Blaster Master Zero

Blaster Master Zero
Developer: Inti Creates Publisher: Inti Creates Platforms: Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo Switch, Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X Released internationally: March 9, 2017 (3DS/Switch), June 12, 2019 (Windows), June 29, 2020 (PS4), July 1, 2021 (XB1/XBSX) Released in JP: March 3, 2017 (3DS/Switch) This game has unused graphics. This game has unused music. This game has regional differences. This game has revisional differences.

To do: Find unused graphics, preferably sourced from the original 3DS/Switch release instead of the PC version (unless it's the only option).

Blaster Master Zero is a remake/reboot of the original NES game, which alongside modernizing the gameplay seeks to combine the disparate storylines of the JP and US versions: so instead of either being a story about some guy named Jason chasing after his pet frog and somehow finding an all-terrain tank alongside the ruins of an ancient civilization underneath his backyard or a story about fighting the evil alien empire's corruption of the planet in the distant future, now it's both!

Unused Graphics

A single sprite of Eve standing at a 45° angle, presumably for her encounter in one of the dungeons.

A series of message cards explaining a handful of gameplay elements unlike the ones prompted by the game when an upgrade is found.

Text	Translation
【ライフアップ】 (Jason)と(SOPHIA)のライフが１アップ 【ハイパーショット】 主砲の威力アップ ウォールガーダーを倒せ すようになった 【イグニッションボム】 設置型のボム ＬＢ長押しでサブウエポン選択後、Ｂで設置・再びＢで起爆 【サンダーブレイク】 真下への電撃攻撃 ＬＢ長押しでサプラエポン選択後、Ｂで発射	[Life Up] (Jason) and (SOPHIA)'s life increases by 1 [Hyper shot] Main gun power increased Wall Guardians can now be defeated [Ignition Bomb] A set-up bomb Press and hold LB to select a sub-weapon, then press B to set it up and B again to detonate it [Thunder Breaker] A lightning attack straight down Press and hold LB to select a sub-weapon, then press B to fire

On the Nintendo Switch version, inside of a folder named "test_data" containing two spritesheets from Azure Striker Gunvolt. Interestingly they have been stored in the common .btnx format (alongside two corresponding .iopd files) rather than Inti Creates' propietary filesystem.

pl0000.bntx	zk0000.bntx

Unused Music

On the 3DS version, all of the music tracks appear to be duplicated as both .bcstm and .bfstm files. While most of the .bfstm duplicates might seem to be just lower-quality versions of their .bcstm counterparts (despite having a higher sound frequency), on closer inspection they appear to be early versions of the songs, as evidenced by various tracks having slightly different instrumentation and mixing or even outright using MIDI samples instead of chiptune.

Track name	Filename(s)	.bcstm	.bfstm	Notes
Black Box	BSM_BGM_DM_03_LP
Blaster Master Zero	BSM_BGM_Title_LP, BSM_BGM_Endroll_LP
The Underground Adventure Begins	BSM_BGM_Area_01_LP
(Unused)	BSM_BGM_Area_01_LP_32			An alternate version of the Area 1 theme with intro percussion that far more closely resembles that of the NES game.
Fire the Blaster Rifle	BSM_BGM_Dungeon_01_LP
(Unused)	BSM_BGM_Dungeon_01_LP_32			An alternate version for the Area 1 Dungeon theme whose melody seems to have been derived from or recycled for the Area 3 theme.
Encounter	BSM_BGM_BT_Medium_LP
Huge Mutants	BSM_BGM_DM_01_LP
The Mutant's Lair	BSM_BGM_Boss_LP, BSM_BGM_BT_INVEM_Top_LP
(Unused)	BSM_BGM_Boss_LP_32			An alternate version of the Boss theme with a much harsher sound and higher pitch than the regular version.
Search the Ruined City	BSM_BGM_Area_02_LP
NORA-2057 Eve	BSM_BGM_DM_04_LP
Moebius Engine	BSM_BGM_Area_03_LP
Next Level	BSM_BGM_Dungeon_02_LP
The Wretched Waterworks	BSM_BGM_Area_04_LP			Instruments are MIDI instead of chiptune.
The Abyssal Seas	BSM_BGM_Area_05_LP			Channel mixing is a bit messy.
Frigid Glacier	BSM_BGM_Area_06_LP			The 8-second-long intro is absent.
Jason's Resolution	BSM_BGM_Dungeon_03_LP
Full Acceleration Blast	BSM_BGM_DM_05_LP
Planet Eater	BSM_BGM_Area_07_LP
The Grotesque Labyrinth	BSM_BGM_Area_08_LP
Evil Unchained	BSM_BGM_DM_02_LP			Instruments are MIDI instead of chiptune.
Multidimensional Overlord	BSM_BGM_BT_BEZ_GOEZ_LP			Instruments are MIDI instead of chiptune.
Emerging Victorious	BSM_BGM_DM_07_LP			Instruments are MIDI instead of chiptune.
Eve's Deception	BSM_BGM_DM_09_LP			Instruments are MIDI instead of chiptune.
Tears Under the Night Sky	BSM_BGM_DM_06_LP			Instruments are MIDI instead of chiptune.
Memories of the Metafight	BSM_BGM_Area_09_LP			Missing lead synth in the chorus.
Shattered Bonds	BSM_BGM_Dungeon_04_LP			Instruments are MIDI instead of chiptune.
INVEM MA-XX	BSM_BGM_BT_INVEM_Side_LP			Instruments are MIDI instead of chiptune.
Smiles Under the Blue Sky	BSM_BGM_DM_08_LP			Instruments are MIDI instead of chiptune.
(Unused)	BSM_JGL_Clear, BSM_JGL_Clear_32			Three duplicates of the item obtained jingle from the original NES game at different frequencies each. None of them are ever used in the game as it was replaced by an original composition.

Regional Differences

Title Screen

Japanese	English

Bottom screen

Japanese	English

Boss names

A couple of the bosses saw their names changed between the Japanese and English versions. Interestingly, the underlying katakana transcription of their name was altered to match. All of the other languages have their own set of localized names but use the same katakana as the English ones.

Japanese	English

Version Differences

• The Nintendo 3DS version run at the native resolution of 400x240 at 30fps, the Nintendo Switch version displays the game at a non-integer scaled 1080p (both in docked and portable mode) with black bars on the side at 60fps.
• On all home console and PC versions of the game, there's a "How To Play" option at the title screen and on the Game Menu which explains the controls and the "call SOPHIA" ability. This is completely absent on the Nintendo 3DS version (presumably because such info is provided by the system's built-in electronic manual).
• On the Nintendo 3DS the Game Menu can only be accessed by touching the bottom screen (note: the Game Menu will only display on the top screen), pressing Select will only open the status screen. On any other version, the Game Menu is accessed through the Select-equivalent button.
• On the Nintendo 3DS version, the options of the "Extra" menu are all displayed on a single screen. On all other version it takes up two pages.
• The Nintendo 3DS version lacks any and all 2-player related modes (Co-op, Co-op Boss Blaster Mode and Blaster Battle Mode).
• The Nintendo 3DS version lacks support for Chinese (Traditional) and Korean language options.
• The PC version lacks any support for haptic feedback.

Blaster Master Zero Trilogy: MetaFight Chronicle

Physical release of all three games and their respective DLCs for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 released on July 29, 2021 exclusively in Japan. It includes one exclusive DLC which adds voice acting to all of the games and has not been available for any of the digital versions of the game regardless of their platform.

Revisional Differences

Ver.1.1

Released on March 15, 2017.

• Added Pro Controller support.

(Source: https://twitter.com/BlasterMasterZ/status/842030600751988736 @BlasterMasterZero on Twitter])

Ver.1.2

Released on May 3, 2017.

• Destroyer Mode added.
• EX Character Mode added:
  • Gunvolt
  • Ekoro

(Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyxmTv281pg Blaster Master Zero Version 1.2 Update - Official Trailer])

Ver.1.3

Released on July 6, 2017.

• New EX Characters:
  • Shantae
  • Shovel Knight

(Source: https://youtu.be/VCKtO0HTgAk?si=4XYoTEaRiIKfpTaR Blaster Master Zero Version 1.3 Update - Official Trailer])

Ver.1.4

Released on October 4, 2017.

• Boss Blaster Mode added.
• Co-op Boss Blaster Mode added. (Nintendo Switch only)
• Available number of save slots tripled. (Nintendo Switch only)
• EX Characters can now use the "call SOPHIA" ability.

(Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwGku4g9GHo Blaster Master Zero Version 1.4 Update - Official Trailer])

Ver.1.5

Released on November 22, 2017.

• Blaster Battle Mode added.

(Source: https://youtu.be/sJ_wY8DA97w?si=4JrqUtSSmHXuIegS Blaster Master Zero Version 1.5 Update - Official Trailer])

Ver.1.5.1

Released on December 4, 2019.

• Nintendo Switch video capture compatibility has been added.
• An issue where the game would get stuck on the Joy-Con connection screen when selecting Multiplayer on a Nintendo Switch Lite has been fixed.

※2 Joy-Cons will be required to play Multiplayer on a Nintendo Switch Lite.

※This update does not apply to the Nintendo 3DS version.

(Source: https://blastermaster-zero.com/en/zero/product/index.html Blaster Master Zero Official Site])

Ver.1.5.2

Released on June 29, 2020.

• The following languages are now supported:
  • French
  • Italian
  • German
  • Spanish
  • Portuguese
• Various issues have been fixed.

(Note: Released on Nintendo 3DS as Ver.1.4.1)

(Source: https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1034900/view/2497758102803538981 Blaster Master Zero - UPDATE - Blaster Master Zero - Add new languages & Bug fixed - Steam News])

Ver.1.6.1

Released on June 16, 2021 for Steam and July 28, 2021 for Nintendo Switch.

• The following languages are now supported:
  • Traditional Chinese
  • Korean
• Various issues have been fixed.

(Source: https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1034900/view/2497758102803538981 Blaster Master Zero - UPDATE - Blaster Master Zero - Add new languages - Steam News])