I was excited about this when I first heard of it, but I'm having second thoughts about it now. Sure, the original Mega Man series was at its best in 8-bit but the fact of the matter is that I've played this game through six times already. Retro is cool and all but the Mega Man template is already very well-worn. They'd have to put a really interesting new spin on the series if they want to make it worth another go 'round, but "interesting new spin" seems to be the direct opposite of the "classic" feel they're going for.
Plus I don't own any of the systems this is being released for and don't have any immediate plans to change that, and I never liked the idea of paying for DRM-loaded downloadable content.
However, after hearing about this I did buy the Mega Man Anniversary Collection for the PS2, so some good came out of it.
I've been wishing for years now that companies wouldn't stop making 2D games, and this is pretty much my wish coming true, since (as Mario so discreetly pointed out) Mega Man is pretty much my favorite gaming series. Hopefully this will open the door to low budget, but high quality modern games, that won't take 10 years to release.
On that subject, I don't see this as a cop out, I see it as Capcom realizing that Mega Man's glory days were on the NES. If they make the stages with as much quality as they did for the first...let's say 4, I'll be happy. Maybe Sega will take a cue from this and never make another 3D game again.
There is a whole internet full of silly little flash games that operate in 2 dimensions. We are also in an era where a comparatively underpowered console is beating out it's beefier competition and pimping out old school games through the virtual console. Square-Enix has been on a rampage with remakes of it's older properties. Game companies are perhaps seeing that not every game needs to be some bleeding edge AAA title. All that stuff is good and well, but it doesn't automatically make a game any more fun. Some old properties may be better served sticking to their roots. (Sonic perhaps?)
Of course the fact that more fitting distribution methods are in place for these lesser games these days probably has something to do with it too.
Really? You're missing out. The series kinda ran out of steam after a while for the first few games in both the original and the X series were pretty awesome. You should pick up the Anniversary Collection and/or the Mega Man X collection if you see them around.
Unfortunately, I've heard that the Gamecube version of the Mega Man Anniversary Collection has its buttons set up so that the jump and shoot buttons are the opposite of what they should be. If you have a PS2 you should get that version instead. The X games all have configurable button layouts, though, so that won't be a problem there.
I never owned a Mega Man title in youth. In fact, I don't own one now either! They are a bit repetitive at times, but the music is some of the best of its time. So frenetic!
I rented the Anniversary Collection, but was pissed that you don't get to choose from all the games in the series without beating a few. The original Mega Man is kinda hard!
Retro is cool and all but the Mega Man template is already very well-worn. They'd have to put a really interesting new spin on the series if they want to make it worth another go 'round, but "interesting new spin" seems to be the direct opposite of the "classic" feel they're going for.
I think I read somewhere that they're scaling back even further than the later NES titles, possibly meaning no slide tackle. But there is something new about it that puts it above and beyond all NES games: no slowdown! Anyone that's played an NES game will tell you that the shot in that video where Mega Man is showering bullets across the screen while jumping around and blowing shit up (starting at 0:41) would be all kinds of stuttery. So that's awesome.
Plus I don't own any of the systems this is being released for and don't have any immediate plans to change that, and I never liked the idea of paying for DRM-loaded downloadable content.
What differentiates DRM-loaded downloadable content from DRM-loaded cartridge- or disc-based content? Does purely digital content simply want to be free?
What differentiates DRM-loaded downloadable content from DRM-loaded cartridge- or disc-based content? Does purely digital content simply want to be free?
Mostly the fact that you can stick a cartridge or disc into any compatible system at any time and be confident that the software will run without a problem. I'm not sure what the process is for backing up a downloaded game and running it on another system, but if there is one I'd imagine it's not as easy as just putting the disc in the drive, and probably involves connecting to a server that may not be accessible in years to come.
I used to think slowdown was for dramatic effect. It works well for that in Star Fox 64 during boss explosion-deaths.
I used to think slowdown happened when someone else playing the same game hit the pause button. I also used to think that somewhere someone was playing a version of Mike Tyson's Punch Out where you play as the enemy boxers, and he was the one I was actually playing against.
It's possible that I was simply extremely ignorant about how videogame consoles worked back then but I'd prefer to think that I was a visionary and foresaw the rise of online multiplayer gameplay decades before it would be widely implemented.
Personally, I'm not that excited with a promise of the new old Mega Man game. I think that universe would be suited, nowadays, for a good FPS. Although, to be fair, it'd probably be overrun with gayness.
I don't know, If the graphics weren't cartooney a Megaman FPS might be awesome. Remember the Bomberman game for the 360? It was COOL looking!
If they made a Megaman FPS the looked realistic and had nice scenery to go with it... man... that would be awesome! Well of course you'd need good game-play but...
I know, but for Megaman I don't think it would work, they'd probably want to go with anime eyes and the game has and actual story, and though it doesn't seem like an important issue you need to have graphics that go with it.
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Plus I don't own any of the systems this is being released for and don't have any immediate plans to change that, and I never liked the idea of paying for DRM-loaded downloadable content.
However, after hearing about this I did buy the Mega Man Anniversary Collection for the PS2, so some good came out of it.
On that subject, I don't see this as a cop out, I see it as Capcom realizing that Mega Man's glory days were on the NES. If they make the stages with as much quality as they did for the first...let's say 4, I'll be happy. Maybe Sega will take a cue from this and never make another 3D game again.
Of course the fact that more fitting distribution methods are in place for these lesser games these days probably has something to do with it too.
Unfortunately, I've heard that the Gamecube version of the Mega Man Anniversary Collection has its buttons set up so that the jump and shoot buttons are the opposite of what they should be. If you have a PS2 you should get that version instead. The X games all have configurable button layouts, though, so that won't be a problem there.
I rented the Anniversary Collection, but was pissed that you don't get to choose from all the games in the series without beating a few. The original Mega Man is kinda hard!
I think I read somewhere that they're scaling back even further than the later NES titles, possibly meaning no slide tackle. But there is something new about it that puts it above and beyond all NES games: no slowdown! Anyone that's played an NES game will tell you that the shot in that video where Mega Man is showering bullets across the screen while jumping around and blowing shit up (starting at 0:41) would be all kinds of stuttery. So that's awesome.
What differentiates DRM-loaded downloadable content from DRM-loaded cartridge- or disc-based content? Does purely digital content simply want to be free?
It's possible that I was simply extremely ignorant about how videogame consoles worked back then but I'd prefer to think that I was a visionary and foresaw the rise of online multiplayer gameplay decades before it would be widely implemented.
If they made a Megaman FPS the looked realistic and had nice scenery to go with it... man... that would be awesome! Well of course you'd need good game-play but...
Okay, now I really need to get this game.
Also, brief impressions of the game: GET YOUR TEN DOLLARS READY!