Snes - Blaze On Review

Blazeon is a side-scrolling space shooter by Atlus for the Super Nintendo.

Gameplay: 7.5/10

The gameplay has you flying a space plane of sorts. You can fire with the B button or rapid fire with the X button. That's fairly normal for most games. However, what sets this apart from other games is the Y button which allows you fire a missile into enemies. On weak spaceship enemies this does nothing but damage them a little. However, if you fire this missile against enemy robots enough times, it will paralyze them turning them blue allowing you to take over their bodies and gain their powers to attack. For example, there are robots which fire sonic waves and others which fire out lasers. Depending on the robot, you sometimes have a secondary power such as firing homing missiles or activating a fiery shield.

There are several problems with the gameplay however. First there is distinct lack of power-ups and your captured robot forms are unable to repair themselves or replenish their limited energy. Secondly, firing is much faster when you're in front than when you're behind. Thirdly, your ship is somewhat slow at moving. There are huge stretches of just flying around which while a good idea are way too long. Twenty seconds of non-action is boring in an action game like this.

Graphics: 3.5/5

While the background graphics are fairly typical for a game like this, I must say that many of the actual robot graphics are fairly well done and varied. Although the basic enemies are not very exciting either the enemy bosses are fairly interesting.

Sound and Music: 3/5

The music and sound is quite alright for such a game nothing too great or too annoying.

Game design: 4/5

The game is fairly well designed except for the last few levels where you have to try and squeeze your giant robot frame though very narrow tunnels which is really annoying. Sometimes, the enemy robots appear too fast on the screen which causes them to be accidentally damaged by your firing which is another annoyance that could have been done without. Finally, there isn't anyway to shed your robot form except by getting damaged making capturing enemy robots when you already have one troublesome. Despite, these flaws in the levels I truly did enjoy the game.

Longevity: 4/5

This game is a unique game to play but lacks variety aside from the robot capturing. You'll probably finish to the end however. The game does go on after it ends actually, returning you to the first level in a different coloured and faster space plane which in my opinion should have been the speed the normal plane starts off with, but otherwise there isn't much else to keep you coming back.

For: Ability to capture enemy robots.

Against: No power-ups or variety. Most other parts of the game are mediocre. Long waiting times in levels.

Game: Blaze On

Genre: Action

Produced by: Atlus

Year: 1992

Platform: SNES

Runs on: Snes 9X

Scoring Summary
Gameplay: 7.5/10

Graphics: 3.5/5

Sound and Music: 3/5

Game design: 4/5

Longevity: 4/5

Total: 22/30

Rating:

73%

-Reviewed by Barnabas