Top 25 Favorite Video Games of All Time
17. Blaster Master -
Some of my earliest video game memories are of Blaster Master. The other games that occupy that space are Super Mario Bros. and Double Dragon. I didn't own this game for awhile though. I played it at a friend's that lived 2 doors down from my grandparents. As a couple of 6-year-olds we fuckin' suuuuucked at this game. We had trouble getting out of the first boss fight. I eventually got a copy of my own and it left my NES only on the rarest of occasions.
The music and sound design is among the best the NES and video games in general has to offer. Naoki Kodaka, the composer for Blaster Master, is also responsible for other amazing soundtracks for games such as Spy Hunter, Batman, and Fester's Quest. Hats off to Kodaka and the rest of the audio team because the sounds of Blaster Master lives rent free in my head and always brings back fond memories.
Blaster Master treats you with a sweet intro that offers up some early plot points. With some ominous music playing, we meet Fred, your pet frog. Fred is seen jumping out of his jar and landing on a radioactive crate in the backyard which causes him to grow into a giant version of himself. Side note: What the fuck was that crate doing there? Anyway, big ass Fred then jumps down a massive hole with Jason (your character) following behind. Jason finds a tank-like vehicle with a space suit inside. He puts on the suit, jumps in the tank, and is off to rescue Fred. You hit the "start" button and the game picks up right where that intro left off. Now the music changes to a rocking ass tune and as it reaches a crescendo, the tank blasts off.
There's two separate styles of gameplay in Blaster Master. One has you exploring in the tank which you can upgrade throughout your quest. Those enhancements help with durability, mobility, and fire power. The other has top-down action areas where Jason walks around and takes out enemies and bosses. Upon beating said bosses, you get those tank upgrades alluded to above as well as some equipment for Jason.
Blaster Master has 8 distinct exploration areas with their own set of on-foot levels. As you make your way through them, you get closer to locating Fred. After reaching the final area and beating the main boss you are reunited with Fred back on the surface and live happily ever after.
Blaster Master is one of those games that when I talk about it, I instantly get transported back to my grandparents den. It's like that scene in Ratatouille where the food critic tastes the titular dish and finds himself back in his childhood kitchen. Even as I'm writing this, the sights, sounds, and even the smell of that room all come back to me. It brings back memories of simpler times and I can't help but smile.