GENRE
	Platformer
	DEVELOPER
	Inti Creates
	PUBLISHER
	Capcom
	NUMBER OF PLAYERS
	1
	WI-FI ENHANCED
	Yes
	DS COMPATIBLE
	No
	BUY NOW AT

The blue bomber is back. This is not your “Battle Transmission Network Tiger Versus” Mega Man either. This is the vintage, side-scrolling, pixilated Mega Man of old. So old, in fact, that Capcom and developer Inti Creates have purposively brought the series back to its roots. Mega Man 9 draws straight from arguably the franchise’s best -- Mega Man 2. There is no slide. Graphics are 8-bit. And there is no motion control, as this is all about precise button presses and excellent D-pad manipulation. But can dated gameplay and graphics really be the saving grace for the beloved, mega busting hero?

visuals

Inti Creates went NES all over this game. It’s like the game was lost in a time portal and miraculously arrived today. The intentional 8-bit styling perfectly fits the previous games of the franchise. At the same time, the game's bosses sport some wicked designs, as we are particularly impressed with the sprite detail of Splash Woman and Galaxy Man. Being able to clearly see scales on Splash Woman’s fin is downright awesome.

The stage’s backgrounds, on the other hand, are not as solid. While many sport the cheesy futuristic design that harkens back over twenty years, a couple of stages in Mega Man 9 just look ugly. Take Hornet Man -– his area is filled with a muted green color and unappealing pink and red flowers. This is not classic, just a sore spot. The blemishes may be few and far between, but they are there.

audio

Just like the visuals, the audio is retrofitted. But unlike the graphics, the antiquated sound of beeps and bloops is catchy and awesome. The same techno-inspired sound of the franchise is the inspiration for this title, and we were never disappointed. Instead, we were mimicking the melodies with our mouths and considering whether we could professionally beat box Mega Man tunes. Add in a nice mix of reused sounds, and you have a winner for any video game music lover.

gameplay

Eight robot masters stand in the way of Mega Man bringing Dr. Wily to justice. Players will run, jump and mega bust through each level to get to the maverick bots. These stages provide wonderful variety, from standard water and fire levels to futuristic stages. Really, there is nothing new with the themes of the areas, but innovation is present. Tornado Man’s quarter, for example, contains rotating, screw-like objects that spin Mega Man around. This novel puzzle means gamers must time jumps for when the blue bomber revolves to the top of the screw. Add in horizontal movement with the screw, and you have a terribly challenging bit that any skilled gamer would have trouble with.

And reaching the end of the stage is just the beginning. Behind Dr. Wily’s doors, robot masters are waiting to pounce. The new bosses are tough and require a mixture of strategies to defeat. At the same time, a few are obvious rip-offs from the previous Mega Man incarnations. Jewel Man supplies the exact same weapon as Wood Man. Magma Man is a retread of Fire Man, Heat Man and Flame Man. We’ll go ahead and predict Lava Man for the next installation. We know this is a part of the Mega Man lineage, but we would have still preferred to see some fresher robot designs.

One annoyance in previous Mega Man games was the fact that some acquired boss abilities were only used once or twice. In Mega Man 9, that is not the case. Concrete Shot, for example, throws out a stepping-stone for long jumps in one level or as a blocking mechanic for lasers in another. It’s nice to be able to use skills more than just once for the rest of the game. And as with previous Mega Man iterations, the upgrades are integral to beating a robot because each boss has a specific weakness.

So even with some rehashed robot designs and ideas, this is easily the best Mega Man in over 15 years. Staying true to the series’ roots keeps the game firmly grounded, with a strong gameplay foundation to build off of. But we have to warn you, this is no walk in the park. Mega Man 9 is by far, one of the hardest games you’ll play this year. Dying seems to be a constant during your first playthrough. Even so, the short levels should keep you from being too frustrated, as they kept pulling us back for more and more mega busting goodness.

multiplayer

While there is no simultaneous play, Mega Man 9 does provide online leader boards. Players can see how they stack up against the world’s best. Stage attack modes and clear times present an extra incentive for multiple playthroughs. This is a speed runner’s heaven.

overall

Thank you, Capcom, for bringing the blue bomber back to his true form. Using the pixels of the past, Inti Creates has made Mega Man 9 a title that easily stacks up with the franchise’s greats, such as Mega Man 2 or Mega Man 3. The robot masters may not be as fresh and the levels do lack the personality of those classics, but the gameplay squarely hits the mark. Add in superb audio, some nostalgia kicks with the NES presentation, and even online leader boards -– and it’s obvious, this is a robot we can all get behind.

8.8/10