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Blaster Master Zero

A re-imagining of the 1988 NES title, Blaster Master Zero is a great game for anyone looking for classic 8-bit action. Its accessible difficulty and superb retro graphics make for a wonderful addition to the Switch’s library.
87%Game Brain Score
story, music
grinding, stability
94% User Score Based on 1,194 reviews
Critic Score 81%Based on 14 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchXbox Series X|SPCNintendo 3dsPlaystation 4Xbox OneXboxSteam DeckWindowsPlayStation

About

"Blaster Master Zero is a 8-bit style sci-fi shooter game, reminiscent of the NES era. It's a single-player or two-player co-op action-adventure game, featuring new areas, bosses, and gameplay elements compared to the original 1988 game. With improved battle mechanics, a more robust scenario, and expanded exploration, Blaster Master Zero offers a refreshed take on the classic game."

Blaster Master Zero screenshot
Blaster Master Zero screenshot
Blaster Master Zero screenshot
Blaster Master Zero screenshot
Blaster Master Zero screenshot
Blaster Master Zero screenshot
Blaster Master Zero screenshot
Blaster Master Zero screenshot
Blaster Master Zero screenshot
Blaster Master Zero screenshot
Blaster Master Zero screenshot
+5
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94%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,194 reviews
story58 positive mentions
grinding26 negative mentions

  • Fantastic remake that stays true to the original NES game while adding modern enhancements.
  • Great mix of side-scrolling and top-down gameplay, providing a unique experience.
  • Improved graphics, controls, and a more fleshed-out story enhance the overall experience.
  • Game is generally too easy, especially for veterans of the original.
  • Some boss fights can be trivialized with overpowered weapons, reducing challenge.
  • Backtracking can be tedious, and the lack of fast travel options may frustrate players.
  • story
    320 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of "Blaster Master Zero" is a reimagined and expanded version of the original NES plot, combining elements from various sources, including the Japanese "MetaFight" and the "Worlds of Power" novel. While some players appreciate the enhanced narrative and character development, others find it predictable and overly simplistic, with mixed opinions on its execution and dialogue. Overall, the game offers a more engaging storyline than its predecessor, though it still retains a level of cliche typical of retro platformers.

    • “Blaster Master Zero is an excellent remake of the original Blaster Master, with improved graphics, controls, audio, story, and everything.”
    • “The storyline is a significant improvement from the original and tries its best to still keep what little events took place in its NES counterpart and twist them to actually make sense.”
    • “The mix of side-scrolling platformer and top-down shooter gameplay, the graphics and art design, the remake elements fully modernizing the game, the surprisingly engaging story, and especially the soundtrack, all of it absolutely boppin'.”
    • “The story and dialog are very poor, but the game can also be very wordy, with the action being interrupted somewhat frequently (especially in the beginning and toward the end) with box after box of poor dialog.”
    • “The game story may as well not be there, just as in the NES game, for all the impact it has on your motivation.”
    • “The problem is the story is cliched.”
  • music
    311 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its catchy melodies and modern reinterpretations of classic themes, particularly in the first level. However, a significant number of players expressed disappointment that much of the original NES soundtrack was replaced with new compositions, which they felt lacked the memorability and charm of the original tracks. Overall, while the new soundtrack is generally considered enjoyable, it does not fully capture the essence of the beloved original music.

    • “This game has a banging soundtrack.”
    • “The music in this game is amazing.”
    • “The mix of side scrolling platformer and top down shooter gameplay, the graphics and art design, the remake elements fully modernizing the game, the surprisingly engaging story, and especially the soundtrack, all of it absolutely boppin'.”
    • “Much of the NES music has been dropped in favor of entirely new compositions, which is a shame because the original had such a banger soundtrack.”
    • “The soundtrack doesn't follow the original everywhere, which is a shame and a loss of the opportunity to share some of the best composed video game music ever written.”
    • “The game's one weakness is its audio; not only is the music patently inferior to that of the first game, many of the sound effects make less than no sense.”
  • gameplay
    281 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of this title is a blend of classic mechanics from the original NES game and modern enhancements, featuring tight controls and a mix of side-scrolling and top-down shooter elements that keep the experience engaging. While some players appreciate the nostalgic feel and the introduction of new mechanics, others note that certain aspects, like enemy difficulty and some mechanics, can feel unbalanced or outdated. Overall, the game successfully modernizes the original while maintaining its core charm, making it accessible for both veterans and newcomers.

    • “Both the top-down and sideview platforming exploration are bolstered with the regular introduction of intuitive new gameplay elements and gimmicks to encourage you to adapt to them, and the controls are tight enough to make for a responsive experience.”
    • “The gameplay is a smooth experience from start to finish.”
    • “The mix of side scrolling platformer and top down shooter gameplay, the graphics and art design, the remake elements fully modernizing the game, the surprisingly engaging story, and especially the soundtrack, all of it absolutely boppin'.”
    • “While the game is still good, it doesn't hold a candle to the modern era in terms of gameplay, though that's understandable since they weren't really trying to change that aspect.”
    • “New power-ups didn't really affect the gameplay; in a way, they are just used as keys to open the upcoming area's gates.”
    • “However, the game has a few other game modes, including ex character mode, which lets you play as characters from other series, all of them featuring slightly tweaked gameplay; so if you want to go through the game again and try the other characters out, it's definitely worth checking out.”
  • graphics
    181 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of "Blaster Master Zero" have been widely praised for their fresh, modernized pixel art style that pays homage to the original game's aesthetic while enhancing visual clarity and detail. Reviewers appreciate the vibrant colors, smooth animations, and the overall artistic direction, which successfully blends nostalgia with contemporary design elements. While some players prefer a more modern graphical approach, the game's visuals are generally regarded as a significant improvement over the original, contributing to an engaging and immersive experience.

    • “The updated graphics, gameplay, and expanded story are all wonderful and remain true to the original game.”
    • “The visuals are clean, simple and crisp and are a lot brighter than those of the original game, probably helped by not being bound by the NES's color limits.”
    • “This game gives the original all the justice it deserves, with beautifully updated visuals that still feel faithful to old-school gaming but also taking advantage of the lack of hardware limitations!”
    • “Graphics are also lower quality and oversaturated (how did you do that?).”
    • “Classic old school gameplay with semi-updated graphics but not without its issues.”
    • “Of course, some people will pass this up, because of the graphic style.”
  • replayability
    60 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game offers significant replayability through various unlockable modes, multiple playable characters, and achievements, making it enjoyable for players seeking new challenges. While many reviews highlight the abundance of content and alternate endings, some note that the replay value may diminish due to similarities in gameplay across characters. Overall, the combination of extra content and modes ensures a solid replay experience for most players.

    • “Satisfying gunplay and exploration make this an absolute joy to play, with plenty of replay value and additional modes.”
    • “Finishing the game unlocks several interesting modes, so there is some good replayability here.”
    • “And for those of you who desire that added bit of replayability in your games, there's NG+, a boss rush mode, and even an added challenge mode (Destroyer) where everything during the top-down sections, even the common enemies, adopt a specific weakness-based damage system.”
    • “There's however one major gripe about replayability regarding unlimited and destroyer mode: in order to get the true ending, you'll need to defeat all optional bosses and obtain all optional items, even if the items don't do anything because of the bonus character limitations or playing destroyer mode.”
    • “Replay value is a bit low due to the overly similar playthrough with different characters but with less variety in options.”
    • “The new content makes it a bit too easy, lacks replay value after you complete it.”
  • grinding
    26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be largely tedious, with backtracking for missed collectibles and certain level designs contributing to frustration rather than challenge. While some improvements have been made to reduce frustration, such as checkpoints and save features, the lack of fast travel and the necessity for 100% completion can lead to a joyless experience. Overall, the game is criticized for making exploration feel more like a chore than an engaging adventure.

    • “It is like everything in the game is designed to be tedious and annoying.”
    • “The original is fairly tedious in its difficulty, but this remake took an opposite turn and removed any sense of accomplishment for completing a level or beating a boss.”
    • “However, without fast travel and with backtracking to get the collectibles you might have missed being so tedious, I must warn you that the true final world requires 100% collectibles, so please use a guide to make sure you don't miss even a single map chip or else you will have a completely joyless hike back through every level to try to find the thing you missed.”
  • stability
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is generally praised for its stability, with users reporting a polished experience free of glitches, softlocks, or lag, even on lower-end PCs. The updated controls and smooth transitions contribute to a cohesive gameplay experience, although some players note that this may make the game feel easier.

  • humor
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is characterized by its overpowered weapons and items that make boss battles feel trivial, alongside intentionally poor level design that leads to amusing moments. Players appreciate the comedic elements that harken back to the original NES experience, making it a standout in its genre.

    • “It's honestly pretty easy, and some of the weapons/items you get are so hilariously overpowered it kind of trivializes most of the bosses in the game as long as you're somewhat careful.”
    • “Some of the level design is randomly hilariously bad, like making one specific jump or dying.”
    • “I find it a funny one, where the original stood out over the other NES games; this version is going back to the classic experience.”
  • character development
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game has received mixed feedback, with some players appreciating the character designs while others prefer the nostalgia of earlier titles. The anime-inspired aesthetics may not appeal to everyone, leading to varied experiences and preferences among players. Overall, while the game is considered enjoyable, it may not resonate with all fans of the genre.

    • “You had to stay based on this game; it is genuinely good. Character designs brought me there.”
    • “Not everyone is a fan of the more anime-styled character designs, and that's okay.”
    • “I still prefer the original Blaster Master on NES because of nostalgia, atmosphere, and character design.”
    • “You had to stay based on this game, it is genuinely good I can't lie, unlike WayForward's Shantae, character designs brought me there but I did give up halfway.”
  • optimization
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization has received mixed feedback, with some users experiencing stuttering during gameplay, potentially linked to their own systems. Additionally, it has been noted that the game is not well-optimized for keyboard controls on PC, though overall performance of the port has been satisfactory for many players.

    • “I do experience some stuttering during gameplay (not sure if that is my system, but who knows), but other than that technical issue - this is a most satisfying reboot to my favorite NES game of all time.”
    • “Despite being on PC, it is not optimized for keyboard gaming.”
    • “I wasn't disappointed in the performance of this port.”
  • atmosphere
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviewers highlight a strong sense of nostalgia and atmosphere in the original Blaster Master on NES, praising its character design and overall ambiance. While newer versions introduce improvements, they successfully maintain the original's atmospheric qualities, enhancing the experience without losing its essence.

    • “I still prefer the original Blaster Master on NES because of nostalgia, atmosphere, and character design.”
    • “Many additions with less frustrating hurdles (no need to worry about lives or continues) while keeping the same atmosphere of the original.”
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10h Median play time
10h Average play time
9-11h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 8 analyzed playthroughs
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