image: http://gematsu.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Blaster-Master-Zero_2016_11-05-16_Top.jpg

Inti Creates, in partnership with Sunsoft, has announced Blaster Master Zero, a new title for 3DS due out in spring 2017 that uses the 1988-released NES title Blaster Master as its base.  

Here is the full rundown, via Inti Creates:

Release

At their 20th Anniversary Fan Festa event held in Ichikawa, Japan, Inti Creates announced that they will be releasing a new game titled Blaster Master Zero that will release on the Nintendo 3DS eshop in Spring 2017.

Inti Creates acquired the license to the original Blaster Master game released for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1988 by Sunsoft, and began work on a new title for the series.

Using the original Blaster Master game as a base, Inti Creates is setting out to create a fully 8-bit experience in a way that both hearkens back to the golden age of the NES and uses the current generation hardware to optimize and power up the game for the players of today. This of course includes new areas and bosses, and new gameplay elements such as extra sub-weapons, improved gameplay when battling outside of your SOPHIA 3rd tank, a more robust scenario, refined and expanded exploration mechanics, and more.

Everything is starting again from “zero”, so stay tuned for more Blaster Master Zero announcements coming soon.

Specs

• Title: Blaster Master Zero
• Hardware: Nintendo 3DS eShop
• Genre: Action
• Rating: ESRB Rating Pending
• Developer：Inti Creates
• Release Date: Spring 2017
• # of Players: 1 Player
• Price: TBD
• Homepage: http://blastermaster-zero.com

Story

In the near future on planet Earth…

Many kinds of creatures once coexisted on this verdant planet, but after countless wars and untold environmental destruction, the planet was plunged into an ice age, and humanity was left with no choice but to migrate en masse underground.

When the ice age finally came to an end, humanity begin developing methods while they were living underground to one day restore their planet to the lush green landscape it once was. During this time, a large mysterious comet fell to the earth, but the progress of restoring their lost ecosystem was coming along well, and humanity was eventually able to live on the surface once again.

Several hundred years have passed since then.

Enter a young man named Jason Frudnick, a genius in the field of robotic engineering. One day, he came upon a creature he had never seen before. No records of this creature existed, so with his interest in this mysterious creature piqued, Jason named it “Fred” and began to observe it closely. But, after some time had passed it found a way to escape.

Jason gave chase, and before he knew it he had stumbled into the subterranean world where humanity once resided. A large vehicle awaited him there.

Almost as if this vehicle with the name “SOPHIA 3rd” on the side was inviting him in, the door the cockpit opened up. In order to bring Fred back, Jason hopped into SOPHIA 3rd and set out on his adventure.

Screenshots

image: http://gematsu.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Blaster-Master-Zero_2016_11-05-16_001.jpg

Hop in your armored tank SOPHIA 3rd and begin the search for Fred!

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Strange mutants inhabit this subterranean world.

image: http://gematsu.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Blaster-Master-Zero_2016_11-05-16_003.jpg

Search high and low to discover various dungeons and items. Exit the SOPHIA 3rd to enter the dungeons.

image: http://gematsu.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Blaster-Master-Zero_2016_11-05-16_004.jpg

You will be able to change your gun while inside a dungeon. Earn many different types of new weapons as you progress through your adventure.

image: http://gematsu.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Blaster-Master-Zero_2016_11-05-16_005.jpg

Gun Level 6 is an explosive lightning-based attack called the “Striker”!

image: http://gematsu.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Blaster-Master-Zero_2016_11-05-16_006.jpg

Defeat the horde of baddies before they surround you! Use the terrain to your advantage and exterminate them!

image: http://gematsu.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Blaster-Master-Zero_2016_11-05-16_007.jpg

Your mobility will be greatly reduced in the water. Use a sub-weapon that looks like it’ll help you make your way through.

image: http://gematsu.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Blaster-Master-Zero_2016_11-05-16_008.jpg

Defeat sub-bosses to earn power ups for both Jason and SOPHIA 3rd!

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The showdown with the Area 1 boss, Chlameatle!

image: http://gematsu.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Blaster-Master-Zero_2016_11-05-16_010.jpg

Use the Hyper Shot obtained from a defeated boss to power up the main cannon! You may just find yourself able to defeat previously unbeatable enemies.

image: http://gematsu.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Blaster-Master-Zero_2016_11-05-16_011.jpg

There are certain places that Jason can only enter by exiting SOPHIA 3rd.

image: http://gematsu.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Blaster-Master-Zero_2016_11-05-16_012.jpg

Jason can also attack when outside of SOPHIA 3rd! Let those bullets fly!

View the screenshots and artwork at the gallery.