Among the many NES classics we've all played and forgotten about, Blaster Master is one that still manages to amaze today. I remember marveling at the game's remarkable special effects when it came out 12 years ago, and even as I play it now, I'm astonished at how cool the shots and explosions look. Even the sound effects and music hold up well in an age where video game audio is so good that it's not even worth talking about anymore.
But it would be foolish of me to start a tribute to one of the greatest action games of all time by focusing solely on its cosmetic elements. While essential to any classic game, in this case they function as the proverbial icing on the cake when you consider what else the game has to offer.
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Perhaps the most memorable thing about Blaster Master (besides the gameplay) is the unique premise that serves as the backdrop for all the blasting. It all revolves around a boy named Jason and his quest to find his pet frog, Fred. Now, this situation may seem overly simplistic and less-than-urgent when compared to the more mature themes we see in today's games, but it's also very effective. There's a cinematic slide show at the beginning of the game that sets just the right tone. As this strange, ominous music plays in the background, we see Jason chase after Fred and fall into an underground cavern—right next to a huge armored vehicle we come to know as SOPHIA. As a gamer getting ready to embark on this mission, you identify with Jason's predicament immediately. What would you do if you suddenly found yourself lying next to a kick-ass battletank and you've lost your pet frog? You'd climb inside that thing and go get 'em, that's what! Playing through the game's many challenging levels, you never forget the objective the game so clearly illustrates at the beginning: Find out what happened to Fred.
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