We Play, Create and Review Blast Works

Photo of Robert Allen Robert AllenJuly 1, 2008
165 1,552 2 minutes read


In era when it’s becoming increasingly rare for a 2D shooter
to be released at retail, the shmup gods have graced us with Blast Works:
Build, Trade, Destroy. As the title implies, mere bullet dodging isn’t the focus
of the game. Instead, players can unleash their creative impulses by designing
their own arcade shooters using Blast Works powerful editing tools. Later, they
can then trade and upload their designs for others to enjoy.

The core gameplay is built around Tumiki Fighters, a shooter
created by Kenta Cho, who was called one of today’s best independent game
programmers by MacWorld. In Tumiki, players would pilot a ship, along a horizontally
scrolling battlefield, while destroying enemies. As these enemies were shot
down, they would tumble off the screen. Players could pick up these cascading
wreckages and add them to their own ship, in a chaotic, ‘Katamari’-like fashion.
Players would then possess the firepower of the newly obtained vessel,
resulting in a huge ship, firing in all directions.


The original Tumiki, along with three similar titles are
present in developer Budcat Creations, Blast Works. But what makes this Wii
title so compelling is the included editor that can be used to create your own
bullet patterns, backgrounds, enemies, and player ships. A necessary balance
between flexibility and ease of use is needed for any user-created editor, and
Blast Works walks that line deftly. It will take a few hours before would-be
creators are able to articulate their design ideas into actual gameplay.
Artistic ability and experience using 3D modelers are two assets that could help
budding designers. Fortunately, templates from full games, to ship shapes, are available
for players to download at Majesco’s website, Blastworksdepot.


Overall, Blastworks suffers from a few small problems. First,
the Wiimote isn’t accurate enough for simple 3D modeling. It lacks the necessary
precision found in a mouse or tablet. While multiplayer supports up to four
players, a game can quickly dissolve into a muddled mess, as the camera doesn’t
move to capture the on-screen action appropriately. Others may be turned off by
the blocky, impressionistic, decidedly old-school graphics; however, we found
them charming.

These small caveats shouldn’t be enough to dispel gamers
interested in building their own creations. Others less artistically inclined,
or those looking for a quick shooter fix, may want to rent this title before
committing to the $40 price tag.


Final Grade: B

Congratulations to Fstop, who will be receiving a copy of Blast Works: Build, Trade, Destroy, shortly. Thanks to all that entered. If you didn’t win, don’t despair- we will be having a huge contest to coincide with E3 this month.

Photo of Robert Allen Robert AllenJuly 1, 2008
165 1,552 2 minutes read
Photo of Robert Allen

Robert Allen

Since being a toddler, Robert Allen has been immersed in video games, anime, and tokusatsu. Currently, his days are spent teaching at two southern California colleges. But his evenings and weekends are filled with STGs, RPGs, and action titles and well at writing for Tech-Gaming since 2007.

165 Comments

  3. Hahaha, nice title Elrick. How long before Nintendo takes that down? I’m guessing 20-30 seconds.

  4. This game looks pretty cool. I don’t think I could justify buying it at full price though. Here’s hoping that I win it.

  5. I’ve got the mad skill to create the next Ikaruga, all you gotta do it let me win.

  7. If I win, I’ll create the most incredible Tech-Gaming shooter where you blow up Joystiq and Kotaku!!!!

  14. Wow, this sounds really cool. I got it confused with the game by Steven Spielberg until I read the review 😛

  19. PT278 wrote:
    If I win can you ship to Iraq?

    Yes, no problem!

    Sequoia wrote:
    Is this out? I remember briefly hearing about it a while ago, then nothing.

    Yes, It came out this week after a delay of two-three weeks.

    Niner wrote:
    Can you make vertical shooters too?

    Yep, check out the website, there’s one up there already.

  22. Hmm, this looks pretty interesting… I’ve heard of it before, but I never actually saw any pictures or read any information about it before now. I just might have to check this out. =P

  25. I have to say that reading the review and seeing some of the videos makes me want to try this game

    shmup+katamari=win?

  41. I don’t know, I think I’d spend most of the time building – not that that’s a bad thing.

  49. Loved the game for the PC. This is basically an enhanced version, and that’s awesome

  60. Anything 2D gets my support and Tumiki Fighters was a really fun game. So I’m really looking forward to playing this game

  61. As repeatedly said on the CAGcast, I apparently have a hard-on for this game. I haven’t bought a copy yet, so it’s either win this one… or call a doctor if this thing lasts much longer.

  63. This game looks like a lot of fun.. wouldn’t mind winning a copy, myself. 🙂

  67. This looks like it has some really good potential. I probably would never have payed it any attention. Great review.

  74. I’m really psyched for this game. I loved TF and this looks like a lot of fun. But alas, I am poor, and grad school is expensive.

  77. Man, I loved this game on the PC when it was freeware. Can’t wait for the Wii edition!

  82. nice review. the game sounds great and its been getting pretty good reviews all around.

  85. I honestly didn’t think much of this game when I first heard about it, but after reading a few previews/reviews, I’m quite interested. The ability to create and trade new game designs is really neat.

  91. Great review, despite some big words there. I’m very interested in winning this game.

  95. Give me the the tools to carry on Treasure’s mission. Radient Silvergun 2 , people!

  102. This game is interesting, but I can’t see spending 40 bucks for it. Couldn’t it have been a 15 dollar wii ware title? I’d love to have it though. =)

  105. Personally, I think the game should have ended up as a Wii-ware game. But hey, people are still going to buy it, so Nintendo has nothing to worry about.

  108. The graphics remind me of my commodore 64 🙂 games. It will be a nice win for an old gamer like me.

  111. So you can build your own ships huh…I can’t wait to create the Millenium Falcon, and then the bosses; The Bird of Prey and the Batplane! Gawd, I’ve been waiting SO long for this game!

  118. Intriguing. Seems that the game’s value and replayability will be reliant on how active and creative the community is. I can just imagine all sorts of crazy stuff I want to make, and I’m not even a particularly imaginative person.

  129. I’d love to play this game. I’ve herad so many great things about it. Glad to see majesco put some effort into it

  134. The idea seems cool, but the graphics are going to turn a lot of people away.

  136. This game looks like so much fun. This and LittleBigPlanet could have some great community-based longevity.

  140. Looks like a fun game to **** around with. It definitely costs too much though.

  143. A few hours to make a do-it-yourself game? Then, by that logic, it would take years to create a masterpiece…and by that time, we’ll be playing the next generation of Nintendo’s platforms.

  154. I’ve been hearing good stuff about this for a bit. Maybe I’ll be lucky and win it. Otherwise on the birthday list it goes!

  155. Whoah, this is the first time i’ve heard of the game and i’m actually impressed. I miss the old classic shooters, so i really hope i get to be that randomly picked person =]

  156. I would try to mimic other poular franchises with the editor; maybe giant Mario shoots giant Sonic?

  157. Wow, I must have heard of this game before, but I don’t remember. Maybe because it’s a Wii game, I tuned it out without knowing what it was. It looks incredible. This game would get me to finally power up my Wii again.

  158. This game just looks amazing. I believe the downloadable stages would allow for infinite play value.

  164. Thanks, so much I got this today and will be playing, designing and uploading my creations tonight!

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