Math Blaster Episode 1

Math Blaster Episode 1 : In Search of Spot is an edutainment game in the Blaster Learning System line of educational products created by Davidson & Associates. It is a remake of their earlier New Math Blaster Plus! from 1991. Versions of the game were released for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System and Sega Genesis, simply titled Math Blaster Episode 1. The program was translated to Spanish and was published as Mates Blaster: En Busca de Positrón. A remake titled Mega Math Blaster was released in 1996. When Knowledge Adventure merged with Davidson & Associates in 1997, the game was rereleased in the following year under the title Math Blaster: Ages 6-9. It was later repackaged as Math Blaster: 3rd Grade in 1999.

A sequel called Math Blaster Episode II: Secret of the Lost City was released in 1994.

Plot – Math Blaster Episode 1

Spot and Blasternaut are preparing for a journey aboard their spaceship, only to find that the ship is not functional. Blasternaut, jumping to conclusions, sends Spot to repair a mechanism known as the “polytronic combustion regulator” and the latter reluctantly begins repairs, while the former goes below deck. As Spot works, the Trash Alien flies by, captures Spot and departs, leaving garbage everywhere. Blasternaut, upon discovering this, contacts his superior officer, Galactic Commander, and notifies her of the situation. Galactic Commander immediately identifies the criminal and sends Blasternaut on a mission of four objectives.

Games- Math Blaster Episode 1

Trash Zapper – Math Blaster Episode 1

Blasternaut uses math to generate the tractor beams needed to collect the trash. For every problem answered, a tractor beam is added and, after five problems, a noneducational firing session begins, in which the user tries to collect as much of the trash as possible. Once the firing session ends, the user is presented with more math problems and the process repeats until all the garbage has been collected. The setting of this level can be changed to one where the trash constantly floats in front of the spacecraft, and the user has to quickly solve the equation in order to capture the trash before it disappears from the screen. Notably, the mini-game uses the “Door Swoosh” sound effect from Star Trek: The Original Series as the sound effect for successfully collecting a piece of trash.^[1]

Number Recycler – Math Blaster Episode 1

Blasternaut goes down to the fuel chamber to recycle the trash. Here, the player completes equations, at which the machinery of the Number Recycler melts the garbage, freshens it to maximize energy and loads it into the fuel tanks. The player can adjust the numbers and symbols as needed.

Cave Runner – Math Blaster Episode 1

Having fueled the tanks, Blasternaut tracks the Trash Alien to a series of caves. By means of a jetpack, he must fly to the surface of the planet in order to reach the villain. Every level of the cave contains a gap with a number or a mathematical expression on both sides, which form a barrier that Blasternaut can only pass through if he bears a number that comes between the two numbers or the numbers that would be formed by solving the expressions (example: if the gap has “3” on one side and “6 + 3” on the other, Blasternaut’s number would have to be between three and nine for him to pass through).

Reception – Math Blaster Episode 1

Math Blaster Episode I: In Search of Spot was rated as one of the top 100 CD-ROM games of 1994 in PC Magazine.^[2]

References – Math Blaster Episode 1

1. ^ “Youtube Playthrough”. YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-17.
2. ^ Dave Golder (September 13, 1994). “PC Magazine Volume 13, Issue 15” (15): 166. Retrieved September 16, 2015.

Title & Introduction

Bonus Round

Chasing the Alien

Showdown with the Math Blaster

Game Over

Ending