Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Blasto delivers a classic third-person shooter experience blended with light platforming mechanics that keep the action moving at a brisk pace. From the moment Captain Blasto lands on the dusty plains of Uranus, players are thrust into scripted firefights where alien grunts teleport into existence the instant you hit a checkpoint. While this design choice can feel repetitive, it also ensures a steady stream of foes to blast and adds a predictable rhythm to each mission.

Variety in weaponry is a central pillar of Blasto’s gameplay loop. The arsenal ranges from rapid-fire plasma pistols to slow-but-powerful rocket launchers, each suited to different enemy types. Swarms of small, agile aliens are best handled with automatic weapons, while the hulking juggernauts that emerge late in each level demand precise rocket or grenade work. This encourages players to switch on the fly, keeping encounters challenging without ever feeling unfair.

The platforming sections, though sporadic, provide welcome breathers between waves of hostiles. Captain Blasto’s muscle-bound physique belies surprisingly nimble jumps and wall runs, allowing for creative traversal around obstacles. Puzzles are minimal—usually involving a switch or a broken walkway—but they break up the shooting nicely and reward exploration with hidden ammo caches or bonus health packs.

One caveat is the scripting of enemy spawns: teleportation portals activate at predictable moments, which veteran players will quickly learn to anticipate. While this can lead to memorization rather than spontaneous combat, it also opens the door for speedrunners and mastery addicts who enjoy perfecting each encounter. Boss battles escalate the stakes by mixing in quick-time events and multi-stage arenas, which heighten tension but occasionally feel shoehorned into the flow.

Graphics

Blasto’s visual style embraces a bold, cartoonish aesthetic that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Character models are exaggerated—Captain Blasto’s enormous biceps and squinty jaw are intentionally over-the-top—lending the game a tongue-in-cheek charm. Alien designs range from slimy grunts to crystal-skinned behemoths, each with distinct color palettes that pop against the muted backgrounds of Uranus’s rocky terrain.

The environments themselves are impressively varied for a mid-tier release. Levels include cavernous research labs, industrial drilling rigs, and glittering crystalline caverns. Dynamic lighting effects—such as flickering lab lights or the glow from alien energy cores—add atmosphere, though occasional texture pop-ins on distant geometry can pull you out of the moment.

Particle effects are a highlight: plasma bolts zip through the air in glowing streaks, rock grenades send chunks of debris flying, and explosions light up the horizon with satisfying physics. These effects remain consistent even when dozens of enemies crowd the screen, attesting to the engine’s optimization. However, on older hardware some frame-rate dips occur during the most chaotic encounters, which may frustrate those seeking a flawless 60 FPS experience.

Character animations strike a balance between rigid and fluid. Captain Blasto’s victory poses and taunt animations feel delightfully oversized, reinforcing his buffoonish hero persona. Conversely, some alien death animations loop too quickly, making it obvious when a foe has already been sent back to the respawn queue. Despite this, the overall animation quality supports the fast-paced combat and never hampers visibility.

Story

The narrative premise of Blasto reads like a 1970s campy sci-fi comic: Bosc, the evil alien ruler, has subjugated Uranus and enslaved the Space Babes to pave the way for an eventual Earth invasion. It’s delightfully absurd, and the writing leans into that absurdity rather than downplaying it. NPCs offer tongue-in-cheek one-liners, and between-mission briefings are delivered with a wink and a nod to classic B-movie tropes.

While the main plot is straightforward—travel to Uranus, defeat Bosc’s minions, free the Space Babes, and confront the big bad—the delivery feels fresh thanks to colorful cutscenes and pithy dialogue. You’ll overhear minor villains arguing over teleportation schedules and witness Bosc deliver melodramatic monologues about “universal domination.” It’s not Shakespeare, but it knows exactly what it wants to be: a fun, action-packed romp.

Character development is minimal but intentional. Captain Blasto himself is no intellectual powerhouse, yet his unwavering confidence and muscle-bound bravado make him oddly endearing. Side characters, like the incarcerated Space Babes, serve largely as rescue objectives, but a few memorable personalities emerge—namely, a renegade scientist whose genuine loyalty to Blasto provides a surprising emotional anchor.

Overall Experience

Blasto excels at delivering unpretentious, bombastic fun. Its blend of shooting, platforming, and tongue-in-cheek humor creates a streamlined experience that’s easy to pick up but offers depth for those who seek mastery. Casual players will appreciate the straightforward objectives and clear visual language, while competitive types can strive for perfect runs and speed-clear every stage.

Some rough edges remain—scripted enemy spawns can feel predictable, and performance hiccups occur when the action peaks. Yet these flaws rarely detract from the core enjoyment. The level design encourages exploration without overwhelming you with side quests, and the pacing keeps tension high from the opening salvo to the final face-off with Bosc.

Ultimately, Blasto is a celebration of cheesy sci-fi heroics wrapped in a tight, colorful shooter. It won’t rewrite the genre, but it dares to lean fully into its campy premise, delivering a solidly entertaining adventure that’s perfect for those seeking an afternoon of over-the-top blasting. For fans of lighthearted shooters and B-movie silliness, Blasto blasts off with style.

Retro Replay Score

6.6/10