Blaster Master: Overdrive
{{Infobox video game
|title = Blaster Master: Overdrive
|image = Blaster master overdrive logo.png
|developer = Sunsoft
|publisher = Gaijinworks
|composer =
|engine =
|series =
|released = {{vgrelease|NA|February 8, 2010|EU|June 18, 2010}}
|genre = Run and gun, platformer, Metroidvania{{cite web | url = http://www.thunderboltgames.com/review/blaster-master-overdrive | title = Blaster Master Overdrive | first = Sean | last = Kelley | work = Thunderbolt | date = March 23, 2010 | accessdate = July 12, 2016 | publisher = Thunderbolt Games | quote = "Comparable to the recent 2D Castlevania titles or the Metroid franchise, Overdrive falls almost squarely into the astutely named Metroidvania ‘genre.’" | archive-date = September 19, 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160919080621/http://www.thunderboltgames.com/review/blaster-master-overdrive | url-status = live }}
|modes = Single player
|platforms = WiiWare
}}
Blaster Master: Overdrive is a platforming and run and gun video game released by Sunsoft and Gaijinworks as a WiiWare title for the Wii game console. It is the first reboot of the formula and soundtrack of the original Blaster Master game, also produced by Sunsoft, in 1988.
Plot
The game's plot is based on an Earth that has become infected with a virus that has caused animals to be transformed into monsters that threaten humanity. Alex, a world-leading biologist, takes the fight to the mutations to find the source of the virus, using an armored vehicle called S.O.P.H.I.A. to battle against the creatures.
Gameplay
File:Blastermaster overdrive screen.png
The gameplay reuses much of the same concepts of the original Blaster Master title. In side-scrolling sections, the players controls S.O.P.H.I.A. to progress through terrain spaces, gaining power-ups needed to face tougher monsters and progress to new areas. At times, the player can have Alex leave S.O.P.H.I.A. and enter smaller caves, at which point the perspective is turned to a top-down run-and-gun game, where the player controls Alex directly, using weapons and gaining upgrades to explore the caves and defeat boss characters.
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Development
In December 2009, Sunsoft revealed that they wanted to rebuild the Sunsoft brand in North America, and teamed with United States publisher Gaijinworks to bring the original Blaster Master as a Virtual Console title for the Wii.{{cite web | url = http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/26400/Victor_Irelands_Gaijinworks_Helping_Rebuild_Sunsoft_Brand_In_US.php | title = Victor Ireland's Gaijinworks Helping Rebuild Sunsoft Brand In U.S. | first = Eric | last = Canolli | website = Gamasutra | date = December 7, 2009 | access-date = February 7, 2010 | archive-date = December 13, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091213175855/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/26400/Victor_Irelands_Gaijinworks_Helping_Rebuild_Sunsoft_Brand_In_US.php | url-status = dead }}{{cite web | url = http://www.1up.com/news/virtual-console-picks-blaster-master | title = Virtual Console Picks Up Blaster Master, Earthworm Jim 2 | first = Kat | last = Bailey | website = 1UP.com | date = December 14, 2009 | accessdate = May 29, 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160526054817/http://www.1up.com/news/virtual-console-picks-blaster-master | archive-date = May 26, 2016 | url-status = dead }} At the time, Vic Ireland, owner of Gaijinworks, stated that:
{{quote|This first Wii release is a great start, but there is one upcoming announcement in particular that will demonstrate just how serious Yoshida-san is about rebuilding the Sunsoft console gaming brand here. Game fans are going to be pretty happy when they hear about it -– I know I was.|Vic Ireland|Gamasutra, December 2009.}}
Blaster Master: Overdrive was announced on February 6, 2010, only 2 days before its North America release on WiiWare.{{cite web | url = http://www.ign.com/articles/2010/02/06/blaster-master-overdrive-headed-to-wiiware-this-monday | title = Blaster Master Overdrive Headed to WiiWare This Monday | author = IGN staff | website = IGN | date = February 6, 2010 | accessdate = May 29, 2016 | archive-date = March 6, 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160306145730/http://www.ign.com/articles/2010/02/06/blaster-master-overdrive-headed-to-wiiware-this-monday | url-status = live }} On release, the game was criticized only to support one controller configuration (using the Wii Remote in a horizontal alignment in the same manner as the original Nintendo Entertainment System controllers; Ireland stated that he was working with Sunsoft to help implement a patch to include alternative control schemes, including through use of the Classic Controller.{{Cite web | url = http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=19737605&postcount=382 | title = Blaster Master: Overdrive (WiiWare - Feb 8th/1000pts) | first = Vic | last = Ireland | publisher = NeoGAF | date = February 10, 2010 | accessdate = February 10, 2010 | archive-date = February 29, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120229164252/http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=19737605&postcount=382 | url-status = live }}
Reception
{{Video game reviews
| MC = 58/100{{cite web | url = https://www.metacritic.com/game/blaster-master-overdrive/critic-reviews/?platform=wii | title = Blaster Master: Overdrive for Wii Reviews | website = Metacritic | accessdate = May 29, 2016 | archive-date = August 24, 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160824121613/http://www.metacritic.com/game/wii/blaster-master-overdrive | url-status = live }}
| GMaster = 80%{{cite journal | title = Blaster Master: Overdrive | journal = GamesMaster | date = October 2010 | page = 87}}
| GT = 4.8/10{{cite web | url = http://www.gametrailers.com/game/blaster-master-overdrive/12691 | title = Blaster Master: Overdrive Review | publisher = GameTrailers | date = February 22, 2010 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20120225044253/http://www.gametrailers.com/game/blaster-master-overdrive/12691 | archivedate = February 25, 2012 | url-status = dead | accessdate = May 29, 2016}}
| NG = 40%{{cite journal | title = Blaster Master: Overdrive | journal = Nintendo Gamer | date = April 2010 | page = 76}}
| NLife = {{Rating|9|10}}{{cite web | url = http://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/2010/02/blaster_master_overdrive | title = Review: Blaster Master: Overdrive | first = Corbie | last = Dillard | website = Nintendo Life | date = February 10, 2010 | accessdate = May 30, 2016 | archive-date = May 29, 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160529140825/http://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/2010/02/blaster_master_overdrive | url-status = live }}
| ONM = 76%{{cite journal | title = Blaster Master: Overdrive review | journal = Official Nintendo Magazine | date = August 2010 | page = 96}}
| rev1 = The A.V. Club
| rev1Score = C{{cite news | url = http://www.avclub.com/article/blaster-master-overdrive-38416 | title = Blaster Master: Overdrive | first = John | last = Constantine | newspaper = The A.V. Club | date = February 22, 2010 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20100223045458/http://www.avclub.com/articles/blaster-master-overdrive%2C38416/ | archivedate = February 23, 2010 | url-status = live | accessdate = May 29, 2016 }}
| rev2 = Wired
| rev2Score = {{Rating|7|10}}{{cite magazine | url = https://www.wired.com/2010/02/blaster-master-overdrive-review/ | title = Review: Old-School Blaster Master Overdrive Is Blast From the Past | first = John Mix | last = Meyer | magazine = Wired | date = February 10, 2010 | accessdate = May 29, 2016}}
}}
Blaster Master: Overdrive received "mixed" reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.
Critics praised the title as a modern upgrade to a classic Nintendo Entertainment System game, but identified faults with its controls and lack of progressive scan support that limited the graphics quality. John Meyer of Wired identified the game as the "most faithful to the original" of the other attempts to recapture the Blaster Master gameplay, improving on the original game by adding a map screen and tweaking the gameplay in the top-down sections, but noted the default, uncustomized controls, placing the strafing action button on the backside of the remote would lead to hand cramping. Bob Mackey of 1UP.com noted the game, while still remaining challenging, "manages to iron out a few unforgivable aspects" of the original Blaster Master, but also lamented that the improved gameplay in the top-down sections suffered from the choice of controls.
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References
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External links
- {{moby game|id=/wii/blaster-master-overdrive}}
{{Blaster Master series}}
{{Portal bar|Video games}}
Category:Video games developed in Japan