Blaster Master Zero 2 is the followup to a game that I have not played, and as such, I did not know what to expect going in. I’m happy to report, after playing it, that the game is a fantastic 2D action platformer that I would recommend to any fan of the genre.
The main character of the game is Jason, who is on a mission to cure his partner Eve of an affliction resulting from contact with the main antagonists of the game: mutants. In order to save her, they attempt to travel to her home-world, passing through different regions of space along the way.
While I did call this game an action platformer, Blaster Master Zero 2 takes some inspiration from the metroidvania genre. While the smaller planets tend to be straightforward boss fights or obstacle courses, the larger main planets are more open levels that, while linear, can be explored in numerous ways and may require backtracking to use newly acquired powers to reach previously unreachable areas.
The real fun from this kind of game comes from the significant challenge it presents. While the main bosses of the larger planets are difficult in their own right, most of the challenge will come from the optional bosses on some of the smaller planets, which are usually harder versions of the main bosses. While technically optional, these bosses guard extra abilities for both Jason and his ship, the G-Sophia, so I’d recommend at least attempting them.
While this is certainly a great game, there are a few issues. First, there are different types of counters, but the dash counter is far superior, making the others basically irrelevant. Secondly, there are side-scrolling fights that take place outside of the G-Sophia, which are supposed to be an extra challenge, but feel unnecessarily constrained since Jason can only use his extra abilities in the top-down sections. Finally, the bosses are recycled multiple times throughout the game, which felt like a missed opportunity even though there is certainly enough content as is.
Blaster Master Zero 2 is a great game, even if you haven’t played the first installment. While there are absolutely issues, they are not enough to detract from the enjoyment and quality of the overall game. What remains are plenty of challenges, interesting boss fights, and enjoyable gameplay.
Did you play Blaster Master Zero 2? Did you play the first game, and has that affected your opinion? Let us know in the comments!
GAME: Blaster Master Zero 2
DEVELOPER/PUBLISHER: Inti Creates Co., Ltd.
ESRB: E for Everyone
MSRP: $9.99 US
OBTAINED: Code provided by developers/publishers for press purposes