Presser: Blaster Master makes its way onto the Wii Virtual Console
Long before Super Metroid and Castlevania: Symphony of the Night made Metroidvania-style gameplay popular on the SNES and PS1, Sunsoft perfected the formula with Blaster Master on the NES. The developer went on to make a few other notable games on the system, but unfortunately, the transition from 8 to 16 to 32-bit console development and beyond was not kind to it, causing the company to resign itself to making pachinko games in the mid-nineties. Because Sunsoft had pretty much left the gaming space long ago, those hoping for a Blaster Master VC release were convinced that it would never happen. That all changed when, in a recent press release, Sunsoft revealed that it will once again be publishing games in the US with the help of Gaijinworks. The first game to get released as a result of their partnership is none other than Blaster Master.
Victor Ireland, former president of Working Designs, the founder of Gaijinworks, and someone who was instrumental in getting this collaboration started, has been reaching out to the community through NeoGAF and Sunsoft's own fan forums. Here are a few of the things that he had to say about the upcoming release -
on Blaster Master
"There's some cool (as in unique - hello workling designs!) promotional things available for those that buy the VC version. There'll be details on the website around the launch of the game."
on beating Blaster Master
"You'll be rewarded for making the effort this time around."
To this day, Blaster Master remains one of my favorite games on the Nintendo, so much so that I still find myself playing it regularly, often making my way up to the third or fifth area just for the hell of it. It helps that those particular levels feature some of the best music in an NES game. Also, the fact that you can actually "feel" the jumps (you'll know what I'm talking about when you try it) never gets old.
Other than the brilliant soundtrack, what I like the most about the game is the challenge. In addition to having a limited number of continues, the sheer size of each area, the boss battles, and the backtracking made it one of the hardest games to complete on the NES. So, it really feels like you've accomplished something when you eventually beat it. This was especially true back when it was originally released - when gamers couldn't rely on save states or Google to make things easier. The revelation that there's supposed to be a reward for beating the VC version of Blaster Master has me both intrigued and excited. If anything, it will give me a good reason to once again block off a part of my day some time this week (it literally took me all day to beat it back in the day) to see if I still have it.
The press release (added on December 14):
Redding, CA – December 14, 2009 – Sunsoft, a division of SUNCORPORATION, has today announced that Blaster Master is available in the United States on the Wii Virtual Console.
Originally titled Meta Fight in Japan, this groundbreaking game was given a story makeover and released in 1988 as Blaster Master here in the United States. It received strong critical acclaim and fan raves almost from the moment it hit these shores.
Blaster Master is still often listed on magazine and online charts as one of the top 25 NES games ever created. The sublime blend of side-scrolling shooting/platforming mixed with overhead perspective action/shooting areas is just as addictive now as it was then. The smorgasbord of old-school entertainment can be had for a mere 500 Wii points.
Fans are encouraged to improve their skills so they can finish this supreme test of gaming skill to allow them to take part in a coming promotion that will test their skill for prizes.
from Sunsoft's Blaster Master VC launch page:
Originally titled Meta Fight in Japan, this groundbreaking game was given a story makeover and released in 1988 as Blaster Master here in the United States. It received strong critical acclaim and fan raves almost from the moment it hit these shores.
Blaster Master is still often listed on magazine and online charts as one of the top 25 NES games ever created. The sublime blend of side-scrolling shooting/platforming mixed with overhead perspective action/shooting areas is just as addictive now as it was then.
Here’s the charmingly 80’s description from the back of the box as it appeared in 1988:
The New York sewers were never like this!
You've fallen down a hidden manhole into a world of creatures so terrifying they'd scare the rats away. You can panic and perish, or blast your way through an endless maze of tunnels, searching for the secret passages to your escape.
And, that's the easy part. Because the Masters of the Caverns lay waiting - prehistoric creatures so powerful, so gigantic, they literally fill your screen! So load your arsenal and get ready for Blaster Master.
Now you can revisit this arcade-action classic on your Wii and revisit a time when games were only finished by the best, and only the best games got finished.
Arrival Date: December 14, 2009
Platform: Wii Virtual Console
Cost: 500 Wii Points
tags: Blaster Master, Chô Wakusei Senki Metafight, Gaijinworks, Kiharu Yoshida, Metroidvania, Naoki Kodaka, NES, Sunsoft, Victor Ireland, Wii Virtual Console