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Blast Corps Review
Noel Brady
00/12/0000
The venerable Rare, inimitable protege of Nintendo, is climbing that golden ladder of success at a phenomenal rate.
After quickly garnering great prestige and renown globally as a world-class developer, Rare have relentlessly produced gaming classic after gaming classic with only a few minor "hiccups" here and there, but hey... who's perfect?
Rare's first 64-bit venture came in the form of the beat'em up title, and arcade smash-hit Killer Instinct. To put it bluntly the Killer Instinct series' excursion on the Nintendo 64 was a major hiccup to Nintendo's crucial acceptance into the wary gaming community. "Project Reality", eh? The only reality gamers could relate to was the fact that Nintendo's ultimate hardware wasn't as ultimate as first perceived.
Rare wisely acknowledged that the beat'em up genre, needed a great amount of time and experience (something which Rare had lacked in this territory) to develop a high quality title. Why, obviously, compete in an environment where companies like Namco, who have the experience, will ultimately prevail? So, was it back developing another sequel to the ever-popular Donkey Kong Country series? No, well not yet anyway. Rare were more creatively astute than that! Open closer inspection of Rareware over the past 2 years, distinctly shows their temerity at taking risks. Just look at the wide range. Just look at the wide range of titles developed over this period, from racing and FPS titles to beat'em ups and 3D action/adventures. While, obviously platform titles, characteristically, being Rare's crowning achievement.
It would be a couple of months before, the gaming community would be hit by the influx of high-tier Rare titles: Goldeneye, Diddy Kong Racing, and Banjo-Kazooie. So, upon the initial release of the N64 conversion of Killer Instinct, Rare indubitably had in their development pipeline, one of the most innovative titles to EVER grace a home entertainment console...Blast Corps!!!!!!!
This title bears characteristics resembling the average 3D Action title but is creatively much more. Blast Corps was so innovative in fact, many of the so-called creative minds in other development companies world-wide must have been banging their heads against the proverbial wall, annoyed that such an opportune and unique title had been lost to the competition. Rare took heed of this opportunity and created Blast Corps, a simple concept which should have been implemented in games a long time ago but most companies were happy to live off the guaranteed success of a smash-hit series sequel.
Team Blast Corps, are a group of ex-military vehicle development specialists, who must use their valuable knowledge and talents to avert global nuclear fallout. Summoned by the nation's governing bodies, as the final hope, standing between peace and catastrophe, the team unanimously and honourably accepts their mission. A pair of defective nuclear warheads, en route to a safe and secure detonation site, have inadvertently become badly damaged, leaking highly toxic radiation. The carrier delivering the warheads has automatically locked onto the most direct route to its final destination, which unfortunately happens to pass via a multitude of major towns ar fallout. Summoned by the nation's governing bodies, as the final hope, standing between peace and catastrophe, the team unanimously and honourably accepts their mission. A pair of defective nuclear warheads, en route to a safe and secure detonation site, have inadvertently become badly damaged, leaking highly toxic radiation. The carrier delivering the warheads has automatically locked onto the most direct route to its final destination, which unfortunately happens to pass via a massive town. Blast Corps is one of the most exhilarating gaming experiences ever released, where each gamer is immersed in a world threatened by an inevitable nuclear catastrophe and you must destroy potentially each city in the carriers' path. Quite ironic, in a sense don't you think?
And you tell me what could be more appealing than obliterating warehouses, skyscrapers and supermarkets, watching them explode and crumble to dust as you mercilessly drive a bulldozer through its supports. Or thrust a mechanical battle suit, from 500ft. in the air, onto an unsuspecting civilian populated residency below. Oh!.... and did I forget to mention in each city, you venture boldly into, hasn't had time to evacuate every last citizen so during your demolition spree, you will encounter the groups of disarrayed survivors. But, unfortunately, for all you Grand Theft Auto gurus out there, calm down because sadly, no, you will be unable to brutally mow down or injure survivors, a la the pedestrians in Driver. Well, now that you understand the primary gist of the game, I will now delve more in depth into the game's characteristics. Firstly, your mission objectives....
This is rather a long-winded explanation due to the fact that upon close analogy, Blast Corps isn't all brainless and barbaric demolition duties and requires some intelligent detective work if you want to accomplish the later missions. Two of your mission objectives are to destroy all primary obstacles or obstructions within the carriers designated rampaging path. And secondly, to destroy each periphery structure (obstacles outside the jurisdiction of the carrier's immediate path.) The latter is part and parcel of your mission's secondary tasks of which I will evaluate next.
Upon completing each individual mission, you are presented with a detailed transcription, which depicts an ostentatious analysis of each objective's percentage completion. For your primary objective (to remove all obstructions from the carriers' path) you are awarded a gold medal commendation upon accomplishment. For your secondary objectives you are awarded either, a bronze, silver or gold medal commendation solely depending on the percentage completion of each individual task. Each of your secondary tasks are as vitally important as your primary tasks, if you endeavour to unlock the more difficult missions.
Your destructive percentage of each city's building structures and your survivors rescued percentage are intertwined in a sense as upon the complete, unscrupulous demolition of each city's structures, you will inadvertently have released all the survivors. These, in affect, are the easiest tasks to fully accomplish but won't enable you to receive the auspicious second gold commendation. Your other secondary tasks include finding the fundamentally influential RDU's (Radiation Dispersal Units) which are vital in ultimately preserving the environment from the carriers toxic leakage and to acquiring that second gold commendation. Precisely 100 RDU's are to be uncovered in specific locations along the carriers' path and are automatically activated when you drive within close proximity to them.
Additional features to locate include expertly hidden communication points, which must be activated in order to access various bonus levels. Which are usually time-trial based tasks involving either, the destruction of a city involving one of Team Blast Corps' new mechanical vehicle's within a specified time limit or a race course to be completed within a designated time. Medals are awarded for efficiency in each bonus level. A characteristic of bonus levels is the exclusion of tasks involving the carrier, which provides the game with a sense of gaming variety.
The mission completion analytical screen described earlier also contains additional stays including damage costs, the overall number of gold, silver and bronze medal commendations awarded and finally your rank. Upon earning a total of 12 rank points, you will be eligible for a rank promotion, from which there is an overall 31 ranks to achieve.
To help you ultimately achieve your goal and expertly guide the carrier, unhindered, to ground zero, Team Blast Corps have authorised you to use each of their 14 demolition vehicles to aid you in your destructive and inhospitable quest. Most missions will require only one vehicle to accomplish it, while other missions may require 3 or 4 vehicles to complete it 100%. Only on time trial levels are you given a choice of vehicles to commandeer but on missions you are automatically provided with a suitable vehicle. Additional vehicles, if any, are strategically situated on each level for you to discover and to aid you in achieving your goal, a double gold commendation.
The first vehicle you will encounter in Blast Corps is the infallible Ramdozer. Typically, a technologically-enhanced bulldozer; Ramdozer is powerful and simplistic making it easy to get to grips with. Unfortunately, this is certainly not the case with all the vehicles. The Backlash, dumpster truck and the Skyfall, kamikaze-armoured racer are two such bestial vehicles. The Backlash when it reaches peak velocity has the capabilities to thrust itself, armoured dumpster-first (initiated by holding down either the L or R buttons), into nearby targeted structures. Destructive if mastered but if you miss your target by oversteering, the Backlash is susceptible to spinning uncontrollably, making it difficult to manoeuvre in awkward tight spots.
The Skyfall, is easier to control, yet can be frustrating at times. Again, using the L or R buttons, Skyfall utilises its turbo-boost capabilities. Effective upon encountering steep slopes, Skyfall can launch its armoured hide vertically only to come crashing down at break-neck speeds onto its target. Precision, timing, and patience are the keys to the mastery of these vehicles.
Next, are the most destructive "vehicles" in the game; Ballista and Sideswipe. Ballista is a missile-toting, Extreme G-esque motorcycle, while Sideswipe "punches" its targets using its armoured sides, ejection mechanism to create a devastating impact. The only discernible limitations of these machines are that they are ammunition oriented. Primarily used during time-trial levels, are the thoroughly enjoyable police car, equipped with a realistic police siren; an A-Team style van, which by pressing the R button while in control, the driver will shout obscenely. Also available are an American style, drag/sports car and my personal favourite a super-slick Starsky and Hutch replica, red 1974 Ford Torino, equipped with a realistic and atmospheric short 70's music beat.
Blast Corps also have the use of each cities trains and platform cranes, if required, to move vehicles or those essential TNT crates from "Point A to Point B", for quick devastative results. And finally, last but certainly not least, I have left the ultimate engines of destruction until last. Positively, the most destructive "characters" in Blast Corps, their very own mech-battle suits.
First up, is Thunderfist, who uses its only operable, oversized, fist to bash and completely annihilate EVERYthing its path. Next up, simply designated the Cyclone Suit, this mech, simply tumbles and somersaults acrobatically into all obstructions within its path. Finally, I proudly introduce: J-Bomb, who comes equipped with booster-powered jets and whereupon reaching maximum altitude, J-Bomb plummets feet-first towards its intended target causing, inevitable, wide devastation.
Blast Corps is split up into 3 difficulty levels or grids. Before you accept each mission you are treated to a satellite-view of the Earth, depicting a grid-like network stretching across the globe. Upon completing each mission and bonus level, new routes and missions will become accessible. When you have completed the first "square-shaped" grid of missions, the difficulty and variety of each mission will require more speed, thought and diligence.
One aspect of each mission, which tones down the difficulty level a tad is the fact that you need not necessarily attempt to accomplish both your primary and secondary objectives at the same time. Though it is quite possible to do so, it the carrier's constant, threatening presence which could end it all. Only the slightest miscalculation is all it takes for you to accidentally nudge against the nuclear warhead carrier and...BANG!... you have to discouragingly start the mission right from the beginning.
The alternative action is to successfully complete your primary goal, to clear a path for the carrier, and then to simply enter the Blast Corps semi at the outskirts of the level. You will encouragingly receive your first gold commendation and then simply re-enter the level and you are obligated to continue your various secondary tasks, minus the hazardous threat of one warhead carrier. Rare have added an additional tertiary objective to your bountiful quest, namely, 6 scientist/technicians who must be located, in order to ensure a safe detonation of the nuclear warheads upon final arrival at ground zero. Upon discovering, one scientist, each will in turn reveal the secret location of the next scientist to be rescued.
Though this is a tertiary objective it is primarily important, if you endeavour to access the latter missions which include the destruction of an urban territory to clear a potential runway for a space shuttle gone awry. Completing this mission grants you further access to the shuttlecraft itself, enabling you to attempt the outer-space levels and accomplish your final, intergalactic goals.
And you probably think the gaming experience ends there, but it astoundingly continues. After successfully saving the world from the prospect of a millennia-spanning nuclear winter, and saving the endangered crew of a damaged shuttle craft, an extraordinarily difficult, "Time Attack" mode becomes accessible, where your goal is to complete each level and acquire a coveted "Platinum" medal commendation. And I can assure you that if it's a challenge you have sought after, Blast Corps will exorbitantly deliver.
While Blast Corps suffered a great iniquity at the hands of the gaming community due to its unfortunate September '97 release, it was inevitably overshadowed by Rare's other holiday season releases: Goldeneye and DKR, it is undoubtedly a boundless gaming experience. I extol Rare for their ingenuity and creativeness in developing this "explosive" title. True, Blast Corps, can be frustrating at times, lacks a multi-player experience and needs to be tidied up in a few areas, particularly, its mediocre Mission Replay mode, but Blast Corps unlike most titles being released, is unique.
Any N64 owners who want to purchase one of the most innovative and challenging titles EVER released on ANY console, look no further. Rare have crammed an inexorable amount of 3D destructive mayhem onto one small cartridge. If you want a fun, blisteringly fast-paced and illustriously enjoyable challenge; it is utterly essential that you purchase this demolition extravaganza!
