{{Short description|1997 video game}} {{good article}} {{Infobox video game | title = Blast Wind | image = Sega Saturn Blast Wind cover art.jpg | developer = Technosoft | publisher = Technosoft | producer = Naosuke Arai | artist = Taisuke Kanasaki | composer = Hyakutaro Tsukumo | platforms = Sega Saturn | released = {{vgrelease|JP|January 17, 1997}} | genre = Vertically scrolling shooter | modes = Single-player, multiplayer }}
{{nihongo foot|'''''Blast Wind'''''|ブラストウインド|''Burasuto Uindo''||lead=yes|group=lower-alpha}} is a 1997 vertically scrolling shooter video game developed and published by Technosoft for the Sega Saturn. In the game, the player controls one of two artificial life forms piloting ships to fight the invading Gorn culture. The player can take an alternate path by pressing switches in each stage.
''Blast Wind'' was created by staff members who would later work on ''Thunder Force V''. Produced by Naosuke Arai, it was originally developed as an arcade game, but the plan changed during production and was postponed until it was released as an original title on the Saturn. The soundtrack was composed by Hyakutaro Tsukumo. Working Designs planned to release the game in North America under their "Spaz" label, but cancelled the deal with Technosoft and dropped support for the Saturn following a dispute with Sega. Although it was not officially published outside Japan, an English fan translation was released in 2024.
''Blast Wind'' received average reviews, with critics praising the frenetic pace, soundtrack, and controls, while others were mixed regarding the overall presentation and path-switching mechanic. Some reviewers also criticized the game's graphics, its short length, and low difficulty.
== Gameplay == thumb|left|Hayate shooting enemies with a switch to change path to the right in the Atlantis stage ''Blast Wind'' is a vertically scrolling shooter game.<ref name="CPbw"/><ref name="SSMjp199618">{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/sega-saturn-magazine-ja-1996-10-25/page/66/mode/2up|title=Tecno Soft Shooting Game — Special Report: ブラストウインド|magazine=Sega Saturn Magazine|issue=18|publisher=SoftBank Creative|date=October 25, 1996|pages=66–67|language=ja}}</ref><ref name="SaturnFan199701">{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/saturn-fan-1997-1/Saturn%20Fan%201997%201/page/190/mode/1up|title=New Shooting: ブラストウインド|magazine={{ill|Saturn Fan|lt=Saturn Fan|ja|ドリームキャストFAN}}|issue=1|publisher=Tokuma Shoten|date=December 27, 1996|page=190|language=ja}}</ref> The premise takes place on a post-apocalyptic Earth after a nuclear holocaust nearly decimated the entire population. A handful of people managed to escape thanks to a prophet named Noa who gathered them aboard an ark and emerged after the residual radiation dissipated to build a new civilization. However, they were attacked by an invading culture called Gorn, who survived the nuclear winter by migrating within the Earth's crust and evolving before re-emerging on the surface. Humanity unearths an ancient weapons program as a last resort to fight against Gorn.<ref name="SSMjp199618"/><ref name="BWhg101"/><ref name="SSMjp199701">{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/sega-saturn-magazine-ja-1997-01-17/page/166/mode/2up|title=Sega Saturn Press! Coming Soon Soft: ブラストウインド|magazine=Sega Saturn Magazine|issue=1|publisher=SoftBank Creative|date=January 17, 1997|pages=166–167|language=ja}}</ref><ref name="BWm">{{cite book|title=ブラストウインド|date=January 1997|publisher=Technosoft|type=マニュアル}}</ref>
The player can choose one of two ships: Hayate{{efn|{{nihongo|疾風|Hayate}}}} and Reppu{{efn|{{nihongo|烈風|Reppū}}}} (piloted by the artificial life forms Kyo and Forn respectively).<ref name="SaturnFan199701"/><ref name="BWhg101"/><ref name="SSMjp199701"/> Each ship has a forward-firing shot, a homing shot, and bombs capable of damaging enemies on-screen when deployed.<ref name="SaturnFan199701"/><ref name="SSMjp199701"/><ref name="SaturnFan199622">{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/saturn-fan-1996-22/Saturn%20Fan%201996%2022/page/107/mode/1up|title=Continue To Report Zokuhou!! ブラストウインド|magazine={{ill|Saturn Fan|lt=Saturn Fan|ja|ドリームキャストFAN}}|issue=22|publisher=Tokuma Shoten|date=October 18, 1996|page=107|language=ja}}</ref> The weapons can be upgraded by collecting power-up icons (P) that drop from defeated enemies, which surround the player's ship with lightning bolts that damage enemies and grant temporary invincibility.<ref name="SSMjp199618"/><ref name="SaturnFan199701"/><ref name="BWhg101"/><ref name="SSMjp199701"/> The player earns points by shooting enemies and collecting items such as a shield orb that blocks enemy shots before disintegrating, extra lives, bombs, and bonuses.<ref name="SaturnFan199701"/><ref name="BWhg101"/><ref name="SSMjp199701"/> The player can take an alternate path by pressing switches on each stage, altering its difficulty with different waves of enemies and boss patterns, as well as changing scoring opportunities.<ref name="SaturnFan199701"/><ref name="BWhg101"/><ref name="SSMjp199701"/><ref name="SaturnFan199622"/>
== Development and release == ''Blast Wind'' was developed by Technosoft, best known for the ''Thunder Force'' series.<ref name="SaturnFan199622"/><ref name="TUHoJGDVol3">{{cite book|last=Szczepaniak|first=John|date=February 21, 2018|chapter=Tecno Soft, Compile, Fupac, and 8ing|title=The Untold History of Japanese Game Developers|volume=3|publisher=S.M.G. Szczepaniak|pages=136–250|isbn=978-0992926083}}</ref><ref name="TE">{{cite web|last=McFerran|first=Damien|url=https://www.timeextension.com/news/2024/06/super-rare-saturn-shmup-blast-wind-gets-english-patch|title=Super-Rare Saturn Shmup Blast Wind Gets English Patch|work=Time Extension|publisher=Hookshot Media|date=June 10, 2024|access-date=2024-08-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240611091111/https://www.timeextension.com/news/2024/06/super-rare-saturn-shmup-blast-wind-gets-english-patch|archive-date=2024-06-11|url-status=live}}</ref> It was created by personnel who would later work on ''Thunder Force V''.<ref name="Fam">{{cite magazine|last=Manami|first=Rei|url=https://www.famitsu.com/news/201610/08117666.html|title=『サンダーフォースIII』はいかにして『セガ3D復刻アーカイブス3』に収録されることになったのか？ 元テクノソフト新井氏を交えてのスタッフインタビュー|magazine=Famitsu|publisher=Gzbrain|date=October 8, 2016|access-date=2024-08-22|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161007170028/https://www.famitsu.com/news/201610/08117666.html|archive-date=2016-10-07|url-status=live}} ([https://shmuplations.com/thunderforceiii/ Translation] by Shmuplations. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161027080307/https://shmuplations.com/thunderforceiii/|date=2016-10-27}}).</ref> Naosuke Arai oversaw production as head of development under the pseudonym "Yunker Matai".<ref name="TUHoJGDVol3"/><ref name="BWstaff">{{cite video game|title=Blast Wind|developer=Technosoft|publisher=Technosoft|date=January 1997|platform=Sega Saturn|level=Staff}} ([https://www.vgmuseum.com/end/saturn/a/blastw.htm Ending screens] by VGMuseum [The Video Games Museum]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160618130002/https://www.vgmuseum.com/end/saturn/a/blastw.htm|date=2016-06-18}}. [http://raido.moe/staff/sat/sat_blast_wind.html Transcription] by Raido's Staff List Archive. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200202082107/http://raido.moe/staff/sat/sat_blast_wind.html|date=2020-02-02}}).</ref> Taisuke Kanasaki, who later worked at Cing as director and character designer for ''Another Code: Two Memories'', ''Wish Room: Angel's Memory,'' and ''Last Window: Mayonaka no Yakusoku'', illustrated the introductory sequence during his time at Technosoft.<ref>{{cite web|last=Yamamura|first=Tomomi|url=https://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/interview/755220.html|title=「-CHASE- 未解決事件捜査課 ～遠い記憶～」インタビュー【前編】|work={{ill|Game Watch (website)|lt=Game Watch|ja|Impress Watch#サイト一覧}}|publisher={{ill|Impress Corporation|lt=Impress Corporation|ja|インプレス}}|date=May 9, 2016|access-date=2024-09-21|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160910013043/https://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/interview/755220.html|archive-date=2016-09-10|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite tweet|author=Kanasaki, Taisuke|user=kanayan2929|date=January 4, 2018|number=948873567789203457|title=まだ僕がテクノソフト時代の26年ぐらい前UMMO_CHAN中心となって開発していたBLASTWIND。急に思い立って何となく描いてみました。僕はOPだけしか携われてないんですが自分が過去に携わったアナザーやウィッシュ以前のゲームもたまには振り返って今後描いてみようかなと思います。|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220717021209/https://twitter.com/kanayan2929/status/948873567789203457|archive-date=2022-07-17|url-status=live|access-date=2024-08-22}}</ref><ref name="VGDensetsu">{{cite web|last=Auffret|first=Dominique|url=https://vgdensetsu.net/taisukekanasaki/|title=Taisuke KANASAKI / 金崎泰輔|work=VGDensetsu|date=February 2026|access-date=2026-02-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260225003540/https://vgdensetsu.net/taisukekanasaki/|archive-date=2026-02-25|url-status=live}}</ref> The music was composed by Hyakutaro Tsukumo.<ref name="BWhg101"/><ref name="BWstaff"/> The game was originally developed as an arcade game and a prototype was tested at Sasebo, with a planned release for 1993.<ref name="BWhg101"/><ref name="SaturnFan199622"/><ref name="TCS7">{{cite book|last=Tsukumo|first=Hyakutaro|chapter=LINER NOTE|title=Technosoft Game Music Collection Vol. 7: Reincarnation|publisher=Technosoft|date=May 1, 1997|page=2}}</ref> However, the plan changed during production and was postponed for a time until it was released as an original title on Sega Saturn.<ref name="BWhg101"/><ref name="SaturnFan199622"/><ref name="TUHoJGDVol3"/> Tsukumo found it difficult to arrange and rewrite the songs because FM and PCM sound sources were the basis.<ref name="TCS7"/> A light-hearted revision titled ''Inazuma Saber'',{{efn|{{nihongo|稲妻セイバー|Inazuma Seibā}}}} with selectable ships and comical dialogue between pilots, was reportedly tested and scheduled for release in 1994 but was scrapped.<ref name="BWhg101"/><ref name="TE"/><ref>{{cite web|author=Okutei MGR|url=http://members.tripod.co.jp/octymgr/ikasu1122.html|title=「稲妻セイバー」テクノソフト：1994年|work=おくてぃねす|date=2000|access-date=2024-08-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010218070620/http://members.tripod.co.jp/octymgr/ikasu1122.html|archive-date=2001-02-18|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Technosoft published ''Blast Wind'' in Japan on January 17, 1997.<ref name="FamBW"/><ref name="SHE">{{cite encyclopedia|url=https://sega.jp/fb/segahard/ss/soft_licensee3.html|title=セガサターン対応ソフトウェア（ライセンシー発売）- 1997年発売|encyclopedia=SEGA HARD Encyclopedia|publisher=Sega|access-date=2024-08-22|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200320230533/https://sega.jp/fb/segahard/ss/soft_licensee3.html|archive-date=2020-03-20|url-status=live}}</ref> Working Designs planned to release the game in North America as a bundle along with the ''Thunder Force Gold Pack'' compilations and ''Hyper Duel'' under their "Spaz" label. Following a dispute at E3 1997 with Sega of America, Working Designs cancelled the deal with Technosoft and withdrew support for the Saturn.<ref name="BWhg101"/><ref name="EGM98">{{cite magazine|last=Semrad|first=Ed|url=https://archive.org/details/electronic-gaming-monthly-issue-98-september-1997/page/n74/mode/1up|title=EGM Wraps Up E3: Working Designs to End Publishing for Sega|magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly|issue=98|publisher=Sendai Publications|date=September 1997|page=73}}</ref><ref name="1UP">{{cite web|last=Sewart|first=Greg|url=http://www.1up.com/features/pleasure-pain?pager.offset=1|title=Sega Saturn: The Pleasure And The Pain|work=1Up.com|publisher=IGN Entertainment|date=August 5, 2005|pages=1–6|access-date=2024-08-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150420080550/http://www.1up.com/features/pleasure-pain?pager.offset=1|archive-date=2015-04-20|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 1997, Technosoft released the game's soundtrack as part of the ''Technosoft Game Music Collection Vol. 7: Reincarnation'', with arrangements from ''Thunder Force IV''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tecnosoft.com/MAIN/GOODS.HTM|title=テクノソフトオリジナル音楽ＣＤ通信販売のお知らせ|publisher=Technosoft|year=1998|access-date=2024-05-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990423201611/http://www.tecnosoft.com/MAIN/GOODS.HTM|archive-date=1999-04-23|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gmronline.com/info.asp?CatNumber=TCS-0007|title=Technosoft Game Music Collection Volume 07 ~ Reincarnation|publisher=Game Music Revolution|access-date=2024-08-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060323153258/http://www.gmronline.com/info.asp?CatNumber=TCS-0007|archive-date=2006-03-23|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2010, the ''Technosoft Game Music Collection Vol. 7: Reincarnation'' album was re-released.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tecnosoft.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=7|title=Vol. 7 Reincarnation|publisher=Tecno Soft|date=May 28, 2010|access-date=2024-08-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100914082558/http://www.tecnosoft.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=7|archive-date=2010-09-14|url-status=dead}}</ref> Although it was not officially published outside Japan, an English fan translation was released in 2024, providing narration for the opening sequence, a new voice actor for the game's antagonist, corrected text, and audio rebalancing.<ref name="TE"/>
== Reception == {{Video game reviews |CP = 82%<ref name="CPbw">{{cite magazine|last=Garnier|first=François|url=https://archive.org/details/Console_Plus_Numero_063/page/n131/mode/1up|title=Test Saturn: Blast Wind|magazine={{ill|Consoles +|lt=Consoles +|fr|Consoles +}}|issue=63|publisher=EM-Images SA|date=March 1997|page=132|language=fr}}</ref> | Fam = 23/40<ref name="FamBW">{{cite magazine|title=NEW GAMES CROSS REVIEW: ブラストウインド|magazine=Famitsu|issue=423|publisher=ASCII Corporation|date=January 24, 1997|language=ja}} ([https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=3204&redirect=no Transcription] by Famitsu.com. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190815104435/https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=3204&redirect=no|date=2019-08-15}}).</ref> | rev1 = ''Fun Generation'' | rev1Score = 6/10<ref name="FGbw">{{cite magazine|last1=Gößmann|first1=Holger|last2=Hellert|first2=Stefan|url=https://archive.org/details/fun-generation-1997-04/page/n91/mode/1up|title=Spiele Tests: Blast Wind|magazine=Fun Generation|issue=15|publisher={{ill|CyPress|lt=CyPress|de|CyPress}}|date=April 1997|page=92|language=de}}</ref> | rev2 = ''Saturn Fan'' | rev2Score = 6.4/10<ref name="SaturnFanBW">{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/saturn-fan-1997-2/Saturn%20Fan%201997%202/page/186/mode/1up|title=Now On Sale Saturn Soft Impression!! ブラストウインド|magazine={{ill|Saturn Fan|lt=Saturn Fan|ja|ドリームキャストFAN}}|issue=2|publisher=Tokuma Shoten|date=January 17, 1997|page=186|language=ja}}</ref> | rev3 = ''Sega Saturn Magazine'' (JP) | rev3Score = 6.0/10<ref name="SSMjpBW">{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/sega-saturn-magazine-ja-1997-01-31/page/220/mode/1up|title=Sega Saturn Soft Review: ブラストウインド|magazine=Sega Saturn Magazine|issue=2|publisher=SoftBank Creative|date=January 31, 1997|page=220|language=ja}}</ref> }}
''Blast Wind'' received average reviews.<ref name="CPbw"/><ref name="FGbw"/><ref name="FamBW"/><ref name="SaturnFanBW"/><ref name="SSMjpBW"/> The game reached into the top ten best-selling Sega Saturn titles of that week and received a score of 8.1351 out of 10 in a 2000 readers' poll conducted by the Japanese ''Sega Saturn Magazine'', ranking among Saturn titles at the number 351 spot.<ref name="SaturnFan199705">{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/saturn-fan-1997-5_202206/Saturn%20Fan%201997%205/page/98/mode/2up|title=Ranking Street|magazine={{ill|Saturn Fan|lt=Saturn Fan|ja|ドリームキャストFAN}}|issue=5|publisher=Tokuma Shoten|date=February 28, 1997|pages=98–103|language=ja}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Dreamcast Magazine|date=March 2000|chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/saturngamesarethebestintheworld0001/page/10/mode/1up|chapter=セガサターン (Sega Saturn Magazine): 読者レース Final|title=サターンのゲームは世界いちぃぃぃ! ~サタマガ読者レース全記録~|language=ja|publisher=SoftBank Publishing|pages=8–15|isbn=978-4-79731173-0}}</ref> Two ''Saturn Fan'' editors recommended it for those who enjoy retro-style shooters and praised the catchy soundtrack, but noted its lack of innovative mechanics, lackluster presentation, and short length.<ref name="SaturnFanBW"/> Reviewers from the Japanese ''Sega Saturn Magazine'' commended the game's frenetic pace, but found the branching paths to be underdeveloped and criticized its dated mechanics, specifically the lack of uniformity in enemies and monotonous power-ups.<ref name="SSMjpBW"/>
François Garnier of ''Consoles +'' praised the game's overall presentation, lack of slowdown, soundscapes, and branching paths, but felt that it was a bit easy and graphically lacking.<ref name="CPbw"/> ''Fun Generation''{{'}}s Holger Gößmann and Stefan Hellert considered the game very playable and gave positive comments about its precise controls and music, but found it visually average and saw its short duration as a flaw.<ref name="FGbw"/> ''Hardcore Gaming 101''{{'}}s Nick Gibson wrote that the solid sprite artwork and energetic soundtrack encouraged replayability when playing for points. Gibson found the switching mechanic interesting, but noted the game's short stages, low difficulty, and restrictive weapon system.<ref name="BWhg101">{{cite web|last=Gibson|first=Nick|url=http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/blast-wind/|title=Blast Wind|work=Hardcore Gaming 101|date=October 20, 2013|access-date=2024-08-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180414101401/http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/blast-wind/|archive-date=2018-04-14|url-status=live}}</ref> ''Retro Gamer''{{'}}s Darran Jones called ''Blast Wind'' a very entertaining shooter, citing its exceptional music and the ability to find new paths through a stage via switches, but felt it was rather ordinary compared to other Technosoft shooters such as ''Hyper Duel'' and ''Thunder Force V'' due to its chunky graphics and simple scoring system.<ref name="Retro246">{{cite magazine|last=Jones|first=Darran|title=Retro Revival: Blast Wind|magazine=Retro Gamer|issue=246|publisher=Future Publishing|date=May 11, 2023|pages=76–77}}</ref>
== Notes == {{notelist}}
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == {{Portal|1990s|Japan|Video games}}
* {{Official website|https://web.archive.org/web/19980625185204/http://www.tecnosoft.com/BW/BW.HTM}} {{in lang|ja}} * {{MobyGames|id=/72646/blast-wind/|name=''Blast Wind''}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Blast Wind}} Category:1997 video games Category:Cancelled arcade video games Category:Cooperative video games Category:Japan-exclusive video games Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games Category:Sega Saturn games Category:Sega Saturn-only games Category:Technosoft games Category:Vertically scrolling shooters Category:Video games developed in Japan Category:Video games featuring female protagonists