Blaster Master Zero review

Blaster Master Zero is actually the second reboot of the original Sunsoft NES game Blaster Master which was originally released in 1988. The first reboot, Blaster Master Overdrive, which was released in 2010, failed to achieve the success they hoped. In 2017, Inti Creates Blaster Master Zero. The game was first released on the 3DS and Switch and then ported to PC in 2019, PS4 in 2020, and finally Xbox One and Xbox Series S|X in 2021. Blaster Master Zero tells the story of Jason Frudnick, a young man who descends into a subterranean world aboard his tank vehicle called SOPHIA to rescue a frog creature named Fred.

Much like the 1988 original, Blaster Master Zero features side-scrolling levels where players ride around SOPHIA killing enemies and finding their way through the maze-lite levels in search of caves to explore. Once you find a cave, you can hop out of the tank-like vehicle (you can leave at any time; it’s just not recommended as you’ll move slower and not be able to reach a lot of areas) and switch to a top-down perspective when entering the cave. While in the original, due to technical limitations, you could only move left, right, up or down, you can now roam around in 8 directions allowing for a more fluid exploration.

Whether it be behind the wheel of SOPHIA or walking around the various cave-like areas, Jason is equipped for the job. As you complete specific dungeons, you’ll earn upgrade that allows SOPHIA to reach previously unreachable areas and stronger firepower to take down enemies faster or breaking barriers. This gives the game a touch of Metroidvania as you’ll be sometimes backtracking between levels in order to reach new areas.

As Jason, you can also upgrade your firepower and you’ll also find health pick-ups to increase your health; this encourages players to explore as many dungeons as possible in order to find helpful perks such as a level map or upgrades. Inti Creates did do like in the original whereas you explore dungeons, when first starting, your weapon has a short firing range, but you can find upgrades that will allow you to fire further. But as in the original, if you get hit, you lose this “upgrade”, meaning you have to be careful to not take damage.

The best addition the developers made to the game was definitely the addition of a map. Given its Metroidvania influence, this is helpful on so many levels given that the original didn’t have a map, it was easy to get lost and go around in circles. While the map “unlocks” itself as you explore it, finding a map hidden in one of the dungeons will show you which cavern has a boss into it; allowing you to avoid unnecessary exploration.

Additionally, SOPHIA drives as if every area was made of ice. While it’s manageable when driving on a long flat platform or jumping from a bigger platform to another, when it comes to precise platforming on smaller platforms where a bomb resides, for example, it becomes a chore as you’ll slide into the bomb, which will knock you back down; or you’ll try to land the landing, but you’ll miss and fall again. It can create unnecessary frustrations.

While the original did have its fault due to technological limitations, this new vision of the game also does have its fair share of issues. First off is the fact that I can only have three projectiles on screen at once. This is baffling given that we’re now between the 8th and 9th generation of consoles; this is inexcusable even if they wanted to have a nod to the classic game, this is just no. Also moving around in the top-down areas isn’t perfect either. While you can now move in 8 directions (it went from 4 to 8, but they can’t have more than 3 bullets on screen), it still feels clunky and it’s sometimes difficult to determine whether or not you’re in the enemy’s firing path.

This new paint of coat on Blaster Master Zero is great; ultra colorful and detailed enough so each area looks very different from one another and also from the original. While some areas are slightly recognizable, others not so much will brings adds a layer of new to the classic Sunsoft game. As mentioned there are 2D platforming sequences and top-down areas. The latter also look great and each presents a plethora of challenges. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the soundtrack. While some tunes are recognizable, others aren’t brand new tracks and some of them, especially during top-down areas, are annoying and borderline ear-grating. Too bad they couldn’t just remaster the original, perfect, soundtrack.

Overall, Blaster Master Zero is a fun Metroidvania-lite game that is built from a solid action platforming game in Blaster Master. The exploration, the gameplay diversity (side-scrolling vs. top-down navigation), fun and challenging boss battles; the game features balanced gameplay. If you can tolerate the game’s aforementioned shortcomings and nuisance, you’ll find an addictive Metroidvania-lite game.