Blaster Master: Blasting Again (known as Blaster Master in Japan) is a 2000 action-adventure video game developed by Art System and published by Sunsoft in Japan and Europe and Crave Entertainment in North America for the PlayStation. The fifth title in the Blaster Master series, it was released in Japan in July 2000, Europe in September 2000, and North America in November 2001. Blaster Master: Blasting Again is a third-person 3D platformer in which the player takes control of the high-tech, all-terrain combat vehicle SOPHIA J-7. The player navigates through several areas of caverns to uncover and ultimately stop the treacherous plans of a mysterious alien race of Lightning Beings. On some occasions the player's character must exit SOPHIA and go solo through alien complexes. As the game progresses, the player will earn upgrades for SOPHIA, and be able to salvage weapon upgrades for the pilot. The player views cut-scenes that convey the key elements in the story. The character will fight a boss at the end of each stage.