Blast Corps Cheat Codes & Secrets
Complete collection of cheat codes, passwords, unlockables, and hidden secrets for Blast Corps (1997).
Completion-Based Unlockables
Blast Corps forgoes a traditional cheat code system entirely — its secrets are locked behind medal progression and full completion milestones. Understanding the unlock chain is essential.
| Milestone | Requirement | Reward |
|---|---|---|
| Classified Phase | Complete all carrier escort missions | Access to bonus time-trial levels |
| Platinum Medal Runs | Beat all Classified levels at Platinum rank | Final secret mission unlocked |
| Backlash Bonus | Platinum all standard carrier levels | Drive the Backlash carrier itself |
| True Ending | 100% completion across all missions and medals | Extended ending cinematic + staff credits |
| Moon/Asteroid Mission | Earn all Platinum medals in Classified phase | Final bonus stage set in space |
The Classified phase is gated behind completing every carrier escort level — missing even one blocks access. If you see an exclamation mark on the map, a level is still incomplete.
Medal System & Rank Thresholds
Blast Corps uses a four-tier medal system per level. Medals are recorded to the Controller Pak save file; there is no password system.
| Medal | Condition |
|---|---|
| Bronze | Complete the carrier run (buildings cleared) |
| Silver | Clear all destroyable structures beyond the path |
| Gold | Achieve Silver and complete any bonus objective |
| Platinum | Beat the level’s target time (Classified missions only) |
Gold medals on all non-classified missions are required before the game calculates your final completion percentage toward the true ending.
Hidden Vehicles
Several vehicles are not introduced by the game — they must be physically found inside levels by exploring off the critical path. Missing them means finishing a level without access to their unique demolition mechanics.
| Vehicle | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| J-Bomb | Havoc District | Found in a sealed structure near the eastern edge — requires another vehicle to break it open |
| Thunderfist | Oyster Harbor | Parked behind a warehouse cluster south of the start |
| Cyclone | Cooter Creek | Tucked behind the ridge on the left fork off the main road |
| Ballista | Multiple stages | Reappears across several later carrier missions near the start zones |
| Ramdozer | Gloria Falls | Located on the high ground overlooking the waterfall area |
When you spot a vehicle icon on the minimap, divert immediately — the carrier waits for no one, and losing the window means resetting the level.
Beneficial Glitches & Exploits
Wall Boost (Ramdozer)
The Ramdozer can clip through certain thin corner geometry by approaching at a precise 45-degree angle at full speed. This allows shortcuts across several Gloria Falls and Ironstone Mine sections, saving several seconds on Gold attempts.
J-Bomb Hover Cancel
Activating J-Bomb’s hover mode and immediately cancelling it while descending from height causes the mech to land with zero fall stall, preserving momentum. Useful in Havoc District for chaining demolitions without the landing recovery animation.
Sideswipe Turbo Clip
On Oyster Harbor, ramming the dock fence at the extreme left corner with Sideswipe at maximum speed causes the vehicle to briefly phase through and gain access to a route that bypasses two buildings normally requiring repositioning.
Vehicle Swap Speed Trick
Exiting a vehicle and immediately entering a different nearby vehicle resets the speed meter to that vehicle’s top speed without the acceleration curve. In levels with both a Ramdozer and Cyclone available, swapping between them at key moments is faster than accelerating from stop.
Easter Eggs & Developer Secrets
Rare Logo Mural
In Carrick Point, a billboard-style structure visible from an elevated position on the north road displays a stylized Rare logo embedded in the building’s texture. It is only visible from one approach angle and only with vehicles that allow elevated viewpoints (J-Bomb hover mode provides the clearest view).
Development Team Initials
Several crates scattered through Simian Acres have single-letter texture markings that correspond to initials of members of the Blast Corps development team at Rare. The crates are destroyable, making them easy to miss.
Hidden Audio Cue
After completing the final carrier mission and watching the full ending without skipping, remaining on the credits screen past the final credit card plays an unlisted audio track — a brief synthesized reprise of the main theme not accessible anywhere else in the game.
Controller Shortcuts & Menu Tricks
| Input | Screen | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Hold Z while selecting a level | World Map | Forces a camera preview of the level before loading |
| Hold R + Start | Pause Menu | Returns to world map without saving in-mission progress |
| Hold A during the Rare logo | Boot screen | Skips the Rare intro animation on subsequent boots (session only) |
Vehicle Performance Reference
For players optimizing medal runs, knowing vehicle top speeds affects routing decisions significantly:
| Vehicle | Best Use | Weakness |
|---|---|---|
| Ramdozer | Bulk building demolition in open areas | Slow turning radius |
| Sideswipe | Linear road clearing at speed | Fragile against heavy structures |
| J-Bomb | Multi-story and rooftop targets | Slow ground movement |
| Cyclone | Tight urban grids, spinning demolition | Loses control on slopes |
| Thunderfist | Close-quarters sequential punching | Extremely slow traversal speed |
Thunderfist is required for specific level objectives that no other vehicle can complete — always locate it before the carrier gets close to its section of the map.
100% Completion Checklist
Because Blast Corps has no cheat shortcut to completion, the path to 100% is methodical:
- Clear all carrier escort missions (unlocks Classified phase)
- Return to all standard levels and earn Gold medals
- Complete all Classified time-trial missions at Platinum rank
- Complete the final secret stage
- View the full ending without skipping
The in-game completion percentage displayed on the world map tracks all of the above. Anything below 100% means at least one Gold or Platinum remains uncollected somewhere on the map.