Mega Man is unfair. Your character has mediocre speed, a pathetic
vertical leap, and a wimpy pellet gun, yet you're asked to conquer a barrage of
rivals who have no such handicaps. The series' tricky bosses and obstacle
courses invite exasperation. You play for the promise that once you discover
new ways to use your limited arsenal, success will be that much more gratifying
for the effort.
Limitations breed creativity, and Mega Man 9 takes that philosophy to its extreme. Capcom's latest
Blue Bomber title has gotten buzz for its emulated 8-bit graphics and sound,
but the real gamble here comes from reverting to the simple game mechanics of Mega
Man 2. Stripped of
frills like slide moves and blaster charge-ups, which had become staples of the
series, Mega Man 9
had the potential to be a boring retread that coasted on retro charm. Instead,
the limited framework inspired the developers, many of them veterans of the NES
years, to design some of the most innovative and vexing levels the series has
seen.
Perennial villain Dr. Wily may be scraping the bottom of the
barrel in terms of evil-robot nomenclature—"Plug Man"?—but his
henchmen's bases offer an engrossing variety of challenges, such as Tornado
Man's spinning-magnet platform puzzle and, in the Concrete Man stage, the most
annoying trio of robotic elephants you will ever encounter. The game doesn't
disappoint until you reach Dr. Wily's fortress, which lacks the surprises of
the main stages. After nine episodes, maybe the old man's heart isn't really in
it.
Beyond the game: Catchy synthesized tunes nail the sound of the cartridge
era. Splash Woman's theme stands out with a poignant, almost elegiac melody
that suits the title's nostalgia.
Worth playing for: Experimenting with Black Hole Bombs and other special
weapons is great fun in Mega Man 9, a welcome departure from recent entries in the series,
where an enhanced Mega Buster made other weaponry less relevant.
Frustration sets in when: Fifty unlockable trophies extend the
game's lifespan, but some of the goals—e.g., "Clear the game without
getting damaged"—are downright sadistic.
Final
judgment: Two
decades after peaking with Mega Man 2, the franchise hits another high.