Blaster Master Zero

 Switch
User Score
7.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 137 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 99 out of 137
  2. Mixed: 18 out of 137
  3. Negative: 20 out of 137
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  1. Boomshackalacka
    Mar 11, 2017
    7
    Master blaster is a proper retro 8 bit throw back. The game is a metroid like game which is great and the action is solid.
    My biggest gripe with this game is no pro control support meaning you are left using joycons which feel a little loose in this game, shovel knight they where tight but i feel i dont have full acurate control in this game thats my reason for the 7 score. 8.99 in uk 10    Master blaster is a proper retro 8 bit throw back. The game is a metroid like game which is great and the action is solid.
    My biggest gripe with this game is no pro control support meaning you are left using joycons which feel a little loose in this game, shovel knight they where tight but i feel i dont have full acurate control in this game thats my reason for the 7 score. 8.99 in uk 10 dollars in states once again we get the bad exchange but for 9 quid this is an enjoyable if not loose exlerience.    … Expand
  2. Rtheom
    Jan 9, 2018
    7
    This was a surprisingly solid little game. It was pretty easy to grasp and readily enjoyable. The controls are pretty solid and the different weapons are fun to use. I'd have rated it one higher, but the game has a problematic case of last-level-itis where the difficulty suddenly spikes at the end, and for some reason the creators decided to make one of the last areas a stealth level,This was a surprisingly solid little game. It was pretty easy to grasp and readily enjoyable. The controls are pretty solid and the different weapons are fun to use. I'd have rated it one higher, but the game has a problematic case of last-level-itis where the difficulty suddenly spikes at the end, and for some reason the creators decided to make one of the last areas a stealth level, which wasn't fun at all after playing 5ish hours of straight shooter. I'd recommend this if you can pick it up for under $5. It's fun for a time, but you may end up feeling cheated toward the end if you pay full price.… Expand
  3. jbakes25
    Sep 18, 2017
    7
    Having never played the NES version, this game was a great addition to my switch game library. It adds a touch of modern game play to the classic game to make it feel as good as new, and I feel like I am playing the first Blaster Master game. It is now easier to get a better grasp of the story. Game play may be simple, but enjoyable. Switching from controlling Sofia III and entering cavesHaving never played the NES version, this game was a great addition to my switch game library. It adds a touch of modern game play to the classic game to make it feel as good as new, and I feel like I am playing the first Blaster Master game. It is now easier to get a better grasp of the story. Game play may be simple, but enjoyable. Switching from controlling Sofia III and entering caves as Jason adds an interesting concept to the game. Each has their own controls and mechanics to learn. Playing with all the different weapons is fun, and the price of $10 is very good for this game.… Expand
  4. abulinix
    Jun 23, 2017
    6
    Grew up loving the original, which was fresh and amazing for its day, with a strong combination of unique art style, excellent music, varied and challenging gameplay, and crazy bosses that seemed to take up the whole screen. I can see why people are overall positive on this remake. It does check off most of the boxes and faithfully recreates the structure of the original game. I wasGrew up loving the original, which was fresh and amazing for its day, with a strong combination of unique art style, excellent music, varied and challenging gameplay, and crazy bosses that seemed to take up the whole screen. I can see why people are overall positive on this remake. It does check off most of the boxes and faithfully recreates the structure of the original game. I was personally underwhelmed by the demo, but decided to go for it anyway, and I continue to be disappointed in the actual $10 downloadable. It's a subjective call but art style and music in particular seem not up to the standard set by the original. The colors are seemingly less saturated and the game world less vivid than in the NES version. The contrast between the lush/natural and metallic/robotic was striking in the original, whereas the update favors blander Castlevania style shades over more saturated environments. Bosses are diminished in scale, maybe because the resolution is so much higher. Small and effective details from the original are missing. For example, I may be wrong but I think the flashing and pounding at the start of boss fights is now gone, as are the distinctive swishing explosions that ended boss fights, and while that could be fine, it's not replaced with anything comparably distinctive. Bosses are also too easy, but that's been commented on. Something about the quirkiness of environments and enemies is missing as well. The original gave a feeling of being a real place, somehow, governed by its own logic--with odd variations and features popping up here and there. In some cases it was the glitchiness of the game sounds and graphics that gave it character. A lot of that feeling is gone, for me at least. Music falls short too. The water level tune in the original for example was replaced with something blander and less memorable but that's true for many environments. Generally, the new/original music tracks I've heard so far seem uninspired and the old tunes are sorely missing. The weapons system and status screen are far more complicated but not necessarily in the service of better gameplay. The graphical presentation here is especially cluttered (both visually and to navigate through) and anime/"video-gamey" where the original was minimalist and somehow more realistic--less disruptive to the immersion in the game. I don't find the addition of more story or the anime-style adds much--and in fact for me they detracted. In fairness I haven't finished the game and it's possible it will surprise me positively as it moves along. Credit is also due to the developers for making a demo available for free, and the demo accurately captures the feel of the game. if you like the demo you will probably like Blaster Master Zero.… Expand
  5. FrankoAmmo
    Aug 3, 2017
    7
    I recently completed this game on the Switch. The graphics are nice, but the paste is a little slow at times. I would have gave it a 8 out of 10 if I could move faster in the game. I still enjoyed it! It was pretty nice to switch from controlling a vehicle to controlling a person. It took me about 6-7 hours to finish it and I found it fairly easy.
  6. forreverendmeme
    Apr 6, 2018
    7
    Not the best Metroidvania on the Switch but it's hard not to recommend for a mere 10 dollars.
  7. Phuz
    Apr 3, 2021
    6
    OK, so I guess this would class as a Metroidvania, which isn't my favourite type of game. It was kind of fun playing the demo though.

    It's a difficult game to rate because it looked great but the music got on my nerves quite quickly and so did the sound effects. I also didn't like the controls, like sliding on ice feeling. Strangely enjoyable all the same. Not sure if I'll pick this    OK, so I guess this would class as a Metroidvania, which isn't my favourite type of game. It was kind of fun playing the demo though.

    It's a difficult game to rate because it looked great but the music got on my nerves quite quickly and so did the sound effects. I also didn't like the controls, like sliding on ice feeling.

    Strangely enjoyable all the same. Not sure if I'll pick this up as Rabi Ribi and the TouHou game look better but it was definitely a bit of fun if nothing else. A bit like getting spuds deep in the ugly girl. You leave happy but still slightly disappointed.    … Expand
  8. ophone
    Mar 24, 2023
    7
    At first I wanted to curse this game because I got stuck in an area.
    Although in the end it has been a pleasant ride after someone pointed me to a solution the game told me even itself, I just forgot it in the heat of the action.
    It looks and sounds good for a game that's basically an NES game, it's just the controls which need a while to get used to. The jumps of the vehicle are floaty    At first I wanted to curse this game because I got stuck in an area.
    Although in the end it has been a pleasant ride after someone pointed me to a solution the game told me even itself, I just forgot it in the heat of the action.
    It looks and sounds good for a game that's basically an NES game, it's just the controls which need a while to get used to. The jumps of the vehicle are floaty and the protagonist has stiff movement.
    Still in general it's a rather easy game, except the battle against the final boss where I needed multiple attempts to figure out how to beat him.
    On the story front don't go in expecting a convoluted plot.
    Finally one thing is sure, I'll try at least the game's follow-up.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

57
#57 Best Switch Game of 2017
55
#55 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2017
42
#42 Most Shared Switch Game of 2017

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 23 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 23
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 23
  3. Negative: 0 out of 23
  1. ZTGD
    Aug 31, 2017
    70
    Where the game does really shine is in its presentation. At no point did I feel like I was playing anything other than a classic 8-bit game. The look, the sounds, and even the crazy storyline about a boy and his frog, the game is steeped in nostalgia, and remains faithful to the games of that era, but I cannot comment on how this stacks up as a remake of the original, having never played it. But that is where one of my problems I had with the game surfaced. Due to it being so retro in its style, the game story and dialogue just felt daft. At no point was I invested in the story of Jason and Fred, and had no interest in reading all of the text that was presented to me. Some people may actually take that as being true to the original, but for me it felt like a disconnect. But at the end of the day, as long as the gameplay is enjoyable, that is all that matters.
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  2. CD-Action
    Jun 7, 2017
    75
    There are two categories of people I would recommend Blaster Master Zero to: fans of the original Blaster Master and those looking for an accessible introduction to Metroidvanias. [06/2017, p.62]
  3. Nintendo Force Magazine
    Apr 24, 2017
    90
    Blaster Master Zero is the definitive version of a flawed classic, vaporizing all the sludge that slowed its predecessor down. [Issue #27 – May/June 2017, p. 24]
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