This Week in Defunct Games - Dec. 15, 2009

What Is It? Anybody who followed my weekly podcast, Cyril Reads Blaster Master , already knows that Blaster Master is the story of a boy who gets stuck in a giant underground world after chasing his pet frog. How or why Blaster Master became a big hit on the NES is anybody's guess, but it does manage to offer enough compelling gameplay options and levels to warrant a look. You play from two different perspectives - Blaster Master is a traditional 2D platformer when you're motoring around in the car, but the moment you step outside you are seeing things from an overhead point of view. After awhile the levels start to look the same and the bosses become predictable, but there's also a lot to like about the game. The game offers a cool story that is a lot more varied than I remember. If anything, Blaster Master proves that there are a lot of classic games ready to be uploaded to the Virtual Console.

Does It Still Hold Up? The very first thing I noticed was how punishingly difficult Blaster Master was. I didn't remember the game being so hard when I was a kid, but sure enough I was constantly dying thanks to cheap hits and some frustrating level designs. The good news is that the controls are mostly accurate and I generally felt in control over my character (and his car). This game holds up, but I wouldn't mind seeing somebody go back and remake this in the way Capcom remade Bionic Command Rearmed.

Is It Worth The Money? Blaster Master is absolutely worth your money. Even though the game ends up getting a little repetitive towards the final act, there's enough here to warrant the small five dollar price tag. I'm not sure Blaster Master is as good as I remember it being twenty years ago, but it's definitely a fun action/platformer that should have spawned more sequels. Hopefully this is a sign that somebody is thinking about rebooting the Blaster Master franchise.

What Is It? Here we have Earthworm Jim's second (and final) 2D outing. Jim's beloved Princess What's-Her-Name is in trouble again, this time getting forced into an arranged marriage. All this is reason enough for Jim (and his brand new sidekick, Snott) to go halfway around the universe to save his one and true love. Of course, that means that you'll get into a lot of familiar battles all presented using 2D sprites and impressive animations. Thankfully Shiny hasn't forgotten the real star of the Earthworm Jim franchise - the sense of humor. Best of all, this sequel offers more diversity. You'll find yourself solving puzzles, navigating mazes and even racing for time. With memorable characters, solid gameplay mechanics and even more outrages jokes, it's impossible not to fall in love with Earthworm Jim 2.

Does It Still Hold Up? Much like the first game, Earthworm Jim 2 features a fantastic control scheme that makes it easy to pull off a wide assortment of moves. Not only can you shoot in a bunch of different directions, you can now use your buddy Snott to help you get out of sticky situations. Best of all, the game retains the wicked sense of humor and even adds a few things to the gameplay, such as riding on small rodents. Even if it just feels like an expansion pack at times, Earthworm Jim 2 can still be enjoyed all these years later.

Is It Worth The Money? Earthworm Jim 2 is easy to recommend, it has great graphics, easy gameplay and enough levels to make you feel like you are getting your money's worth. While there are a lot more things for you to do this time around, there are certainly moments when things don't feel especially fresh or original. The game spends a lot of time recycling things you did the first time around, which isn't such a bad thing when you see some of the new levels you get thrown into. I can't say that this sequel hits the impressive highs of the original, but it's also a solid 2D action game that is just weird enough to be worth your money.