Difference between revisions of "Blaster Master"

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[[Image:Blaster Master - NES - USA.jpg|thumb|256x256px|North American box art.]]
 
[[Image:Blaster Master - NES - USA.jpg|thumb|256x256px|North American box art.]]
  
'''''Blaster Master''''', known in Japan as '''''超惑星戦記メタファイト, Cho Wakusei Senki: Metafight, "Super Planetary War Records: Metafight"''''' is an action-adventure game developed by [[Tokai Engineering]] and published by [[Sunsoft]] for the [[NES]] in 1989. In the game, the player pilots a tank-like vehicle that can be upgraded with various power-ups like homing missiles, a hover drive, and the ability to drive along the walls.
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'''''Blaster Master''''' is an action-adventure game developed by [[Tokai Engineering]] and published by [[Sunsoft]] for the [[NES]] in 1988-06-17. In the game, the player pilots a tank-like vehicle that can be upgraded with various power-ups like homing missiles, a hover drive, and the ability to drive along the walls.
  
 
The Japanese version has an adult theme where the prosperous planet Sophia the 3rd is attacked by a barbaric race who wipe out the people leaving only an overlooked science outpost. The outpost builds a fighting machine called the "Metal Attacker." Kane Gardner pilots the Metal Attacker to defeat the tyrant Goez, and his minions. In the American version, the pet frog of a boy named Jason escapes his terrarium and jumps on a radioactive box to mutate into a large monster who sinks into the ground. Jason chases after his frog and finds an underground abandoned tank named Sophia the 3rd, along with a suit of armor that fits him perfectly. He dons the suit in search of his lost mutant frog. Just slightly different!
 
The Japanese version has an adult theme where the prosperous planet Sophia the 3rd is attacked by a barbaric race who wipe out the people leaving only an overlooked science outpost. The outpost builds a fighting machine called the "Metal Attacker." Kane Gardner pilots the Metal Attacker to defeat the tyrant Goez, and his minions. In the American version, the pet frog of a boy named Jason escapes his terrarium and jumps on a radioactive box to mutate into a large monster who sinks into the ground. Jason chases after his frog and finds an underground abandoned tank named Sophia the 3rd, along with a suit of armor that fits him perfectly. He dons the suit in search of his lost mutant frog. Just slightly different!
  
Even before I played the game Blaster Master, I read the pre-teen Worlds of Power book loosely based on the game. As a child around 10 years old, I thought the book was pretty good, but as an adult, there's not much to like. It was more than enough to get me interested in the game, and a friend of mine from school had it, and I played it at his house. I enjoyed the game, but didn't get very far. Later, I remember playing it again at home with my brother and getting much further (maybe area 3?). Using cheats I have seen the entire game, but, having seen how difficult it is, I have little desire to try and beat it properly.
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Even before I played the game Blaster Master, I read the pre-teen [[Worlds of Power]] book loosely based on the game. As a child around 10 years old, I thought the book was pretty good, but as an adult, there's not much to like. It was more than enough to get me interested in the game, and a friend of mine from school had it, and I played it at his house. I enjoyed the game, but didn't get very far. Later, I remember playing it again at home with my brother and getting much further (maybe to area 3?). Using cheats I have seen the entire game, but, having seen how difficult it is, I have little desire to try and beat it properly.
  
 
==Status==
 
==Status==
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===Good===
 
===Good===
* The game has really nice graphics and music.
+
* The game has unbelievable background art, some of the best on the entire platform. Each stage is unique and attractive.
* The environment of each stage is unique and attractive.
+
* The game's music is really great.
 
* The idea of hopping in and out of your tank to go into rooms is a nice mechanic.
 
* The idea of hopping in and out of your tank to go into rooms is a nice mechanic.
 
* The various power-ups that you get throughout the game are pretty cool.
 
* The various power-ups that you get throughout the game are pretty cool.
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===Bad===
 
===Bad===
 
* The gun system is wretched. I like the idea of powering up your weapon and losing power as you take hits, but several of the gun upgrades are very erratic and hard to target. A similar mechanic was used in [[Fester's Quest]], and it's just as awful there too.
 
* The gun system is wretched. I like the idea of powering up your weapon and losing power as you take hits, but several of the gun upgrades are very erratic and hard to target. A similar mechanic was used in [[Fester's Quest]], and it's just as awful there too.
* For a game this long, and with levels so winding, a save slot or at least a password system really should have been made available.
+
* For a game this long, and with levels so winding, a save slot, password system, or, at the very least, unlimited continues should have been made available rather than [[permadeath]].
 
* I don't like how monsters stop moving the moment they leave the screen, and begin moving again when to move toward them again.
 
* I don't like how monsters stop moving the moment they leave the screen, and begin moving again when to move toward them again.
 
* It becomes very difficult to control Sophia when you get the walking on walls and ceiling power-ups.
 
* It becomes very difficult to control Sophia when you get the walking on walls and ceiling power-ups.
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* In the later levels, the game becomes insanely difficult.
 
* In the later levels, the game becomes insanely difficult.
  
==Box Art==
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==Media==
 +
===Box Art===
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
 
Blaster Master - NES - Japan.jpg|The original Japanese box art is drawn in anime style. It focuses on the tank and Kane, but there is also a girl on the box who doesn't appear anywhere in the game except in the end credits.
 
Blaster Master - NES - Japan.jpg|The original Japanese box art is drawn in anime style. It focuses on the tank and Kane, but there is also a girl on the box who doesn't appear anywhere in the game except in the end credits.
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</gallery>
 
</gallery>
  
==Documentation==
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===Documentation===
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
 
Blaster Master - NES - Manual.pdf|Game manual.
 
Blaster Master - NES - Manual.pdf|Game manual.
 
Blaster Master - NES - V-Note's Chronicle.pdf|Fan hit book.
 
Blaster Master - NES - V-Note's Chronicle.pdf|Fan hit book.
 +
Nintendo Power - 1988-06 - 086-087.jpg|[[Nintendo Power]], June, blurb.
 +
Nintendo Power - 1988-09 - 074-075.jpg|Nintendo Power, September, part 1.
 +
Nintendo Power - 1988-09 - 076-077.jpg|Nintendo Power, September, part 2.
 +
Nintendo Power - 1988-11 - 026-027.jpg|Nintendo Power, November, part 1.
 +
Nintendo Power - 1988-11 - 028-029.jpg|Nintendo Power, November, part 2.
 +
Nintendo Power - 1988-11 - 030-031.jpg|Nintendo Power, November, part 3.
 +
Nintendo Power - 1988-11 - 032-033.jpg|Nintendo Power, November, part 4.
 +
Nintendo Power - 1988-11 - 034.jpg|Nintendo Power, November, part 5.
 +
Nintendo Power - 1988-11 - 039.jpg|Nintendo Power, November, poster.
 +
Blaster Master - NES - Ad.jpg|US Ad.
 +
Blaster Master - NES - Japan - Ad 1.jpg|Japanese ad, 1.
 +
Blaster Master - NES - Japan - Ad 2.jpg|Japanese ad, 2.
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
  
==Maps==
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===Maps===
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
 
Blaster Master - NES - Map - Area 1.png|Area 1.
 
Blaster Master - NES - Map - Area 1.png|Area 1.
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Blaster Master - NES - Map - Area 8 - Interiors.png|Area 8, interiors.
 
Blaster Master - NES - Map - Area 8 - Interiors.png|Area 8, interiors.
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
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 +
===Fan Art===
 +
<gallery>
 +
Blaster Master - NES - Fan Art - Malakym.jpg|Fan art by Malakym.
 +
Blaster Master - NES - Fan Art - Gooie Duck.jpg|Fan art by Gooie Duck.
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Zac Gorman - Blaster Master.jpg|Fan art by Zac Gorman.
 +
</gallery>
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 +
===Videos===
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* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2STUx_9bkB4 youtube.com/watch?v=2STUx_9bkB4] - Longplay.
 +
 +
==Titles==
 +
{| class="wikitable"
 +
! Language !! Native !! Transliteration !! Translation
 +
|-
 +
| English || Blaster Master || ||
 +
|-
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| Japanese || 超惑星戦記メタファイト || Cho Wakusei Senki: Metafight || Super Planetary War Records: Metafight
 +
|}
  
 
==Links==
 
==Links==
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* [http://www.vgmpf.com/Wiki/index.php/Blaster_Master_(NES) vgmpf.com/Wiki/index.php/Blaster_Master_(NES)] - Music.
 
* [http://www.vgmpf.com/Wiki/index.php/Blaster_Master_(NES) vgmpf.com/Wiki/index.php/Blaster_Master_(NES)] - Music.
 
* [http://www.thealmightyguru.com/Games/Hacking/Wiki/index.php/Blaster_Master thealmightyguru.com/Games/Hacking/Wiki/index.php/Blaster_Master] - NES Hacker Database.
 
* [http://www.thealmightyguru.com/Games/Hacking/Wiki/index.php/Blaster_Master thealmightyguru.com/Games/Hacking/Wiki/index.php/Blaster_Master] - NES Hacker Database.
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* [https://tcrf.net/Blaster_Master tcrf.net/Blaster_Master] - The Cutting Room Floor.
  
  
 
[[Category: Games]]
 
[[Category: Games]]
 
[[Category: Video Games]]
 
[[Category: Video Games]]
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[[Category: NES Games]]
 
[[Category: Action]]
 
[[Category: Action]]
 
[[Category: Adventure]]
 
[[Category: Adventure]]
 
[[Category: Platformer]]
 
[[Category: Platformer]]
 
[[Category: Metroidvania]]
 
[[Category: Metroidvania]]
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[[Category: Science Fiction]]
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[[Category: Run and Gun]]
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[[Category: Game Mechanic - Permadeath]]

Revision as of 17:00, 26 October 2018

North American box art.

Blaster Master is an action-adventure game developed by Tokai Engineering and published by Sunsoft for the NES in 1988-06-17. In the game, the player pilots a tank-like vehicle that can be upgraded with various power-ups like homing missiles, a hover drive, and the ability to drive along the walls.

The Japanese version has an adult theme where the prosperous planet Sophia the 3rd is attacked by a barbaric race who wipe out the people leaving only an overlooked science outpost. The outpost builds a fighting machine called the "Metal Attacker." Kane Gardner pilots the Metal Attacker to defeat the tyrant Goez, and his minions. In the American version, the pet frog of a boy named Jason escapes his terrarium and jumps on a radioactive box to mutate into a large monster who sinks into the ground. Jason chases after his frog and finds an underground abandoned tank named Sophia the 3rd, along with a suit of armor that fits him perfectly. He dons the suit in search of his lost mutant frog. Just slightly different!

Even before I played the game Blaster Master, I read the pre-teen Worlds of Power book loosely based on the game. As a child around 10 years old, I thought the book was pretty good, but as an adult, there's not much to like. It was more than enough to get me interested in the game, and a friend of mine from school had it, and I played it at his house. I enjoyed the game, but didn't get very far. Later, I remember playing it again at home with my brother and getting much further (maybe to area 3?). Using cheats I have seen the entire game, but, having seen how difficult it is, I have little desire to try and beat it properly.

Status

I own Blaster Master, but I have not beaten it.

Review

  • Overall: 5/10
  • Best Version: NES.

Good

  • The game has unbelievable background art, some of the best on the entire platform. Each stage is unique and attractive.
  • The game's music is really great.
  • The idea of hopping in and out of your tank to go into rooms is a nice mechanic.
  • The various power-ups that you get throughout the game are pretty cool.
  • The large bosses are great looking and make for interesting battles.
  • The intro is well-drawn and utterly ridiculous.

Bad

  • The gun system is wretched. I like the idea of powering up your weapon and losing power as you take hits, but several of the gun upgrades are very erratic and hard to target. A similar mechanic was used in Fester's Quest, and it's just as awful there too.
  • For a game this long, and with levels so winding, a save slot, password system, or, at the very least, unlimited continues should have been made available rather than permadeath.
  • I don't like how monsters stop moving the moment they leave the screen, and begin moving again when to move toward them again.
  • It becomes very difficult to control Sophia when you get the walking on walls and ceiling power-ups.
  • A large amount of the same monsters are used throughout the entire game.
  • Having infinite grenades is a bit unusual. It seems like maybe they should have been a limited resource, but considering how unreliable the gun is, it's nice to have them.
  • By looking at the top-down cave layouts, it kind of seems like the designers originally intended for the player to be able to jump, and then removed the ability before properly fixing all the levels.
  • It's very difficult to maneuver between spikes in the top-down caves.

Ugly

  • In the later levels, the game becomes insanely difficult.

Media

Box Art

Documentation

Maps

Fan Art

Videos

Titles

Language Native Transliteration Translation
English Blaster Master
Japanese 超惑星戦記メタファイト Cho Wakusei Senki: Metafight Super Planetary War Records: Metafight

Links