度更高的街機續作《Bomb Jack Twin》。

總結而言，《Bomb Jack》以其靈活的空中操作、緊湊快速的節奏、深度分數系統，以及極具視覺與音樂魅力的呈現方式，奠定其在街機史不可動搖的地位。雖然難度偏高、內容具重複性，但其獨特的遊戲性仍能吸引玩家反覆挑戰，至今依舊是街機迷間口耳相傳的時代經典。

Bomb Jack (ボンジャック) is a fixed-screen action platform game released in 1984 by the Japanese developer Tehkan, which would later become Tecmo. With its vertically oriented arcade monitor, fast and lively pacing, and uniquely buoyant jumping mechanics, the game quickly became a sensation in arcades worldwide. Its success led to numerous ports across home platforms, making it one of the iconic titles of 1980s arcade culture.

The story is simple yet filled with a sense of adventure. The protagonist, Jack, is a hero whose mission is to recover bombs planted by villains across famous landmarks and historical sites around the world. His efforts aim to protect precious cultural treasures from destruction. Each stage is modeled after real-world locations—such as the Egyptian pyramids, the Acropolis of Athens, and dazzling nighttime cityscapes—giving the game an unusually refined and distinctive visual identity for its time.

Although the controls rely only on a joystick and a single button, the game’s aerial mechanics possess remarkable depth. Jack can leap to extraordinary heights, and by holding upward on the joystick, he can remain airborne longer; pressing downward causes him to drop rapidly, allowing precise adjustment of his aerial path. Rapidly tapping the jump button further prolongs airtime, a crucial technique for surviving later levels filled with dense enemy patterns. These flexible mid-air movements enable expert players to weave through enemies with a flowing, dance-like rhythm.

The main objective is to collect all the bombs within each fixed screen. Some bombs are randomly ignited, granting higher scores, and collecting them in the order they light up yields even larger bonuses. High-level players often base their entire strategy around this mechanic, blending precise timing with calculated movement to maximize points. Enemies follow specific patterns when approaching Jack. They initially appear in skull form but transform into different monsters when falling from higher platforms, making their behavior unpredictable. A single touch results in instant death, requiring constant precision and delicate aerial adjustments to escape danger or thread through enemy formations.

During bomb collection, various items may appear depending on player performance. These include score multipliers, extra lives, and additional credits. Accumulating enough bombs will trigger the appearance of the “P” icon, which transforms all enemies into collectible coins for a short period—one of the most exhilarating moments of the entire game.

The game’s visuals are also highly praised. Character sprites are cute and vibrant, but the backgrounds are rendered with an unusual degree of realism, depicting iconic global locations with impressive detail. Scenes such as “the Pyramids and the Sphinx” or the “brilliant city nightscape” became especially memorable and are still widely cited by fans. Music is another defining highlight of the arcade version, which features three tracks: “Kittens of the Apple Forest” from the anime Spoon Oba-san, The Beatles’ Lady Madonna, and an original composition made specifically for this game. Because of licensing issues, these tracks were removed or replaced in most home conversions, making the arcade version’s soundtrack particularly cherished.

Bomb Jack’s depth lies in its accessibility paired with its difficulty to master. Players focused solely on clearing stages can simply gather bombs casually, but those aiming for high scores must study enemy patterns, optimize ignition-order collection, and master airborne control. Its brisk tempo and responsive aerial mechanics allow skilled players to zip through crowded screens with exhilarating speed, earning the game a reputation as one of the most polished action titles of its era.

Despite its acclaim, the game does have shortcomings. Difficulty escalates sharply—especially starting from Stage 5—where fast-moving UFOs create intense pressure. Failure to collect bombs quickly often results in inevitable entrapment. The game also uses a looping stage structure, meaning backgrounds and music repeat with limited variation; casual players may find it somewhat repetitive, though high-score players appreciate the consistency as it allows deeper study and competitive precision.

Owing to its popularity, Bomb Jack was ported to many platforms, including the SG-1000, PC-8801, Windows, and the Wii Virtual Console. However, due to music licensing issues, most ports lacked the original soundtrack and often replaced or removed background music entirely. Only the PC-8801 and Windows 95/NT4.0 versions retained the original arcade tracks, with the latter being especially praised for faithfully recreating the arcade experience. The game also inspired several follow-ups, including Mighty Bomb Jack for the Famicom (a hybrid sequel/remake with side-scrolling elements), Bomb Jack II for European home computers, and Bomb Jack Twin, an arcade sequel with higher difficulty and cooperative two-player support.

In summary, Bomb Jack solidified its place in arcade history through its fluid aerial gameplay, fast-paced action, deep scoring system, and distinctive visual and musical presentation. Though challenging and somewhat repetitive in structure, its addictive mechanics encourage repeated play, and it remains a beloved classic, widely remembered as one of the defining arcade games of the 1980s.