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A Brother Betrayed (or) More of the Same

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: October 26, 2007
Author: Amazon User

Mega Man V
A Brother Betrayed (or) More of the Same

The fifth Mega Man game is a very solid, if not very distinguishable, entry in the classic Mega Man series. Of the last three games (MM4 thru MM6), this is pretty much neck and neck with MM4 in terms of quality. Good game, but it has that whole we've been here done that feeling that drags the whole enterprise down. It's yet another remake with the same gameplay of the first MEGA MAN.

The plotline of this one (like NES games really need plots, but I digress) is Proto Man has gone bad, set himself up as the new current megalomaniac trying to take over the world, and programmed eight robot masters to be evil (why is it always 8?) Maybe Rincewind has a right to fear that number (sorry, Terry Prachet Discworld reference). If the plot feels a little overfamiliar, that's because it's the same as MM IV. And just like MM IV, it turns out when you fight Proto Man that Dr Wiley was behind it all and you must fight him.

You played the other Mega Man games. You know the drill. Select a robot master, see what weapon can beat him by beating other roboatmasters, beat all 8, proceed to Proto Man.

Fortunately there aren't as many tired or rehashed ideas in Mega Man 5 as far as level design and bosses go, unlike Mega Man 6. The Robot Masters are fairly original, especially Gravity Man, Napalm Man, and Charge Man. Charge Man has a nice railroad themed level. Crystal Man is a little like Gemini Man from III. Still, the game's level design is pretty good for the NES. Gravity Man and Star Man have fun stages, and they're pretty innovative for Mega Man.

Another new feature of the game is each stage has one letter, which you must obtain to get the robotic bird Beat. You need Beat to beat Dr Wiley at the end, because if you don't it'll be really hard. The letters spell out MEGA MAN V, and they are part of the challenge of the game to get obtain them. Trust me, when you get to the end battle, you'll be thankful you took the time to collect those eight letters.

We also get a new an improved mega buster, even though when it is charging if you get hit you will lose the charge as well, which sucks royally. We also get a new weapon called the Super Arrow, which is pretty cool as well.

The challenge is up there. While not damn near impossible like the original MEGA MAN, MM5 has its fair share of challenging sections, but if you persist you will come to the end of the journey.

There are some flaws in the title. Capcom changed the Rush Coil, much to its detriment. Passwords don't save everything, which really sucks. The Super Arrow is an interesting idea but not very well implemented. The storyline is the same as IV.

The biggest damage this game has caused is how it confused a lot of people about Proto Man. They think he is evil, but is in fact a good guy. Naturally, Dr Wiley is behind this, and the storyline is just like MM IV.

Of the Fake Villain or Fake Bad Guy Trilogy, as I refer to Mega Man 4-6, this is pretty strong, and for oldschool platform fans there's a lot to recommend to Mega Man 5. The real problem with Mega Man 4-6 is that everything it does, the first trilogy does better, and the first three games are a lot fresher, before Capcom drove the series into the ground with endless sequels. MM5 is good, but only play it after you played the first three games.

This is my order of Mega Man NES titles from best to worst. II and III are the best, though I give a slight edge to II because this is the game that really redefined the Mega Man formula, but III is just as good. IV and V are about the same as well, though neither approach the sublime quality of the first three.

MEGA MAN II
MEGA MAN III
MEGA MAN
MEGA MAN V
MEGA MAN IV
MEGA MAN VI.

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