A review for those majoring in bombology.
Comparing the two, the pace in Bomberman Ultra is noticeably slower that its Saturn predecessor. Kicker functionality is glitchy at best. It's almost as if the bombs slide on a notchy grid. Pressing the R2 button to stop a kick will seldom result in the desired bomb placement, taking a very crucial strategic element out of the game. That is really my biggest gripe with this game. You're going to spend all your time corner trapping or open trapping, and that's it.
The AI is decent, but even at the hardest difficulty, they're hopelessly predictable and bizarrely suicidal at times. For the best challenge, see the online feature and play your peers in a number of different contests. Tournament mode is the bread and butter though. Everything else is kind of gimmicky.
The stages are varied, but unoriginal. The desert stage and the ice stage have the same hazard. You get snagged on quicksand/ice cracks. What's the difference? Why did they need to make two stages? Also, the treasure stage with all the power-ups in the center is more of a test of reflexes than anything else and not fun at all. Some of the best stages from Saturn Bomberman (like the Soccer Stadium) are noticeably absent. The controls were also more precise on the Saturn version (although that may be in part to the godlike Saturn D-pad) How hard would it have been to just port that version, clean up the graphics for 2009, and add online play to it?
Now, if you don't know what the heck Saturn Bomberman is and you're still reading this, the next part of this review is for you. This game is a competent and rambunctiously fun gameplay experience. The pace is forgiving enough for beginners to get a feel for trapping and evasion tactics, but it's also rewarding enough to keep aficionados coming back to test their might against the acolytes of bomber-dom. If you've never ever played a Bomberman game before, buy this game. It's only $9.99, and even without a story mode, it's easily worth the pittance they're asking. It's light on the hard drive too at only 72 mb.
In summary, this game cannot compete with the torrid gameplay experience that was Saturn Bomberman, but it's still a solid entry in the franchise and worth your time. You would have to be a total bomber-snob to turn your bomb-sniffing snoot up at this one. I hope to see you on the field of battle!