Blast Corps

aka: Blast Dozer
Moby ID: 3623
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Description official descriptions

Get out of the way! A nuclear missile carrier is out of control on a one way-set path, and unless that path is cleared, it will explode as soon as it makes contact with anything, destroying the world. It is up to you to clear the path so that nothing gets in the way of the Carrier.

Blast Corps is a mix of an action and a puzzle game where destruction is key. At the start of each level the player is given a certain vehicle (ranging from robotic suits to trucks or bulldozers), and are told to clear the path for the Carrier. Players need to use their heavy-duty equipment to destroy any buildings, structures, or monuments that stand in the path of the Carrier. The difficulty increases as progress is made, though. Smaller vehicles don't affect certain buildings, and sometimes it's not even a building that's in the way. The player must use the resources around them to clear the path. Players may need a train flatbed to fill a gap, or a crane to move boxes out of the way. The Carrier is always moving, so once the player is done destroying one obstruction, they must get to the next one quickly. While players pursue their mission they must also find six scientists scattered throughout the globe to form a think-tank to solve the problem. The Carrier has to leave Earth, and it's your job to ensure that it will!

Blast Corps features secrets to find. Besides clearing each path for the Carrier, players can go back to a level once it has been completed to take their time and explore. To fully complete a level, players must also find RDUs (Radiation Dispersal Units), which light up on the ground when the player is in close proximity to them, as well as destroy all of the buildings, rescue all of the homeless civilians, which is done by the T-chopper that accompanies the player on every mission. There are also dozens of secret time trial levels that can be found by activating special satellite dishes hidden throughout the levels. If the player manages to get all of the secrets in a level they receive a second medal, and once all of the gold medals are found the developers have a tiny message for them...

Spellings

  • ćƒ–ćƒ©ć‚¹ćƒˆćƒ‰ćƒ¼ć‚¶ćƒ¼ - Japanese spelling

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Credits (Nintendo 64 version)

56 People (51 developers, 5 thanks) · View all

Music and SFX
Executive Producer
Game Design
Nintendo Producers
Lead Programmer
Additional Programming
Lead Artist
Additional Artists
Story and Text
Project Manager
Product Test
Original Concept
Emulator Programming
Additional Compression
Additional Artwork
[ full credits ]

Reviews

Critics

Average score: 87% (based on 32 ratings)

Players

Average score: 3.6 out of 5 (based on 57 ratings with 4 reviews)

A challenging, original game

The Good
The premise for this game is awesome. Who hasn't wanted to climb in a bulldozer and destroy everything in your path? The vehicles are original and most of them are fun to play with. The levels are generally well thought out and usually very challenging. After you safely clear the path for the truck you're allowed to return to try to complete all the objectives that allow you to gain higher medals and open up new areas to explore. The graphics and sound fit the game, not great but they're appropriate.

The Bad
This game IS tough. It can almost be too tough. The biggest reason is because some of the vehicle's are next impossible to control.

The Bottom Line
The ultimate destruction derby!

Nintendo 64 · by jeremy strope (160) · 2001

Unique And Fun Experience

The Good
Destroying things is immense fun

The Bad
The Backlash takes a lot of getting used to

The Bottom Line
This game takes a silly concept and just has a ton of fun with it. The story is simple: there is a nuclear missile being transported on an automated truck. The truck malfunctions and heads to a location in a straight line. If it collides with anything, it will explode. Your mission is to destroy everything in its path.

At its core, Blast Corps is an action-puzzle game. You have a limited time to destroy everything in the missileā€™s path (the game will highlight vital buildings), but while it starts off as simply ramming into everything, the game will introduce new elements in the way of different vehicles, using TNT for large buildings and also filling up gaps. Some levels are straightforward, while others will require you to explore the level to find the vehicles you need to proceed.

The vehicles have a massive variety, with cars, weaponised bikes, dump trucks, various mechs and some with specific uses ā€“ such as the Sideswipe which shunts panels sideways or the Skyfall, which has a sturdy undercarriage that requires you to use jumps to land on buildings from above. Some of them ā€“ like cars and trains ā€“ arenā€™t used for damage, but more to solve puzzles and to get between different vehicles.

Then thereā€™s the Backlash. A dump truck that is the most difficult vehicle to use. When ramming, it does very little damage, instead, it causes damage by hitting stuff with the rear end ā€“ but reversing is too slow. You need to use its ā€œslideā€ ability to drift the back of the truck into buildings, which is extremely difficult to get to grips with. I did get competent enough to get through the game, but I still didnā€™t enjoy it as much as other vehicles.

Once youā€™ve cleared a path and beaten a level for the first time, you can return to complete the remaining objectives. With no timer, this part of the game is a welcome relaxation to contrast the frantic main mission. You need to demolish other buildings (the game claims you are rescuing survivors), activate little light bacons and search for beacons to unlock bonus missions. You also need to scour some of the levels for hidden scientists.

One this is over, the game isnā€™t over. You can now try to unlock medals. The levels are restored and now you have to try and beat them as quick as possible (although the time from the first playthrough counts, so you donā€™t need to do it again if you were already fast enough), which unlocks a few bonus challenges across different planets.

Blast Corps is immensely fun to play and there really hasnā€™t been anything like it since. It took a fun, simple concept and did a lot with it, focusing on the gameplay and enjoyment. There hasnā€™t been anything quite like it since it game out, and thatā€™s a massive shame. While you can get the game on Rare Replay, Blast Corps definitely deserves a spruced up remaster.

Nintendo 64 · by Cube1701 (1) · 2024

Who doesn't like knocking down buildings

The Good
I really enjoyed this game. It let you command many different vehicles. I liked the explosions. I liked the races and the horns.

The Bad
This game had sub-par graphics. The Backlash was probably the worst use of a dump truck. Some levels were extremely difficult.

The Bottom Line
The best demolition game ever

Nintendo 64 · by gamewarrior (5040) · 2004

[ View all 4 player reviews ]

Trivia

1001 Video Games

Blast Corps appears in the book 1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die by General Editor Tony Mott.

Titles

The game's unfortunate original title was Bull 64, from which it progressed through Heavy Duty Heroes, the truncated Heavy Duty, Blast Radius, Power Dozer and BlastDozer (which encountered copyright problems outside Japan) to the Blast Corps of today.

Awards

  • Electronic Gaming Monthly
    • May 1997 (Issue 94) - Game of the Month
  • November 1997 (Issue 100) - ranked #93 (Best 100 Games of All Time)### Awards
    • March 1998 (Issue 104) - Most Original Game of the Year Runner-Up
    • March 1998 (Issue 104) - Most Original Game of the Year Runner-Up (Readers' Choice)

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  • MobyGames ID: 3623
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Contributors to this Entry

Game added by Kartanym.

Additional contributors: Joshua J. Slone, Alaka, skl, gamewarrior, DreinIX, Patrick Bregger, Victor Vance, FatherJack.

Game added April 2, 2001. Last modified March 3, 2024.