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Publisher: Capcom

Developer(s): Capcom

Platform(s): NES, Famicom, Playstation(JP), Mobile, Wii/Wii U/3DS

Genre(s): Action, Platformer

D.O.R: NES - December 17, 1987

            Famicom - December 17, 1987

            Playstation - August 5, 1999

            Mobile - September 20, 2004

            Wii - August 18, 2008

            Wii U - May 2, 2013

            Nintendo 3DS - December 27, 2012

 

Mega Man

Mega Man is undeniably one of the classics. Modified by Dr. Light to stop his ex partner, Dr. Wily from attempting to take over the world. Dr Wily has reprogrammed six of the robots that the doctors built together and is using them to create all kind of havoc. Mega Man was originally named Rock and was a housekeeping robot, but after Dr. Wily steals the other six, Dr. Light repurposes him into Mega Man. 

 

This side scrolling platformer sees you running, jumping and climbing your way through the seven different levels. What sets this apart from other platforming games of the time(apart from Metroid) is the fact that instead of jumping on the enemies heads, you have to shoot them to dispatch them. You are armed with a powerful arm cannon that you use to great effect on normal enemies and the bosses alike.

 

This goes even further once you start beating bosses, as Mega Man uses his signature copying ability to steal the bosses power and use it as his own. For example when you beat Cutman, you gain the ability to toss razor sharp blades at your foes.

Each of the bosses is weak against one of the other bosses attacks so, beating them in the right order makes the game much easier. Picking the right order is made easier by the fact that you can start on any stage you like, except the final stage, so you can gain the upgrades in any order.

 

There are a few problems that you may encounter however, especially if you have played a lot of the later games in the series. First off, the game is shorter than later installments, having only six robot masters to defeat instead of the standard eight in later games.

Secondly, the relatively short length doesn't make the game any easier and you will find yourself getting frustrated more than once. The design of the levels is good, but brutally unforgiving in some places and some bosses can even take you down in a couple of hits. Especially as, unlike later games there are no helpful energy filling items.

 

In later games, Mega Man's abilities were also upgraded, with him able to do a helpful slide move as well as being able to call in his faitful sidekick, Rush, to give him a higher jump, as well as being able to charge his cannon up for a more powerful shot. All you can do here is run, jump and shoot standard power pellets at enemies.

That being said, I wouldnt reccommend passing up on playing this gem of a game. It is the game that started the Mega Man series and is definitely worth getting hold of. You will definitely need to bring all of your gaming skill to the table to beat Dr. Wily and save the planet, because it isn't a walk in the park. But with the release of it on Nintendo's Virtual Console, you have no real reason not to get yourself a copy and try it out for yourself!

 

Mega Man was an instant classic and went on to spawn a huge amount of sequels and he is now even included as a fighter in Super Smash Bros. Wii U. This is definitely one for your collection!

 

 

 

 

 

Score = 8/10

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