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Wii

Blaster Master Sequel Headed to WiiWare

by Matthew Blundon - February 6, 2010, 11:51 am EST
Total comments: 32

Sunsoft is bringing Blaster Master: Overdrive to WiiWare next Monday.

The game, a sequel to Blaster Master, which was released on Virtual Console last year, is an action-shooting game that takes place after Earth has been infected by a virus. Players jump into the shoes of the biologist Alex and travel around the planet in S.O.P.H.I.A., a powerful four-wheel vehicle, in hopes of ridding the land of the animals that have been consumed by the virus.

It will retain the original gameplay of the NES classic, alternating between side-scrolling and overhead sections. Each area features a mutant boss that impedes Alex's progress.

Blaster Master: Overdrive will be available on the North American Wii Shop Channel on February 8, carrying a price tag of 1,000 Wii Points ($10).

BLASTER MASTER™ OVERDRIVE HEADED TO WIIWARE

Redding, CA – February 6, 2010 – SUNSOFT, a division of SUNCORPORATION (JASDAQ: 6736), has today announced that BLASTER MASTER™:OVERDRIVE will be available in North America on February 8th for WiiWare.

BLASTER MASTER™:OVERDRIVE is an action-shooting game that takes place on an Earth infected by an aggressive, polymorphic virus. Poor, defenseless animals worldwide infected by the virus have been turned into flesh-eating, hemoglobin-swilling terrors. Fortunately, the world has Alex. And, even more coincidentally, he happens to be one of the world’s foremost biologists - specializing in viral mutation profiles and genetic manipulation.

Every studious biologist facing imminent global annihilation needs a sweet ride, and Alex is no exception. He has S.O.P.H.I.A., a shape-shifting, gas-guzzling, projectile-spewing paean to destruction on four wheels. Things look grim, but with Alex and S.O.P.H.I.A. on the case, the world just may have a chance.

Gameplay in BLASTER MASTER™:OVERDRIVE retains the critically acclaimed format of the original NES BLASTER MASTER™, alternating between side-scrolling platforming in S.O.P.H.I.A. and overhead-perspective blasting and exploration when controlling Alex. Upgrades for S.O.P.H.I.A. must be collected to access progressively more challenging terrain and a total of eight distinct areas. Each area features a mutant boss that must be defeated to progress.

The sublime blend of side-scrolling shooting/platforming mixed with overhead perspective action/shooting areas is just as addictive now as it was in the original game. The game is rated E10 for Mild Fantasy Violence and can be purchased from the Wii Store online for 1000 Wii points beginning February 8th, 2010.

As with the BLASTER MASTER NES Virtual Console release, fans are encouraged to improve their skills completing this game so they can compete and win in a coming promotion that will test their skill for collectible prizes.

Talkback

BeautifulShyFebruary 06, 2010

Well this is nice. After 2 months of being released on the VC we get a Wiiware sequel.

ToruresuFebruary 06, 2010

This is very nice indeed. Is it WiiWare exclusive?

AVFebruary 06, 2010

this is pretty cool i might actually buy this. I heard the NES game is super hard so I hope the Wiiware game is more bearable.

BeautifulShyFebruary 06, 2010

Toruresu I don't see anything in the press release that says it will be on the other download services.

AVFebruary 06, 2010

i checked around and NWR has the scoop on this story. Cool

BlackNMild2k1February 06, 2010

Vic Ireland's first big surprise and NWR has it up first!?

Good Job Team NWR.

TJ SpykeFebruary 06, 2010

Nice. Vic did say that the VC release of Blaster Master was only the beginning of Sunsoft returning to western publishing. Digital download services have been great for revival of older and niche franchises (like "Adventure Island: The Beginning" and the upcoming "Bonk: Brink of Extinction").

Mop it upFebruary 06, 2010

Wow. I was not expecting this, but this is great news. And only a couple days to wait! I might have to download this on day one.

Now Blaster Master 2 needs to come to the Virtual Console and I will squeal incomprehensibly.

vuduFebruary 06, 2010

Oh snap!  Sweet.

Is this really a sequel?

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/media/21127/1/2.jpg

I'm pretty sure this is a boss of level 5 in the original game.  In fact, he kicked my ass just a couple days ago.  :(

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/media/21127/1/6.jpg

Looks like they're sticking with the overhead portions of the game.  Hope they're improved over the original.

Now I need to hurry up and beat the NES game so I'm prepared for this.

Mop it upFebruary 06, 2010

Ugh, recycled bosses? Perhaps I'll wait for some reviews on this one.

BranDonk KongFebruary 06, 2010

I'm not going to lie. I just got a boner.

Killer_Man_JaroTom Malina, Associate Editor (Europe)February 06, 2010

Don't forget Europe, Sunsoft. I would love to give Blaster Master a go and Overdrive sounds like as good a place to start as any.

vuduFebruary 06, 2010

Quote from: Mop_it_up

Ugh, recycled bosses?

You tell me.
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/media/21127/1/2.jpg  http://i46.tinypic.com/2nl70wh.png

BlackNMild2k1February 06, 2010

Quote from: vudu

Quote from: Mop_it_up

Ugh, recycled bosses?

You tell me.
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/media/21127/1/2.jpg  http://i46.tinypic.com/2nl70wh.png

Which one is the new one? it looks like the just copy/pasted the screen shot....

vuduFebruary 06, 2010

Quote from: BlackNMild2k1

Which one is the new one? it looks like the just copy/pasted the screen shot....

Oh come on!  The 16 x 9 should give it away!  ;)

SundoulosFebruary 06, 2010

Cool!  Day one buy for me, I think.  The recycled bosses don't bother me as long as they're suitably updated.  I've never minded fighting Ridley and Kraid in Metroid sequels, or fighting the Koopa Kids yet again.

I remember having to use the grenade-pause trick on that stupid crab boss as a kid; I never could beat him otherwise unless my gun was fully powered-up.  I actually had more trouble with him than any other boss.

I notice that there isn't a gun power meter in the new screenshot; hopefully that means that they're changing that mechanic.  I wonder if it's going to be even more of a Metroid-type game by allowing Alex to obtain and switch out weapons?

homina homina homina homina homina homina

giggity

Great! I didn't feel like playing through 80% of Blaster Master again because I ran out of continues I didn't know I was consuming on that damn crab boss pictured above. This sequel sounds perfect for me.

broodwarsFebruary 06, 2010

Cool!  I certainly wasn't expecting what looks like a remake of the original Blaster Master (or at least highly reminiscent of it) on WiiWare so soon.  I might check this out, as it's likely to be more playable than the original game is.

MorariFebruary 06, 2010

This has got to be one of the most exciting things to come out of WiiWare in a long time!

noname2200February 07, 2010

I hope they go a bit more Metroid with this one, and make the power ups more permanent. I know Johnny asked a question about the hovering, and from the answer it sounds like my wish is going to be granted. :-)

KDR_11kFebruary 07, 2010

It's been confirmed to be a remake/reimagining.

RizeDavid Trammell, Staff AlumnusFebruary 07, 2010

Quote from: Mr.

this is pretty cool i might actually buy this. I heard the NES game is super hard so I hope the Wiiware game is more bearable.

I never could beat this game when I was younger, and I'm I'm in the upper echelon of gamers skill-wise.  I finally got a used cartridge (never owned it) and sat down and beat it a couple of years ago.  I beat the last boss with the last life of my last continue.

For a brand new game, I hope it has unlimited continues and I also hope they improve the weapon system (a more metroid like system would be fantastic).  We'll see though... I'll take what I can get.  Hope the music can stand up with the original.

GoldenPhoenixFebruary 07, 2010

Oh, wow. I am so excited now! It is not often where I franchise you thought was dead, that you loved, comes back with a NEW game!

broodwarsFebruary 07, 2010

Someone on Gametrailers recently posted a trailer for this game, and I have to say while the game looks very nice the remixed music is terrible.

http://www.gametrailers.com/user-movie/blaster-master-overdrive-trailer/339517?playlist=featured

EasyCureFebruary 07, 2010

great, now i have to remember to download the original on VC.

Mop it upFebruary 07, 2010

So this is a remake? That's a bummer, I was hoping for a new game. Oh well, I might still get it, but I'll wait for some reviews to see how much has changed.

noname2200February 08, 2010

Vic Ireland has confirmed that there will be in-game maps and three save slots.

Quote from: broodwars

Someone on Gametrailers recently posted a trailer for this game, and I have to say while the game looks very nice the remixed music is terrible.

http://www.gametrailers.com/user-movie/blaster-master-overdrive-trailer/339517?playlist=featured

True. Luckily, it's not supposed to be in-game music, from what I understand.

RizeDavid Trammell, Staff AlumnusFebruary 08, 2010

from what I've seen if it is a remake, it's not a strict one (like a zero mission remake at worst)

It's actually much different than the original. I don't think you could consider it a remake at all. I mean, the first upgrade you get is a grapple hook!

And the actual in-game music is much better than what you hear on that trailer.

RizeDavid Trammell, Staff AlumnusFebruary 09, 2010

Whew, I was worried when I heard the trailer.  It was a completely typical remix of music from the original game.

I'm going to finish Mass Effect 2 first, but this is definitely on my short list of things to do with the Wii.

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