Play Sonic Blastman Online

Sonic Blastman came out for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, published by Taito. It was part of that wave of arcade ports that tried to bring a simple, physical experience home. You got a lot of these side-scrolling beat 'em ups on the SNES, but this one had a specific, almost gimmicky hook that made it stand out in the rental store rack.

You control the titular Blastman, a hero who punches his way through waves of thugs across city streets and industrial zones. Your main goal is to rescue a kidnapped girl, moving from one screen to the next, clearing all the enemies before you can proceed. The signature mechanics are his super punch, which you charge up to unleash a powerful shockwave that can hit multiple foes, and the ability to pick up and throw certain objects, like barrels or the enemies themselves. The pacing is fast and the difficulty can be unforgiving, with enemies swarming you from both sides. It feels like a straightforward, cathartic test of your timing and crowd control.