data/claims/blaster-master-history.yamlBlaster Master (history and reception)
Game: Blaster Master.
Sun Electronics released the Famicom original, 超惑星戦記メタファイト (Chō Wakusei Senki Metafight), in Japan on 17 June 1988, at 5,300 yen, by Famicom Tsushin's issue of the same day. blaster-master-history/release-japan
printed p. 30, 最新ゲーム大紹介, data strip — read on the page image; the text layer is garbled hereサン電子 6月17日発売 5300円Our translationSun Electronics, on sale 17 June, 5,300 yenFamicom Tsushin, no. 51 (17 June 1988) · printed p. 30, 最新ゲーム大紹介 — read on the page image超惑星戦記メタファイトChecked by a second AI model, 2026-11-06.The strip prints no year; the issue is dated 17 June 1988.
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Sunsoft released Blaster Master for the NES in North America in November 1988, by Nintendo of America's release list. Nintendo Power's September/October 1988 issue already reviewed it under a "Now Playing" stamp. blaster-master-history/release-na
PDF p. 2 — the row reads Sunsoft, November 1988Blaster MasterNintendo Power, issue 2 (September/October 1988) · printed p. 75 (PDF p. 73), Blaster Master — a stamp on the page, read on the page imageNOW PLAYING!Nintendo Power, issue 2 (September/October 1988) · contents (PDF p. 7)BLASTER MASTER 74.Checked by a second AI model, 2026-11-06.Nintendo of America's list is a later compilation, and the magazine's issue dates run ahead of the shops; neither gives a day.
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In July 1991 the British magazine Mean Machines wrote that Nintendo had meant to release the game the year before and sent it out for review, and that the Complete Guide to Consoles Book II scored it 93%, but that it had then been pulled from the release schedule and not seen since. In February 1993 the British magazine Nintendo Game Zone listed it as a Sunsoft game at £34.99, "one of the best platform/puzzle games that has been seen in some time". blaster-master-history/europe
PDF p. 20, letters, "Well Blasted"YOB: Nintendo were going toMean Machines, issue 10 (July 1991) · PDF p. 20, letters, "Well Blasted" — the OCR runs the game's name into "thsillaster" just beforeMaster book last year, and it was sent to us for review.Mean Machines, issue 10 (July 1991) · PDF p. 20, letters, "Well Blasted"to Consoles Book II and scored a handsome 93%.Mean Machines, issue 10 (July 1991) · PDF p. 20, letters, "Well Blasted" — the OCR reads "as pulled" for "was pulled"pulled from the release schedule and has never again been seen.Nintendo Game Zone, issue 4 (February 1993) · PDF p. 89, NES games list, Blaster MasterSunsoft/£34.99 • In Blaster Master you playNintendo Game Zone, issue 4 (February 1993) · PDF p. 89, NES games list, Blaster MasterOne of the best platform/puzzle games that has been seen in some time.Checked by a second AI model, 2026-11-06.The reader who wrote in had a Worlds of Power novel of the game. Game Zone's entry ends in a rating in circles that the OCR garbles; it hasn't been read on the image. No European release date has been found.
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The Famicom manual names Tokai Engineering as the game's maker and Sun Electronics as its seller; the North American manual is Sunsoft's, licensed by Nintendo. blaster-master-history/makers
back cover (PDF p. 24) — read on the page image; the text layer is garbled製作発売元 東海エンジニアリング(株)Our translationMade and issued by Tokai Engineering Co., Ltd.Chō Wakusei Senki Metafight (Famicom) instruction manual · back cover (PDF p. 24) — read on the page image販売元 サン電子株式会社Our translationSold by Sun Electronics CorporationBlaster Master (NES) instruction manual · title page (PDF p. 3)for purchasing the SUNSOFT "Blaster Master" Game Pak.Blaster Master (NES) instruction manual · PDF p. 2LICENSED BY NINTENDORevised after a check by a second AI model, 2026-11-06: Quoted the manual's "LICENSED BY NINTENDO".Neither manual names any staff.
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In the North American manual Jason's pet frog Fred escapes and touches a huge radioactive chest, grows to an enormous size, and falls into the earth with it; Jason falls in after him. Below lie an armoured vehicle built to fight the radioactive mutants living under the Earth's crust, and the mutants' master, the Plutonium Boss, whom the player has to destroy. Nintendo Power tells it differently: there Jason finds the vehicle and jumps into the cockpit. blaster-master-history/premise-us
printed p. 2 (PDF p. 4), storyThis game is about a guy named Jason. Jason had a pet frog named Fred.Blaster Master (NES) instruction manual · printed p. 2 (PDF p. 4), storytoward a huge radioactive chest. As soon as Fred touched it, he grew to an enormous size, and the radioactive chest fell into the earth along with Fred.Blaster Master (NES) instruction manual · printed p. 2 (PDF p. 4), storyJason tried to reach for Fred but fell into the hole along with him.Blaster Master (NES) instruction manual · printed p. 2 (PDF p. 4), storyone designed for the ultimate challenge against the radioactive mutants living under the Earth's crust.Blaster Master (NES) instruction manual · printed p. 2 (PDF p. 4), storyThese mutants, created from escaped radioactive waste, are controlled by the Plutonium Boss.Blaster Master (NES) instruction manual · printed p. 3 (PDF p. 5)Your mission is to fight your way and destroy the Plutonium BossNintendo Power, issue 2 (September/October 1988) · printed p. 74 (PDF p. 72), Blaster Master, storyInstead, he found an armoured vehicle designed to foil the plans of the evil PlutoniumNintendo Power, issue 2 (September/October 1988) · printed p. 74 (PDF p. 72), Blaster Master, storyJason jumped into the cockpit and sped into the cavern beyond.Revised after a check by a second AI model, 2026-11-06: Says Nintendo Power tells the landing differently: the manual has Fred land beside the vehicle.The manual's own sentence has Fred, not Jason, land beside the vehicle; Nintendo Power gives it to Jason, and has Fred touch a box marked "Danger— Radioactive".
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The Famicom manual tells a different story: in the year 2052 of the space calendar the Invem Dark Star Cluster, led by GOEZ, invades the planet Sophia, and the science academy of its satellite NORA builds the all-purpose combat vehicle Metal Attacker, piloted by the boy genius Kane Gardner. Famicom Tsushin gives Kane's age as 15. blaster-master-history/premise-jp
printed p. 1 (PDF p. 3), story — read on the page image; the text layer is garbled時に宇宙暦2052年——大宇宙の恐怖の覇王・GOEZ率いるインベム暗黒星団の来襲は、惑星ソフィアの平和に終止符を打ったOur translationIn the year 2052 of the space calendar, the coming of the Invem Dark Star Cluster, led by GOEZ, the terrifying overlord of the universe, put an end to the peace of planet SophiaChō Wakusei Senki Metafight (Famicom) instruction manual · printed p. 1 (PDF p. 3), story — read on the page image衛星NORAの科学アカデミーでは、その総力をあげて、インベム打倒のための最終兵器…戦闘万能車両『メタル・アタッカー』を完成。天才少年パイロット『ケイン・ガードナー』を戦士としてOur translationthe science academy of the satellite NORA, with all its strength, completed the ultimate weapon for defeating the Invem, the all-purpose combat vehicle Metal Attacker; with the genius boy pilot Kane Gardner as its warriorFamicom Tsushin, no. 51 (17 June 1988) · printed p. 30, 最新ゲーム大紹介, caption — read on the page imageメタルアタッカーのメインパイロット。Our translationthe Metal Attacker's main pilotFamicom Tsushin, no. 51 (17 June 1988) · printed p. 30, 最新ゲーム大紹介, caption — read on the page image15歳。未婚。Our translation15 years old. Unmarried.Checked by a second AI model, 2026-11-06.Cited by: Blaster Master
The game has eight levels, and some can only be finished by going back to earlier ones: Nintendo Power found no direct route from Stage 1 to the end. It is for one player and keeps no score. The player drives the vehicle, and at small doorways leaves it to fight on foot. blaster-master-history/structure
printed p. 4 (PDF p. 6)Blaster Master has eight levels in all. To complete some levels, you must return to lower levelsBlaster Master (NES) instruction manual · printed p. 4 (PDF p. 6)Blaster Master is a one player game. No scoring is provided.Blaster Master (NES) instruction manual · printed p. 4 (PDF p. 6)This game has two modes. One mode in which you are inside your vehicle, and a second in which you must venture out of your vehicle.Blaster Master (NES) instruction manual · printed p. 4 (PDF p. 6)Small doorways will indicate where you must leave your vehicle and fight on your own.Nintendo Power, issue 3 (1988-11) · PDF p. 35, The Mutant Worlds RevealedNotice that there is no direct route from Stage 1 through to the end.Nintendo Power, issue 3 (1988-11) · PDF p. 35, The Mutant Worlds Revealed — the sentence begins "Many" and goes on "defeated more difficult stages"doors will open only after you have moved on andChecked by a second AI model, 2026-11-06.Cited by: Blaster Master
Famicom Tsushin describes two views: in the side view Kane is small, in the top view he is big. IGN describes the game as side-scrolling platforming, shooting, and overhead dungeon exploration, in and outside of the cockpit. blaster-master-history/views
printed p. 30, 最新ゲーム大紹介, caption — read on the page imageサイドビュー(横から見た画面)のときは小さいケイン、トップビュー(上から)では大きいケインなのだ。Our translationin the side view (the screen seen from the side) he is small Kane, in the top view (from above) big KaneTop 100 NES Games: 19, Castlevania · entry 22, Blaster Mastermixture of side-scrolling platforming, shooting, and overhead dungeon exploration with action taking place in and outside of the cockpit.Checked by a second AI model, 2026-11-06.Cited by: Blaster Master
Running out of power costs a life; both manuals give 3 lives and up to 5 continues a game. Catching power capsules adds power. blaster-master-history/lives
printed p. 6 (PDF p. 8), PowerWhen power runs out, you lose one life. There are 3 lives per game.Blaster Master (NES) instruction manual · printed p. 6 (PDF p. 8), PowerTo gain extra power, catch power capsules for one extra unit.Blaster Master (NES) instruction manual · printed p. 4 (PDF p. 6)you only have five chances to continue per game.Chō Wakusei Senki Metafight (Famicom) instruction manual · printed p. 19 (PDF p. 21) — read on the page imageパワーエネルギーゲージがゼロになった時、1機失います。Our translationwhen the power energy gauge reaches zero, you lose one lifeChō Wakusei Senki Metafight (Famicom) instruction manual · printed p. 19 (PDF p. 21) — read on the page image; the page also says losing 3 lives across the side-view and top-view stages ends the gameCONTINUEは5回までです。Our translationCONTINUE is up to 5 timesChecked by a second AI model, 2026-11-06.Cited by: Blaster Master
Select gets Jason out of the vehicle and back in. B fires and A jumps; on foot, A throws hand grenades. The vehicle can shoot up or down, left or right. blaster-master-history/controls
printed p. 5 (PDF p. 7), controlsSelect Button - To jump out of/into VehicleBlaster Master (NES) instruction manual · printed p. 5 (PDF p. 7), controlsJoystick - Maneuver Jason and Vehicle (Vehicle can shoot up or down, left or right)Blaster Master (NES) instruction manual · printed p. 5 (PDF p. 7), controlsB Button - GunsBlaster Master (NES) instruction manual · printed p. 5 (PDF p. 7), controls — under "A Button - Jump"; the asterisk marks what applies when Jason is out of the vehicle*hand grenadesBlaster Master (NES) instruction manual · printed p. 5 (PDF p. 7), controls*indicates when Jason is out of vehicle.Checked by a second AI model, 2026-11-06.Cited by: Blaster Master
Beating a level's Mutant Boss earns a new weapon or vehicle function. The manual lists seven: Crusher and Hyper, which the chart gives as a super cannon and wall crushing, Hover, a Key to a certain door, Dive for swimming under water, Wall I for climbing walls, and Wall II for climbing ceilings. Hover comes from the stage 3 boss; Nintendo Power found that options like it let the vehicle reach higher stages. blaster-master-history/options
printed p. 8 (PDF p. 10), Menu ScreenA new weapon or function will be earned after destroying the "Mutant Boss" in each level.Blaster Master (NES) instruction manual · printed p. 8 (PDF p. 10), Weapons/Vehicle Functions Chart — the chart's weapon column; the text layer keeps the words but not the row each sits onCrusher Hyper Hover Key Dive Wall I Wall IIBlaster Master (NES) instruction manual · printed p. 8 (PDF p. 10), Weapons/Vehicle Functions Chart — the chart's function columnSuper Cannon Wall Crushing Can Hover Can open a certain door Free swimming under water Can climb walls Can climb ceilingsBlaster Master (NES) instruction manual · printed p. 6 (PDF p. 8), Hover GaugeHover cannot be obtained until the "Mutant Boss" in stage 3 is defeated.Nintendo Power, issue 3 (1988-11) · PDF p. 28At the end of each stage you earn options like the Hover, allowing you to reach the higher stages.Revised after a check by a second AI model, 2026-11-06: Gives Crusher and Hyper in the chart's words only, a super cannon and wall crushing.The manual disagrees with itself on which of Crusher and Hyper comes first. Its chart on p. 8 puts Crusher at stage 1 and Hyper at stage 2; its Special Hint Chart on p. 18 says the stage 1 boss gives Hyper and the stage 2 boss Crusher, and each of those entries then names the other weapon as the one that fortifies the cannon. Nintendo Power 3 (p. 29) puts Hyper at stage 1 ("Get the critical Hyper option by defeating the Warlord"). Both of the manual's charts give Hover to stage 3, Key to 4, Dive to 5, Wall I to 6, and Wall II to 7.
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The vehicle's main weapon is a cannon. Three special weapons, the Homing Missile, Thunder Break, and Multi Warhead Missile, are earned by catching certain objects and fired with down and B. blaster-master-history/special-weapons
printed p. 75 (PDF p. 73), Blaster Master — the line goes on "cannon"The main weapon on the attack vehicle is the laserBlaster Master (NES) instruction manual · printed p. 9 (PDF p. 11), Special WeaponsThere are 3 special weapons that can be earned by catching certain objects during game play.Blaster Master (NES) instruction manual · printed p. 9 (PDF p. 11), Special Weaponspress down on the joystick and "B" simultaneously.Blaster Master (NES) instruction manual · printed p. 9 (PDF p. 11), Special WeaponsHoming Missile - This heat seeker homes in on target.Blaster Master (NES) instruction manual · printed p. 9 (PDF p. 11), Special WeaponsThunder Break - An electromagnetic lightning wave destroys enemies.Blaster Master (NES) instruction manual · printed p. 9 (PDF p. 11), Special WeaponsMulti Warhead Missile - Destroys enemies with 3 missiles at one time.Checked by a second AI model, 2026-11-06.Cited by: Blaster Master
Nintendo Power reviewed the game in its September/October 1988 issue, printing no score; the issue promised nine pages of maps and a fold-out poster for the next, and the November/December issue's back-issue entry lists the poster. blaster-master-history/nintendo-power-coverage
contents (PDF p. 7)BLASTER MASTER 74.Nintendo Power, issue 2 (September/October 1988) · Next Issue (PDF p. 103) — the line goes on "fold-out poster"Nine pages of revealing maps and mutant madness, plus an explosiveNintendo Power, issue 5 (1989-03) · printed p. 95 (PDF p. 91), back issues, Nov/Dec issue — the issue's entry reads "plus fold out Blaster Master Poster"out Blaster Master Poster.Revised after a check by a second AI model, 2026-11-06: The nine pages of maps were promised by the September/October issue; only the poster is confirmed.The review's pages carry boxes headed Story, Game Play, and Weapons, but no ratings.
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Introducing it on release, Famicom Tsushin called the animation amazing and the game great too. blaster-master-history/famitsu-introduction
printed p. 30, 最新ゲーム大紹介 — read on the page imageとにかくアニメーションがスゴイのだね。ゲームもグーッ。Our translationThe animation is simply amazing. The game is great too.Checked by a second AI model, 2026-11-06.The introduction prints no score.
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Blaster Master was no. 27 in Nintendo Power's Players' Picks in January/February 1989 and rose to no. 6 in March/April, when the pros' list had it at no. 10. It was no. 14 with the players in May/June 1989, no. 11 with both players and pros in November/December 1989, and still no. 20 with the players in May/June 1990. blaster-master-history/charts
printed p. 104 (PDF p. 107), Top 30 — 483 points27 BLASTER MASTERNintendo Power, issue 5 (1989-03) · printed p. 72 (PDF p. 68), Top 30, Players' Picks — 1,863 points6 BLASTER MASTERNintendo Power, issue 5 (1989-03) · printed p. 72 (PDF p. 68), Top 30, Pros' Picks — no. 10 in the pros' list, read on the page image1,293Nintendo Power, issue 6 (May/June 1989) · PDF p. 74, Players' Picks14 BLASTER MASTER 1,252Nintendo Power, issue 9 (1989-11) · printed p. 82 (PDF p. 84), Top 30, Players' Picks — no. 11, 1,104 points; the pros' list also has it at no. 11 (2,748 points) and the dealers' at no. 22 (730), read on the page image1 1 Blaster MasterNintendo Power, issue 12 (1990-05) · printed p. 44 (PDF p. 37), Top 30, Players' Picks — no. 20, 650 points; the pros' list has it at no. 22 (712), read on the page imageBlaster MasterRevised after a check by a second AI model, 2026-11-06: No. 27 in January/February 1989, without the unquoted claim that it entered the list then.The lists rank by poll points, not sales: Players' Picks from readers, Pros' Picks from Nintendo's game counselors, Dealers' Picks from shops.
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In January/February 1990 Nintendo Power's Top 30 gave it 2,698 points and said Jason's quest to save Fred was still a favorite. blaster-master-history/still-a-favorite
PDF p. 49, Top 30Who says frogs and plutonium don't mix? Jason, that's who. His quest to save Fred is still a favorite.Nintendo Power, issue 10 (January/February 1990): The Making of Super Mario Bros. 3 · PDF p. 49, Top 302,698Checked by a second AI model, 2026-11-06.Its rank and list on this page haven't been read on the image.
Previewing Sunsoft's Gremlins 2 in 1990, Electronic Gaming Monthly wrote of the scrolling action-adventure environments that Sunsoft had made famous in Blaster Master. blaster-master-history/sunsoft-style
PDF p. 60, Gremlins 2 — the second game named is lost in the scan's text layerfilled with the scrolling action adventure environments that Sunsoft has made famous in Blaster Master andChecked by a second AI model, 2026-11-06.Cited by: Blaster Master
Nintendo Power's March 1992 issue listed Blaster Master 2 for the Super NES among Sunsoft's planned games. blaster-master-history/sequel-planned
printed p. 112 (PDF p. 119), show report, Sunsoft — the sentence lists Death Valley Rally, Taz-Mania, Superman, Batman: Return of the Joker, and Blaster Master 2 as coming from SunsoftJoker, and Blaster Master 2 for the SuperChecked by a second AI model, 2026-11-06.Cited by: Blaster Master
IGN ranked Blaster Master 22nd in its Top 100 NES Games, calling it a classic in both gameplay and theme; it calls the tank S.O.P.H.I.A. Mark Ryan Sallee wrote there of the relief of getting back into the vehicle after a stretch on foot, and that its music is as memorable as anything from Nintendo. blaster-master-history/standing
entry 22, Blaster MasterThis one's a classic in both gameplay and theme.Top 100 NES Games: 19, Castlevania · entry 22, Blaster Masterhe takes command of the equally-massive armored tank S.O.P.H.I.A.Top 100 NES Games: 19, Castlevania · entry 22, Our Fondest MemoriesI felt such a sense of relief every time I returned to the vehicle from an on-foot segmentTop 100 NES Games: 19, Castlevania · entry 22, Our Fondest MemoriesThe music is as memorable as anything from Nintendo.Checked by a second AI model, 2026-11-06.The list carries no date; the copy was archived on 25 October 2017.
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