Blaster Master

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Issue 17 and we are doing our first NES game. It took 17 issues to finally land on the NES? Ouch. Please, don’t throw me in retro jail.

If you remember from a past issue, I once shared how my dad asked if I wanted a game system and I picked the Master System over the NES. It wasn’t because I had anything against Nintendo, it was just that all my friends already had one and I wanted something different. I didn’t get my first NES until years later.

One of the games I always circle back to when I do fire up the NES is Blaster Master.

As I write this newsletter I’m starting to notice a pattern in my retro journey. I’ve always been drawn to games that mix things up and refuse to stay in a single lane. 

Hybrid experiences leave a big impression on me. ActRaiser blended city building with side scrolling action. Conker’s Bad Fur Day tossed in a wild merry-go-round of levels and mechanics. Blaster Master fits right in with that spirit, it’s a game that is so much more than it first appears.

So let’s fill our tank with tots and dive into this NES classic.

Blaster Master stands as one of the NES library's most interesting titles, seamlessly blending Metroidvania-style exploration with shoot-em-up action across two distinct gameplay modes.

The overworld sections put you behind the controls of a tank called SOPHIA III, navigating treacherous terrain while blasting mutant creatures and environmental obstacles.

It feels great to play thanks to responsive controls. At its core, the game is a platformer much like Mario, only with a tank instead of a plumber. Your vehicle can jump and shoot in multiple directions, and the best part is that it can be upgraded as you progress.

New abilities like wall climbing and hovering gradually unlock, opening previously inaccessible areas and rewarding exploration.

What makes Blaster Master truly unique is the ability to leave the tank at any time and explore on foot.

Jason, the hero of the game, can step out and tackle top-down dungeon segments. These sections play like compact action challenges, requiring precise shooting and movement as you navigate maze-like areas filled with bosses and power-ups.

The difficulty spikes here, with Jason’s limited health making every encounter feel tense and dangerous.

Visually, the game pushed the NES hardware impressively hard. The underground environments felt genuinely alien, with detailed sprite work bringing the mutant ecosystem to life.

SOPHIA III moved with satisfying weight and momentum, while the various creatures you encountered displayed surprising animation detail for 1988. The color palette emphasized the game's sci-fi horror atmosphere, using darker tones punctuated by bright weapon effects and environmental hazards.

Sunsoft's audio team delivered one of the system's most memorable soundtracks. The opening theme remains instantly recognizable decades later, perfectly capturing the sense of descending into an unknown world.

Each area featured distinct musical themes that enhanced the atmosphere, from the mechanical rhythms accompanying tank sections to the more urgent melodies driving dungeon exploration.

The progression system kept players constantly working toward the next upgrade. New weapons, movement abilities, and defensive options were carefully gated behind exploration challenges, creating a genuine sense of growth and discovery.

Blaster Master deserves recognition as one of the NES era's most innovative achievements, successfully combining multiple gameplay styles into a cohesive whole that still feels fresh today.

The game's willingness to challenge players with genuine difficulty, combined with its rewarding exploration and upgrade systems, created an experience that stuck with anyone brave enough to see it through to completion.

While the lack of save systems made it a marathon challenge, those who persevered discovered one of Nintendo's most unique adventures.

The game's specific combination of tank-based overworld exploration switching to top-down dungeon crawling remains fairly unique even decades later.

Modern players can experience updated takes on these mechanics in the recent Blaster Master Zero series, which pays homage to the original while adding contemporary polish.

For retro gaming enthusiasts seeking something beyond the typical platformer fare, Blaster Master remains an essential experience.

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