Genre: Action
Developer: INTI CREATES CO.
Publisher: INTI CREATES CO.
Release Date: Jun 14, 2019
Platform(s): PC [reviewed], Nintendo Switch
Price: $9.99
Blaster Master Zero was the only game during the early days Nintendo Switch that I wanted but skipped over. Sure, I didn’t have a Switch then, but when I did get around to joining the party I skipped over the game because I’m not a fan of digital-only titles, especially when not sent over for review.
Funny thing is that I only go digital when I’m buying games on the PC. Steam is strong enough that I feel it’s going to be around as long as I am. Console stores close and I already have a Nintendo Wii with titles that will disappear once that console finally kicks the bucket. So, when Blaster Master Zero hit Steam I was all over the game. The original Blaster Master on the NES is one of my favorite titles and one that I can still easily go back and play.
Blaster Master Zero continues the series, although I missed out on every other entry, and brings it into the modern world. It keeps the pixel styling of the NES days but adds more than any of the old 2D consoles could offer. Graphical effects are great, the gameplay is silky smooth, and there are tons of areas to explore and bosses to battle. The game managed to make me feel like I was a kid again, waking up early on Saturday morning to play the original before Saturday morning cartoons kicked off.
I had planned on taking thing slow, but once I kicked off the game I finished the entire adventure in two days. Blaster Master Zero is a pretty meaty adventure for a title like this. It’s no twenty-hour experience, but you will put in the hours if you plan on collecting everything, something you really want to do as the game features a good and bad ending depending on if you score a 100% completion or not.
I haven’t played a game this year that has sucked me in the way Blaster Master Zero did. I easily lost several hours, sucked into the smooth action and wanting to see what the next upgrade offered for my character and his futuristic tank. What makes the game special is how it’s actually two games in one. You control your tank in side-scrolling stages, jumping, shooting, scaling walls and dealing with all manner of weird enemies.
The other part of the game sees you leave you tank to hoof it on foot. You’ll need to do this as only your small size can fit into certain areas of each stage. These turn the action into a top-down perspective giving you different weapons and abilities. It’s a huge shift in styles, and seeing screenshots of tank mode and on-foot mode would have you thinking you were looking at two different games. Thankfully, each gameplay style is silky smooth and plays great.
The on-foot mode is going to be where the real challenge is as that’s where you’ll be dealing with the dozens of bosses the game throws at you. Each one will drop some sort of item that will help you advance in some way. Perhaps your character gets a stronger weapon, more life, a map or key, or maybe an upgrade for your tank. Each is vital in some way, although you technically don’t need to find everything to complete the game. Some caves are hidden pretty well or will have you backtracking, something that really adds to the overall length of the game.
Shooting feels great, the weapons are all a blast to use on foot or in your tank, and the story is so silly that it’s adorable. Blaster Master Zero never takes itself too seriously which is a benefit to the game. You’re after your lost frog friend named Fred, find a super tank that takes you into the depths of your world, uncovering an ancient civilization, and meet a cute android girl that serves as your companion/love interest. It’s wicked silly and will charm the pants off of the hardest heart. Blaster Master Zero feels like it came from a place of love and just wants the player to have fun.
That said, I never felt that the game was all that much of a challenge thanks in part to a few weapons for you and your tank that feel OP. I don’t remember the original being as easy as this sequel is. After gaining a few weapon upgrades the enemies are easy to pick off or trap and the bosses all have really clear patterns that allow you to stun-lock them in most cases. I only died a few times from a challenging boss, with most of my deaths just me making stupid mistakes. Checkpoints are also plentiful, so if you do die you won’t be set back all that far. Only that last few stages posed a technical challenge that required me to go into pro-gamer mode.
A lot of people will probably scoff at the weak difficulty, but as someone that doesn’t have endless hours to invest into video games, being able to complete Blaster Master Zero in a reasonable amount of time was nice. It’s even better than the entire time I played I never wanted to put the game down and walk away from it like I would for those intentionally difficult games. At my age I play games to have fun, not to be beaten over the head trying to prove my hardcore gamer credentials. I love video games, but I also love my family.
The only new thing that helps mix up the experience is the online mode. It might sound weird but the game features co-op in multiplayer so that Player 2 can work as support for Player 1. It’s an interesting mix and makes brining a friend along a nice experience. Blaster Master Zero is just a hard game not to like. It oozes not only charm but quality. The audio is also top-notch and the music tracks really help to pull you into the world you are exploring.
What’s nice is that this is a really great port. I’m used to playing something moved over from a console and it having all manner of issues and glitches. I usually end my reviews with what I didn’t like, or the technical problems a game has. That won’t be the case here. The game runs great, is extremely polished, and is one of the most fun retro adventures you can get your hands on.
If you are a fan of the Blaster Master series then you’ve probably already bought this one, but if you are on the fence, I’d say bite the bullet and pick it up. At under 10$ you really can’t go wrong. It’s a fun and silly adventure that shows even games from thirty years ago can still hold up because of the amazingly refined gameplay they featured.
This is a definite “must buy” in my book. The only reason I might suggest holding off is that the game is actually getting a physical release on the Nintendo Switch sometime this year thanks to Limited Run Games. I already purchased this one on Steam, but I like it so much that I’m planning on getting it in physical form on the Switch. Yeah, I like it thank much.
“Blaster Master Zero is a fantastic experience that will make you feel like a kid all over again”
Final Score: 4/5
About Author
