Bomberman II Password Guide For NES

Back in August 2006 I asked for assistance to crack Bomberman II password system from someone whose code name is WNivek. Oh yes, 70s - 80's kids love using code names in their hey day.



I was unable to give proper focus on cracking its password system due to some personal issues in life during those days. Cutting down the dramatics, everything started with his email:

And then followed by another email that goes this way:

I'm glad you like my Lomax pass generator. :) Honestly, I wouldn't have been able to make it without you. As I'm sure I mentioned, I based it on my analysis of your own password FAQ.

I may not be an expert at cracking passes, but your mention of Bomberman 2 intreagued me. I've downloaded Bomberman 2, and started messing around... I've actually made a surprising amount of headway. Hopefully you'll find it useful.

The first character seems to be an offset of some sort - whatever value is there seems to mean 0 in the rest of the code. I think it may be XORed with the rest of the code, maybe?

The next two represent the level number - first is the super-section (Area X-x), second the sub-section (Area x-X)

The fourth seems to not affect the meaning of the code, but rather is related to code validation.

The fifth handles the number of bombs you can place simultaneously.

Sixth is appears to be another validation piece.

Seventh details the strength of your bombs

The eighth and final character is, apparently, more validation.


I haven't yet worked out quite how the three validation pieces work, nor the full affect of the offset. Still, it's something. If it helps, here's some test-codes I've come up with:

11111111 - A1-1, B1, S1

21111118 - A2-2, B2, S2
12111116 - A2-1, B1, S1
11211116 - A1-2, B1, S1
11121112 - A1-1, B1, S1
11112116 - A1-1, B2, S1
11111216 - A1-1, B1, S1
11111126 - A1-1, B1, S2

1221212B - A2-2, B2, S2

12121111 - A2-1, B1, S1
12251111 - A2-2, B1, S1

11211611 - A1-2, B1, S1

11121211 - A1-1, B1, S1

51111113 - A3-3, B3, S3
1511111J - A3-1, B1, S1
1151111J - A1-3, B1, S1
11151115 - A1-1, B1, S1
1111511J - A1-1, B3, S1
1111151J - A1-1, B1, S1
1111115J - A1-1, B1, S3

11711118 - A1-4, B1, S1
11G1111B - A1-5, B1, S1
11F1111K - A1-6, B1, S1
11C11113 - A1-7, B1, S1

Oh, right, I should probably note that I'm using the US version of Bomberman 2 here, which uses a different set of characters than the Japanese one.

US Pass chars:
12345678
BCDFGHJK

JP Pass chars:
ABCDEFGH
IJKLMNOP

I haven't tested these in the Japanese version, but I would guess that it's a direct correlation in the characters between the one and the other based on the layout.


I hope this helps!

Few more email messages and he posted his Bomberman II Password System Guide on GameFAQs.

One Boring Day In The Office

At one point, I was experiencing cosmic boredom I chanced upon WNivek's article in the archives. Archive stripped the functional password generator away from his article. It was quick for me to decide that his work of art must not be thrown to oblivion so I decided to create this nifty Bomberman II Password Generator.

Moronman's Interpretation Of WNivek's Work

Here's my interpretation of WNivek's Bomberman II Password System Guide. If you're curious or like playing Bomberman II, you may want to fiddle around with this generator. Enjoy!

Area Select (1 - 6): 123456 - 12345678 Number of Bombs (1 - 8): 12345678 Bomb's Range (1 - 5): 12345

Reference(s) / Test Environment(s):

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1. WNivek's Bomberman II Password Guide for Nintendo Entertainment System.
2. https://www.gamefaqs.com/nes/587150-bomberman-ii/faqs/44511
3. US version passwords we're tested and working on 8BBIT Bomberman II Page. Take note that 8BBIT is not in any way affiliated with TNTTS.
4. Japan version password not yet tested but I am sure it will work.
5. Javascript tool written by Erickson Deveza.