Blast Corps
Nintendo 64 * Nintendo

Review by Michael Vafeas
8.7

"Unexpected" comes to mind when describing the addition of Blast Corps into the Nintendo 64 library. After all, strategy is hardly the material from which blockbuster videogames are made (on consoles, at least). Nevertheless, Blast Corps turns out to be a surprisingly entertaining experience, and will likely be appreciated by the relatively small number of individuals who would dare to give this 'different' game a fair chance.

Strategy games traditionally suffer from graphics that in their smallness lack any great amount of detail. Because this is more an action/strategy game, as well as one that was designed for Nintendo 64, the visuals are crisp, 3-D, and often brightly colored. A large number of the levels are viewed from an angled overhead view, and so the ground and environmental objects are modeled and textured so as to appear well from afar as well as up close. The different vehicles you are given to accomplish the various tasks at hand are likewise nicely developed, and the environmental mapping and chrome effects are used appropriately to add that N64 luster which seems underused lately. The most compelling visuals in Blast Corps, however, are evinced in the process of destruction. As pretty as the buildings and barns are, the firework-like explosions that result from their destruction are far prettier, and are just a blast to watch. As a whole, while offering hardly any animation, Blast Corps does offer a bunch of impressive visuals and does a nice job of exploiting the N64's graphical capabilities while not appearing overly gaudy or outlandish. The sound effects in the game are appropriate and well-done, although some of the musical selections in their upbeat feeling contradict the action on the screen. Destroying a city with a Mario-esque song playing in the background is a bit like watching Jaws devour a beach full of helpless swimmers to the sounds of Dance of the Sugarplum Fairies. Most of the tunes in the game, though, are full of suspense and add to the chaotic 'hurry' feeling of the game.

The gameplay is equal parts strategy and action, and is unlike anything else out there. As far as the ridiculous story goes, there is a nuclear missile carrier on a set path traveling at a constant speed. Using various vehicles you must make sure that all of the buildings, factories, barns, fences, and other obstacles in the carrier's path are cleared away, lest the carrier should crash into something and...well...destroy the world. This begins as an easy task and gradually develops into more complex scenarios in which you mush switch vehicles, use cranes, move machinery with trains, and go underground. A good number of other levels help to get you acquainted with the different vehicles by having you accomplish certain tasks within a given amount of time (a la Pilotwings). These levels also become progressively more difficult and occasionally offer extreme tests of dexterity and strategic cunning. The levels have been designed while being mindful of their method of destruction, so you must use your various vehicles carefully, which sometimes becomes troublesome. Some of the vehicles are a blast to use, while others, like the somersaulting robot and sideswiping Backlash dump truck, are difficult to become accustomed to. The control in the different vehicles ranges from excellent to poor, which invites the "do it over" syndrome occasionally. In total, though, this is not such a big problem, and the control is often sufficient for accomplishing the tasks given to you. The levels themselves are, for the most part, well designed, although the training courses are often short and simple.

In choosing to be innovative, Rare has given us a great game that, for the most part, has not been experienced before. This type of game in its execution does have flaws, but they are easily ignored in the face of gameplay, which is intense and entertaining. One of the first oddball games on this system has proved to be very successful, and hopefully that will continue in the future.


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