This is easily the best multiplayer experience on XBLA, with creative stages and power-ups, but lacks in single-player.
Gameplay:
Bomberman is a very simple game. 4 players are each put into corner (with the remain spread across the rest of the playing field). They can lay one bomb at a time and use them to blow up blocks preventing them from moving on. The objective is to blow up the other players. However, things change when players collect various power-ups that change the game. Some are as simple as giving you an extra bomb or increasing your speed. But things get even more intense when players collect the aptly titled Power bombs or the Dangerous bomb, which blows up a very large amount of space. Its very fun and very intense.
Multiplayer:
Let me start off by saying that this is easily one of the best party games ever. Thats no small feat. The multiplayer is where this game is at. The same-box multiplayer is up to 4 players with up to 8 if you include bots. It is also 8-person online, but the great thing this game does that every single online should do is let you bring in guests offline. Its great and the only other game that comes to memory that does this is Halo 2. Anyway this is where the game truly shines. You can joke around with your buddies while playing in the very-customizable game types like Zombie, which you try to take oveer squares on the board by bombing them (what else?), but you have unlimited lives, so you don't have to sit on the sidelines if you die. The stages are also cool, ranging from space stations with teleporters to a mine with nowhere to hide. Even the classic stage is there.
Single-player:
This is where the game drags. The game offers no sort of campaign whatsoever. No challenges, no missions, no anything. Similar to Shadowrun (which I also enjoyed), all you can do is play with bots. The only real incentive to playing this is the new costumes. Whenever you collect a capsule in a single-player match at least 2 minutes long, you unlock a new clothing item for your Bomberman. There are a little over 20 different costume sets, ranging from a ballerina to a pirate. Unfortunately, no ninjas. I've seen many variations, from Master Chief to and bear in a hula dress. I'm using a space cowboy now.
Achievements:
This set is rather easy. I got 9 of the 12 in one day, with two the next. Unfortunately, half of them are single-player based, but they are mostly easy, and after you collect all the costumes there is no reason to go back to single-player, as you could probably get all the SP ones quickly. The multiplayer ones won't come as fast, but some are creative. Winning 30 matches is good, but fragging a cowboy (as a cowboy yourself) is cool. I haven't been able to obtain the achievement for winning 10 matches in a row in a tournament, but I have a few friends with it so it should come to me soon.
Summary:
If you want an awesome multiplayer game, look no further than Bomberman Live!. The options are very customiziable, and the guest feature is very much appreciated. If you are buying this for achievements, then you will get your money's worth as they are obtainable quite easily for the most part. If you are buying this solely for the game itslf, you will also definately get your money's worth. Unless you have a Silver account, this is a must-buy for everyone.