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Never judge a book by its cover...especially this one!
Mega Man 2 is the definition of a sequel that improves on the original. Everything was improved; the graphics, the music and most importantly the gameplay. A password option was added in so you could return to the game at any time. A ton of different power-ups were also added in which made this game an even better experience. The storyline in this game is pretty basic and similar to the original. The main villain (Dr Wily) has created eight different robots (Bubble Man, Air Man, Quick Man, Metal Man, Flash Man, Crash Man, Heat Man and Wood Man) to help him take over the world. Of course, you play as Mega Man and it is your duty to stop him.
Each robot has its own level and each time you defeat a robot, you gain its powers. Every level has something interesting to offer graphically. Wood Man’s forest-themed level looks wonderful. There are tons of colors and scenery that you might stop paying attention to the game just to look at how well the level looks. Air Man’s stage might cause a little problem for the nitpicker. Since Mega Man is a blue character and the background in the Air Man level is blue, the two will occasionally blend in. This isn’t a major problem because you can still see your character but he does look somewhat blurry. There isn’t much slowdown at all in this game and most NES titles had a lot. You might experience a little slowdown occasionally when there are a ton of enemies and obstacles around you but that should be expected. Overall, the graphics in this game are excellent!
Mega Man 2’s music is incredible. Each tune fits the level perfectly and each one is uber-catchy. My favorite level songs would have to be the Bubble Man theme and the Air Man theme; actually I’m humming the Air Man theme right now. As for the other sounds, they certainly aren’t a problem. When Mega Man shoots you hear a little noise and it doesn’t ever get annoying which is a major plus because you will hear it a million times. Some of the sounds aren’t as creative as they could be but none of them were dull or annoying enough to cause any sort of complaint, whatsoever.
PS: I hate to do this but I have to. If you enjoy the music to Mega Man I highly recommend checking out a certain band called Year 200X. They do a wicked cover to the opening theme. You can find them on the “Myspace” website. Now back to the review…
If I begin to talk about this game’s “Fun Factor” you might have to be reading this review all day because I could go on forever. Mega Man 2 is a pretty basic sidescroller. You run, you jump and you shoot. There are also many obstacles that you must jump onto or over many of which involve precise timing and concentration. You begin the game with a selection of the levels, which you can defeat in any order you like. Each level is named after its boss whom awaits you at the end of the level. When you defeat the boss, you obtain his powers. The game starts you off with three lives and three health bars. When a health bar reaches its end; one of your lives is over. You have unlimited continues because of a password system.
In my opinion, MM2 is a lot easier than the original Mega Man. It may be easier but it can also become a little frustrating at points. The powerups you obtain after every level make it easier to complete them (you may also find your own strategic way of completing the game). There are also numerous powerups that can be obtained from average baddies. You can receive things like health replenishers, power replenishers and sometimes, extra lives. The bosses themselves are usually pretty simple. Upon entering their little arenas, you should notice that they have fighting patterns. Once you get to know their methods, you should be able to rid of them with ease.
The controls are very basic and extremely easy to get used to. You use the directional pad to move the little blue dude right and left. You use the A button to jump and the B button to shoot. You can only shoot in front of you (or to your sides if you are on a ladder) unlike games such as Contra in which you can shoot diagonally. When you press the start button you can view all of your different powers and you can change into them. These controls are very easy to use and the character doesn’t get away from you. The controls aren’t too tight and they aren’t too loose; they are perfect!
This is definitely a game worth checking out and it is a mandatory addition to any classic gamer’s collection. It is one of the easier NES titles to come across and it shouldn’t be too expensive. If you have an NES, this is a must-have!
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