Blaster Master: Enemy Below (2000). Play online

Summary

Blaster Master: Enemy Below (often just called Enemy Below) drops me back into the chaotic world of Jason and his tank, Sophia, on the Game Boy Color. The game mixes classic side‑scroll shooting with overhead dungeon sections where I have to guide Jason alone through tight corridors, collect hidden keys, and unlock each area’s sub‑human boss.

The levels reuse the familiar visual style of the original Blaster Master, but the layouts are fresh and the tank’s suction system lets me crawl up walls and glide along ceilings for some oddly satisfying platforming. Sunsoft’s UK studio packed upgrades for both the driver and the vehicle, and a password save system lets me pick up where I left off—something reviewers praised alongside the surprisingly crisp GBC graphics.

Critical response was mostly positive: publications highlighted the game’s length and brutal difficulty, while the overhead controls and lack of new ideas earned some knocks. Re‑releases on the 3DS Virtual Console in 2011, Nintendo Classics in 2023, and the Evercade Sunsoft Collection 2 in 2024 have kept it reachable for retro fans today.

Storyline

Blaster Master: Enemy Below (often just called Enemy Below) picks up after the events of the earlier games in the series. In the Western version you pilot the iconic duo of Jason and his tank‑like vehicle, Sophia, as they explore underground caverns and battle the alien threats that have resurfaced. The game’s narrative assumes the world is still dealing with the fallout from the previous adventures, giving a sense of continuity for longtime fans.

The Japanese release tells a completely different story. Here the player assumes the role of Leonardo Gardner, a lone hero tasked with eradicating an invasion of monsters that have emerged from the earth’s depths. This alternate premise swaps the Jason‑Sophia partnership for a single‑character quest, changing the tone while keeping the core action intact.