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Review of Blasto on PlayStation

by Tanya Krane Tanya Krane photo Apr 1998
Cover image of Blasto on PlayStation
Gamefings Score: 6
Platform: PlayStation PlayStation logo
Released: 16 Apr 1998
Genre: Third-person shooter, Platform game
Developer: Sony Interactive Studios America
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment

Introduction

Welcome to the wonderfully wacky world of Blasto, where our hero - a bulging, brainless hunk named Captain Blasto - is tasked with saving struggling Space Babes from the clutches of the dastardly alien tyrant, Bosc. Yes, you read that correctly; I said Space Babes. If that's not enough to get your joystick ready, then let's dive deeper into this cosmic calamity of a game!

Gameplay

Blasto operates on the ethos of 'dumb but effective.' Armed with an array of gleefully ridiculous weapons (step aside guns; we've got the Blasto Bomb!) and enough platforming to make you forget the physics of gravity, our hero hops and shoots his way through various intergalactic landscapes. The controls are surprisingly fluid (especially considering the game uses both thumbsticks), and if you fail at a jump, it's likely because you were too busy cracking a smile at Blasto's epic fail to remember there's a hole right below your feet. Unfortunately, puzzle-solving usually comes down to 'find the switch' scenarios, and this is about as deep as the game gets. So if you hoped for mind-bending mysteries in your blaster - good luck with that! Ultimately, Blasto is more focused on direct combat and fast-paced platforming action than cerebral conundrums. But hey, isn't that what we wanted as kids, anyway?

Graphics

Let's talk visuals! Blasto's graphics are a trip back in time to the late '90s, where character models boast more polygons than a geometry textbook, and every alien design looks like a drunken cross between a squid and a marshmallow. A great visual element is the use of vertex lighting, which seems woefully outdated by today's standards but was an impressive feat back then. Thankfully, Blasto's plentiful explosions ensure that the graphics are frequently hidden by kinetic colors and engaging effects. The environments may feel a bit empty, like a college dorm room six months into the semester, but they're bright, vibrant, and full of the colorful charisma that can only come from a game where the hero is as brawny as he is brain-dead.

Conclusion

So, is Blasto a classic? Well, it's certainly a blast (pun intended) from the past - a comically bumpy ride through alien landscapes narrated by the inimitable Phil Hartman. The charm comes from its absurdity and attempts at humor, combined with a somewhat engaging (if simplistic) gameplay. However, if you're looking for a masterpiece that transcends the genre, you might want to find another spaceship. Still, if you're up for some clumsy fun with an equally clumsy hero, Blasto might just tickle your funny bone - or at least entertain you for an afternoon filled with alien antics and lots of 'huh?' moments. Just remember: it's not the destination, but the zany journey (and the Space Babes) that truly matters.

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