Blaster Master: Blasting Again

"Downgraded for your viewing Pleasure"

Upon buying Blaster master BA I learned a few disheartening facts. It’s a great game and all but in 3D? Well it did work in Blaster master 2. Even though they changed Sophia in this game it was more like a downgrade then anything. In the first Blaster Master you didn’t have unlimited hover but in this game it’s harder to change your special weapons. The only real new weapon is an Earth shield, some more homing missiles at once, and no triple mini warhead. The main problem in the game is that it’s hard to find where to jump. They don’t give you that good of an angle to see platforms under you. The loading times were ok, not short but not long enough to let you much break, you know to find your socks stuff like that.

Story 9/10
Compared to the first game this pretty much covers the entire thing that happened. I’m still a little confused on the plot mainly because It’s been so long since I’ve played the First and second games. The lighting beings have made there home on earth and are eating it out so to speak. This will soon make the earth give out and be destroyed, and it appears one of the good guys from a planet that created the Sophia tanks has now turned evil. The son of Jason (from the first games) Roddy on a reconnaissance trip underground with his sister Elfie as backup will find this all out shortly. They upgraded Sophia to have more power. (Yet seems to have less abilities). So now Roddy must solve the puzzles of these caverns and maybe meet someone from the past and save the world.

Graphics 6/10
They are nothing special but still cool. I don’t like the new look of Sophia but do enjoy some new enemy designs. I simply loved the statue of the creature guarding the plutonium boss in the first game, and had my mouth fall wide open to see the original model of Sophia in 3D. Some of the caves are a little repetitive but not so much as you go blind seeing them. The main problem is the camera angles, and since that’s more in the graphics section I give it the low score.

Control 8/10
You always have a good control, and no real problems. The main problem is sometimes if you enter a door to fast your momentum riding out the door can get you into trouble. Another door problem is if you ride in backwards forget it if there is a enemy on the other side you will get hit. Not that there are to many times you ride in backwards but you know, stuff happens ^_^. Another problem is switching special weapons since you are mostly in the situation to need it before you decide to use it so you have to sort thru them until you memorize them. It’s not so bad since switching stops gameplay for a few microseconds, which is all you need.

Sound 6/10
There is sound in this people. The music is very soft, but your in a cave full of genetic mutants blasting away with many explosions so don’t expect to hear much until it’s all clear. The sound is ok the same sounds over and over but not to bad. Nothing special, but I can think of worse.

Replay 10/10
Even if all the rest is bad and you would have to live this entire thing again I would do it. With the original Sophia the 3rd I’d love to blast thru this game again. Yes that would be my only reason because I love that tank (I feel like Leona Ozaki uhhh don’t ask). Anyway besides this nothing much changes on your second time around.

Overall 8/10 (or 47/60)
If you liked the first blaster master and are interested in finding what happened next then you should play this game. If not then use your money for something better and if you can rent this. Otherwise you can dish out the $10-15 and have the new sequel for your own.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 01/17/02, Updated 01/17/02