It’s taken 13 years, but a direct sequel to Mega Man (no spinoffs here) has finally arrived. Available now on WiiWare and the PlayStation Network (PSN) and releasing today on Xbox Live Arcade (XLA), “Mega Man 9” turns back the clock to the days of the original Nintendo with its look, sound, and level of difficulty.
Capcom developed “Mega Man 9” to ooze nostalgia, and gamers will first begin to notice when the opening cinematic plays. Don’t expect any flashy full-motion video or voice-overs, but solid 8-bit storytelling detailing the events following “Mega Man 8.” Explosions wreak havoc over the city and the evil Dr. Wily confesses that they are the work of none other than Dr. Light, Mega Man’s creator. Dr. Wily then asks the public to donate money into his bank account to build his own robots to battle Dr. Light’s forces. Mega Man sees through Wily’s dark ways and sets out on his usual adventure.
Similar to past Mega Man games, the player is given the freedom to choose what stage to tackle first, be it Concrete Man, Jewel Man, Hornet Man, Tornado Man, Plug Man, Galaxy Man, Magma Man or a first for the series with a female robot boss, Splash Woman.
Each stage brings a different environment. There is the traditional fire level (Magma Man) and water level (Splash Woman), but Capcom also sends Mega Man to venture into an abandoned industrial complex (Plug Man) and hollowed mines (Jewel Man) along with more varied environments. No fantastic and rich detailed backdrops here; this is 2D gaming.
Staying true to his NES roots, Mega Man retains the 8-bit look and feel from yesteryear; think the original Super Mario Bros. With its stiff animations and the limited amount of color, “Mega Man 9” retains the graphical quality of a pixelated Super Nintendo game, and it’s oh so great. The audio doesn’t stray too far from the same quality; the little electronic riffs sound familiar and welcomed.
Did I mention how hard the game is? Gamers might remember, but let’s not forget how hard games used to be or how much easier gaming has become. If the player does happen to forget, “Mega Man 9” will be a rude awakening. I won’t admit how many ‘Game Over’ screens I saw, but I will tell you the game is grueling and tedious.
“Mega Man 9” is not for those who are just looking for a good time. The game requires work and commitment, and is not about the skill level of the player, but the ability to memorize the levels through a strict trial-and-error process.
After you finish the game, “Mega Man 9″ has more to return to with Time Trial Online Leaderboards for all the speed freaks out there, and 21st century achievements including 50 in-game challenges for those who don’t own the XLA version. The challenges range from the easy ‘Defeat Your 100th Enemy’ to the ridiculous ‘Clear The Game Without Getting Damaged.” Capcom also added downloadable content including the ability to play as Proto Man among others goodies.
It’s the little touches that make this new Mega Man game different from those of old. The little things in the level design make this game from the 21st century instead of a complete retro experience. Punctured balloons that fly around the screen, platforms that twist Mega Man upside down, jumping portals; none of this would be a marvel in today’s gaming, but inserted into a retro Mega Man game, the experience is fresh once again.
The only downside to “Mega Man 9” is that it might be too difficult, but for those up to the challenge, there won’t be any regrets. So forget the previous batch of Mega Man spinoff games from the past 13 years, “Mega Man 9” is a must-own for any retro-gaming nerd eager to relive the golden age of the NES.
Adam Bianco can be reached at
