We got the news yesterday that a remake/sequel to Blaster Master called Blaster Master:Overdrive would be hitting WiiWare this Monday, but all we had to go on were some small, blurry screenshots and a press release. Well, now we have a small, blurry video too! Hooray!
What do you think of the game so far? Personally, I'm not totally sold on its look yet, but one things for sure, that remix of the "Stage 1" music from the original game is good stuff. As a rule, I prefer sprite-based graphics and chip tunes to pre-rendered graphics and synth-y re-recordings, but those hand-claps are alright. The new grappling hook power-up looks cool too.
Jonathan Holmes is the most lovable Associate Editor on Destructoid. Catch him on videos, original editorials, and on back episodes of the Destructoid Show and MTV's Road Rules. Jonathan is a retro gamer's gamer.
Likes
Mega Man 2, Resident Evil, Katamari Damacy, Bit.Trip, Metal Slug 3
Meet the rest of the team
I think I'm kind of flipped on this one. I actually like the new look as it seems quite close to the original, but that Stage 1 remix is awful. I'm not sure what the best term to use it, I'm learning towards minimalist(?). It just doesn't have enough oomph compared to the NES version.
I'm looking forward to eventually picking it up. Blaster Master was one of my favorite games growing up, and the music was excellent too.
Curious as to why WiiWare sees so many cool retro downloadables that never make it to XBLA/PSN. I understand thinking that the Nintendo base would be most receptive, but I'm not so sure the real target demo actually owns/uses a Wii. Most of us are all growed up and using Xboxes and PlayStations now. Can't be hard to port shit like this and Castlevania/Contra/Gradius Rebirth. I'd buy them all.
It's all about the Benjamins. Between dev kits, high-resolution artwork and general expectations from other games on the service, the budget balloons beyond the comfort zone of certain companies.
I'm hoping that this version has the same easter egg of pausing the game while hitting a boss (odd number bosses only) waiting 15 seconds and then un-pausing to a dead boss
@ Professor Booty- I have to disagree with you on that one. From what I've seen, teenagers and young adults, people without kids, tend to have as PS3/360. It's people on their late 20's to mid 30's, often with a couple of kids, that own a Wii. They are also the same group that were 12-18 +20 years ago, when the NES was at it's peak.
Add that to the fact that the Wii remote basically turns into a NES controller when turned on it's side (and the huge install base_, and you see why the Wii is the preferred choice for NES remakes/sequels.
That said, I think these games should be put on PSN/XBLA as well. Then again, I think every game should be multi-platform.
I haven't heard the other remixes you guys are mentioning but I got a big ole smile on my face when I heard the stage 1 music come on. Can not wait til Monday for this! And once again I will say it....Where the HELL is my new Kid Icarus game!
Looks pretty cool to me. I'm definitely interested in a new Blaster Master, and it looks like they get why the original game was cool. Well, apart from the graphics, but I won't judge until see how it looks when it's not in shitty, blurry quality.
And I think most retro gamers pretty much all own a Wii, since it's got lots of wonderful Virtual Console titles with a great wireless NES-style controller and perfect emulation. The Wii is just kind of the retro gamer system. (Congrats to No More Heroes 2 for figuring out that hardcore Wii owners all like retro games. *laughs*)
There are entire portions of levels where you have to get out of the tank, maybe you don't remember that because you haven't played it? I mean seriously dude...
That remix was pretty bad... And it looks like you have to manually equal weapons/items. I don't think thats going to be a good idea especially towards the end of the game when you have half a dozen different "weapons".
i like the way it looks but something is throwing me off. i dont know why.
but wow. did they get rid of the wall ride and replace it with a grappling hook? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
@ Fetus- We'll find out tomorrow, but my guess is that they'll all be in there.
I love the original, but it does have some unnessisary power ups. "Here's a new gun that shoots yellow and read shots. Now here's one that shoots rainbow shots. And now you can climb walls. And now you can climb walls and ceilings".
I bet they cut out the more minor upgrades and added the grappling hook and some other stuff.
The music is pretty eh, in my opinion. If you're a fan of the original, check out Jesse Bishop's remake of the soundtrack. http://www.concatenationrecords.com/ccn014.html
Much better than what they came up.
As long as you don't power down every time you take a hit in gun mode, I'll give it a whack. Loved the original except for that flaw. Well, that and the lack of any save capacity.
"I have to disagree with you on that one. From what I've seen, teenagers and young adults, people without kids, tend to have as PS3/360. It's people on their late 20's to mid 30's, often with a couple of kids, that own a Wii. They are also the same group that were 12-18 +20 years ago, when the NES was at it's peak."
Well, I'm a mid-thirties guy with a son, I started gaming on a banana yellow Odyssey and spent my childhood triggering Minus Worlds and entering Konami codes, so I know exactly the kind of person you're referring to. Me. :)
I know you love you some Wii, but aside from the occasional traditional Nintendo franchise rehash, or Zelda, the Wii's not doing anything for me, or my son. We're both game enthusiasts, and we both end up on the 360, because there's simply more to that experience for an active gamer, even old retro-starved guys like me. Hell, none of the active gamers my age enjoy the Wii, we were all "over" the gimmick years ago, and have been left with next to nothing ever since.
Point being, while I understand your logic, I find it inaccurate in the sense that us older guys that are still heavily into games are not drawn to Nintendo simply for nostalgia's sake. Given, there are guys my age that grew up with the NES just the same, but "grew out" of video games once they hit adulthood (*scoff*), those guys are indeed the guys that end up talking to me about the Wii, the casual folks that use the Wii to revisit their childhood alongside others dipping their toes into games for the first time, all of whom don't even know what WiiWare is, nor care what it has to offer.
Which brings me all the way back to my original point, that these companies would do well (even better, perhaps) to offer their throwback titles to guys like me and my peers who are all next-gen gaming, and would much rather enjoy them in HD with achievements like Mega Man 9 (and soon 10).
I know you love you some Wii, but aside from the occasional traditional Nintendo franchise rehash, or Zelda, the Wii's not doing anything for me, or my son. We're both game enthusiasts, and we both end up on the 360, because there's simply more to that experience for an active gamer, even old retro-starved guys like me. Hell, none of the active gamers my age enjoy the Wii, we were all "over" the gimmick years ago, and have been left with next to nothing ever since.
Best regards, Anna, CEO of windows 2008 r2 iscsi initiator and itunes store
Destructoid is an open discussion community. You don't need to "audition" to post a comment - just speak your mind. We respect differing opinions on the site, so have at it. Be smart, funny, insightful, clueless, or cute -- but back it up with substance. Keep your cool, keep it fun. We only ask that you act respectfully and above all: don't be a troll and ruin it for everyone else. Don't bring down gamers or we'll, you know, gently shoot you in the face and stuff you into a flaming mailbox. Each comment is your opportuntity to make this community awesomer. Is that even a word?
Avoiding the banhammer only requires common sense: spamming, trolling, racism, NSFW stuff, and other forms of sucking will not be tolerated. If anyone is griefing please report abuse. Be good. Don't suck!
Contest:
3:00 PM on 02.07.2010
| 
I'm looking forward to eventually picking it up. Blaster Master was one of my favorite games growing up, and the music was excellent too.
It's all about the Benjamins. Between dev kits, high-resolution artwork and general expectations from other games on the service, the budget balloons beyond the comfort zone of certain companies.
Add that to the fact that the Wii remote basically turns into a NES controller when turned on it's side (and the huge install base_, and you see why the Wii is the preferred choice for NES remakes/sequels.
That said, I think these games should be put on PSN/XBLA as well. Then again, I think every game should be multi-platform.
And I think most retro gamers pretty much all own a Wii, since it's got lots of wonderful Virtual Console titles with a great wireless NES-style controller and perfect emulation. The Wii is just kind of the retro gamer system. (Congrats to No More Heroes 2 for figuring out that hardcore Wii owners all like retro games. *laughs*)
Totally. That was the only way to fight the bosses.
There are entire portions of levels where you have to get out of the tank, maybe you don't remember that because you haven't played it? I mean seriously dude...
but wow. did they get rid of the wall ride and replace it with a grappling hook? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
I love the original, but it does have some unnessisary power ups. "Here's a new gun that shoots yellow and read shots. Now here's one that shoots rainbow shots. And now you can climb walls. And now you can climb walls and ceilings".
I bet they cut out the more minor upgrades and added the grappling hook and some other stuff.
either way OG blaster blaster master is still my all time favorite game.
Much better than what they came up.
What the hell time do they update the store I want this NOW.
lol ^_^ Leave it to Nintendo to turn me into a child again.
Well, I'm a mid-thirties guy with a son, I started gaming on a banana yellow Odyssey and spent my childhood triggering Minus Worlds and entering Konami codes, so I know exactly the kind of person you're referring to. Me. :)
I know you love you some Wii, but aside from the occasional traditional Nintendo franchise rehash, or Zelda, the Wii's not doing anything for me, or my son. We're both game enthusiasts, and we both end up on the 360, because there's simply more to that experience for an active gamer, even old retro-starved guys like me. Hell, none of the active gamers my age enjoy the Wii, we were all "over" the gimmick years ago, and have been left with next to nothing ever since.
Point being, while I understand your logic, I find it inaccurate in the sense that us older guys that are still heavily into games are not drawn to Nintendo simply for nostalgia's sake. Given, there are guys my age that grew up with the NES just the same, but "grew out" of video games once they hit adulthood (*scoff*), those guys are indeed the guys that end up talking to me about the Wii, the casual folks that use the Wii to revisit their childhood alongside others dipping their toes into games for the first time, all of whom don't even know what WiiWare is, nor care what it has to offer.
Which brings me all the way back to my original point, that these companies would do well (even better, perhaps) to offer their throwback titles to guys like me and my peers who are all next-gen gaming, and would much rather enjoy them in HD with achievements like Mega Man 9 (and soon 10).
Best regards, Anna, CEO of windows 2008 r2 iscsi initiator and itunes store