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Relive the glory days of the Mega Man series!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 19 / 20
Date: October 06, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Mega Man Anniversary Collection.

INTRODUCTION:
Back in the old school gaming days, Nintendo's eight-bit NES console reigned supreme. Even after other consoles came around, the NES still put up one hell of a fight, lasting well into the middle of the nineties. At nearly a decade, it had a longer lifespan than any Nintendo console since. And one of the ultimate game series that graced the classic console was Mega Man. Capcom's little blue hero with the ability to steal the powers of his fallen foes became surprisingly popular, and had more starring titles than any other character on the NES - even more than Mario himself! And Mega Man games, while always staying true to a particular formula, added in just enough to stay unique. Unfortunately in recent years, Capcom seems to be more interested in bland spin-off titles unreleated to the excellent Mega Man games of the glory days. But, to celebrate the Blue Bomber's fifteenth anniversary, Capcom released an anniversary collection of the classic games! Read on for my review of the Mega Man Anniversary Collection.

OVERVIEW:
The Mega Man Anniversary Collection was released initially in the Summer of 2004. It is available for the XBOX, Playstation Two, and Gamecube. The collection features Mega Man 1-6 on the NES, Mega Man 7 on the SNES, Mega Man 8 on the Playstation, and the arcade titles Power Battle and Power Fighters (the arcade games must be unlocked.) There are also a plethora of bonus features to be unlocked, differing depending upon which console you buy your game for.

REVIEW:
I LOVE the Mega Man series, so you better believe I was ecstatic when I heard this collection was coming out. The games are all here, in all their original glory. And needless to say, as a long time fan, the collection did not fail to please me. Let's take a look at each of the games it presents, and see which ones are great, and not so great.

-Mega Man (1987, NES)
The first game in the now classic series. This game introduced the world to Mega Man, and his war against Dr. Wily and his evil robots. It ultimately paved the way for the masterworks to come, but on its own merits is the weakest of the "traditional" Mega Man games in this collection. The game only has six robot leaders, and lacks many of the luxuries of the later games. And it's HARD, too - NOT in a good way. It's a good game, but the sequels all bested it.

-Mega Man II (1988, NES)
Here's where this series started getting good. This is the game that introduced passwords, life-recovering Energy Tanks (although you can only carry four of them in this game), as well as a plethora of interesting items in addition to the Robot Master Weapons. The game was better produced than its predecessor, as well as bigger and more exciting. Difficulty also took a drop - this is one of the easier games in the series.

-Mega Man III (1990, NES)
The best game this collection has to offer, tied with Mega Man VII. Most of the elements that would go onto make the Mega Man series so great made their debut in this game. Among them are Mega Man's canine companion Rush, who can transform into a springboard, submarine, and jetboard. The Blue Bomber's mysterious prototype/brother Proto Man makes his debut here, as well. You could now carry NINE Energy Tanks, too. The slide move made its debut here. As a whole, this game was a big improvement over its predecessor, which was an excellent game in its own right. The NES version had a lot of awkward "second controller" glitches, these have been fixed for this version of the game. It's the easiest game of the bunch, but also the most fun to play.

-Mega Man IV (1991, NES)
This was another good game in the series, but a step down from its predecessors. The difficulty got cranked up pretty high, and passwords no longer saved energy tanks. What the game DID have were new and interesting items seen only in this game, as well as a compelling storyline that served as a refreshing change. Eddie AKA Fliptop made his debut here. This was also the first game that gave Mega Man the ability to charge up his arm cannon. The way the fortresses was done, though, was NOT GOOD. There are TWO fortresses at the end of the game this time around, and passwords will only take you to the first stage of the first fortress - no further. There's also an annoying glitch in which there is only one continue point in each fortress, which sadly, wasn't fixed for this version of the game. Despite flaws, this was still a great game.

-Mega Man V (1992, NES)
Although not a bad game by any means, it seemed too much like a rehash of the previous one. Once again, the difficulty level was high and there weren't very many ways to get around the tough spots. The primary innovation in this game was the introduction of Beat, Mega Man's robotic attack bird. By this point, the classic NES series of Mega Man was getting a little "played out," and it really showed in some places. Once again, it's a good game, just not one of the series highlights. The main problem with the game isn't that it wasn't fun to play, but rather that it convinced everyone Proto Man was evil (and the horribly-inaccurate cartoon series of the day didn't help things either!)

-Mega Man VI (1993, NES)
The last Mega Man game on the NES. This was a weird game, because it introduced a lot of new and innovative concepts that had a lot of potential, but at the same time it seemed rushed and too easy. The new Rush Adaptors were one of the coolest innovations to the series, and this is one of the few games to feature alternative paths through levels. It's also the first game to feature an Energy Balancer/Equalizer item. As a whole the game was good, and in my opinion, better than its immediate predecessors. In this collection, it's about the middle of the road. Sure, the plot sucked, but the game play itself is what matters.

-Mega Man VII (1995, SNES)
Just when you thought the old series had been phased out in favor of the Mega Man X series, Capcom resurrected it on the SNES! This game kept in all the elements that made the NES games so great, while implementing many of the innovations of the Game Boy games that came before it, and at the same time adding in a lot of new features exclusive to this game. Bass and Treble made their first apperance in this game. Sadly though, this game knocked the number of Energy Tanks you can carry back down to four. Combine this with the fact that this game has the hardest final boss in Mega Man history and that's not good at all. But where this game succeeds, it succeeds beautifully. Tied with Mega Man III for the best game in the collection.

-Mega Man VIII (1997, PS1)
You probably thought the original series was over AGAIN, but then Capcom revived it again for the Playstation! Adding in anime-based cut scenes was a great idea, it's just too bad the voice actors they got for them sucked (A girl voiced Mega Man, and Dr. Light sounds like Elmer Fudd!) Still, the gameplay itself is excellent, and there's plenty of stuff here to please gamers, old and new alike. Definitely an underrated game.

NOTE: The arcade games in this collection must be unlocked by beating specific robot leaders in the game. And NO, I'm not gonna tell you which ones.

-Mega Man: The Power Battle (1995, ARCADE)
This arcade game makes its American consular debut. The game is nothing but boss battles, but you DO get your choice of Mega Man, Bass, and even Proto Man (this is the first time he was ever playable.) Overall the arcade games are the weakest things this collection has to offer, but they're still fun, and it's great to finally get them in America on a console.

-Mega Man: The Power Fighters (1996, ARCADE)
Basically the same as the last game, only this one adds some new robot leaders and bosses to the mix, and adds in Duo as a playable character.

I do have a few complaints with this collection that I need to address, despite its overall excellence. First and foremost is the lack of improvements to the games. I was hoping the games would get graphical and musical makeovers, but no such luck. For the first three games, I wish they would have used the Wily Wars sixteen-bit versions. Oh, well. It's not THAT big of a deal. Missing games is my other complaint. Where the hell are Mega Man's Soccer, Mega Man Battle and Chase, the Wily Tower mini-adventure from Wily Wars, the boss levels from The Best of Mega Man, and the most inexcusable omission of all, Mega Man and Bass? I'd sacrifice the extra features for all of these games in a heartbeat. But despite these little complaints with the overall package, I am very happy with it. If you're at all a fan of Mega Man's original series, buy this. You will not be disappointed. But take my advice - get the Playstation Two version. They will be easiest to play on the PS2 controller.

EDITION NOTES:
This game was not released that long ago, so you shouldn't have any real trouble coming across it in local video game stores. And with Mega Man's popularity as high as it has ever been, it's likely the game will be readily available for quite some time to come.

These games are really FUN!!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 6 / 6
Date: March 20, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I was a kid when the Mega Man games first came out for Nintendo. The only ones I ever played were 2, 3, and 4, and we only owned 2. Still, I couldn't wait for this game to come out. Us poor Xbox owners had to wait 9 months past the release date for PS2 and GC, but it was well worth it. That said, I love this game.

A big part of my love for this game is nostalgia. Playing these old games again really takes me back. However, there is something else. These games are FUN!!! My biggest complaint about modern games is the lack of replay value. That is not the case with this game. I can play Mega Man over and over and not get bored. In recent months, I have found myself dusting off the Nintendo and playing Mega Man 2, years after I had first beaten it. Now, I can play them all forever on Xbox.

Also, kudos to Capcom for leaving the games unaltered. There is an optional Navi Mode that gives you tips during play, slightly changes the weapons menu, and provides remixed music for many of the levels, but I don't use it unless I want to hear the new music. The old school grphics and music are great.

Also, the buttons for the Xbox version are in their correct places. I have played the GC version and the buttons are switched! I shot when I wanted to jump and jumped when I wanted to shoot. No such problem on the Xbox. However, if you want the buttons switched, there are four different controller configurations to choose from. I also hear that the PS2 buttons are in their correct places.

In conclusion, I definitely recommend this game for those familiar with the old school Nintendo versions and for new gamers as well. They have great replay value, and for 20 bucks, how can you go wrong?

NnyCW for Capcom City

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: June 09, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Mega Man Anniversary Collection takes the original 8 Mega Man games, throws in two arcade Mega Man games (one unrealesed in the USA until now) and combine them all to form one hell of a great Mega Man package. Then Capeven added Navi mode to all eight games (something that was added later in the series, and can be turned off if you want to play them as they originally were) added re-mixed music, and added in a save feature to replace the pass codes from the old games. The XBOX version included the extras from both the PS2 and the GCN version (PS2 version included a full episode of the Mega Man cartoon and the GCN version icluded an interview with the creator of Mega Man) Because of the fact that the XBOX version includes the extras from both the others, makes this the best one to get.

just okay

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: April 02, 2007
Author: Amazon User

I had high hopes for this, as a long time Megaman fan.

The games are fine, a few are completely useless (like the later arcade games) and un-interesting.

I am very, very disappointed that about 1/2 of the game music is "remixed" or "tampered with", as if I'd somehow enjoy playing the old games with crappified versions of the music. It makes playing those levels no fun for me.

The menu/title screens have a lot to be desired as well. I'm glad I got it used for cheap.

The Collection For The Box

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 4
Date: April 28, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Anyone who grew up in the late 80s or 90s with an NES will remember Mega Man, no questions asked. He's the fella that packed a punch; behind his cute face and bright blue helmet lurked a vast pool of powerful skills. His Mega Buster did well in battle, but he really soared as he acquired the weapons of his fallen enemies, and used them to more easily conquer other foes. Mega Man is the robot creation of one Dr. Light, a kindly scientist who once created robots for completing tasks that humans didn't wish to do. When the mad Dr. Wily began to become jealous of Dr. Light's work, he was known to create batches of robots - usually eight at a time! - and set them off to take over the world. When this crazy doctor started to do this, Dr. Light countered by creating the beloved Mega Man. This Anniversary collection chronicles eight separate waves of Dr. Wily's minions in their complete, original glory, just as they were so many years ago. The first six games were exclusive to the Nintendo Entertainment System, while Mega Man 7 debuted on the Super Nintendo and Mega Man 8 was exclusive to the PlayStation. It is interesting to note just how good each of these games has held up over the years - the graphics of all were quite impressive for their time and look good today still, especially the latter two entries; the music in a number of the games is downright excellent, and the gameplay is perfectly classic. Jumping into a game, for those of you not familiar with the process, leads to a a selection screen. Although this varies from game to game, most featured eight robot heads with names such as Cut Man, Guts Man, Heat Man, Top Man, Snake Man, and Bubble Man. Picking a level launches that robot's level, which must be traversed successfully before finishing off the robot that rules over that area. Those of you who have played Mega Man games will also recall a nifty secret: certain weapons work on certain bosses far better than other ones. The Mega Man games are in general rather difficult, but by playing the levels in the proper order, they become a whole lot easier.
Capcom did take the liberty of implementing a few helpful features for gamers who will undoubtedly have trouble, given the difficulty level of most games released today. They've added convenient weapon-switching with the left- and right-triggers, instead of a constant need to pause the game to change weapons. There have been maps created for each level; a nice novelty, despite their apparent lack of real necessity, as they are quite vague. Most importantly is the addition of a "Turbo"-esque button, which fires off three consecutive shots as opposed to one. Or if the game is still too challenging, players can up the number of their lives. What is nice, though, is that all of these features can be completely ignored if the player chooses - the games will still be just as tough as you remember. In addition to the main eight games, which are emulated exactly to a T, there are two bonus games that most Americans probably haven't played, and are actually arcade-style fighting games where you fight off various characters from the games. Other bonuses include producer interviews, an episode of an Nt Warrior, remixed tunes, concept art, and a bonus video As if playing through the games weren't fun enough, you actually get things for doing it! The graphics in the games are definitely on par with others available at the time. The NES games are colorful and sport distinctive characters, creative locales, and quite simply feel very solid. The Super Nintendo game looks awsome, with details that the NES could only dream of producing, and the PlayStation title looks even better, with really fantastic animation. They all look good in their own way, however, as the art is more than up to tuff and very original. The sound found here is easily one of the best things about these games, though. While most tracks are at least somewhat catchy or fun, some of these tracks have reached nearly classical status over the years, with some bands doing their own renditions of whole game soundtracks. My personal favorite is Mega Man 3's, but perhaps that's because it was the first one I played the others, no doubt, carry cool tunes. The music isn't quite as impressive in the latter two entries - perhaps that's the trade-off for good graphics - but they do feature voiceovers, which are only questionably good, but at least humorous. Hearing "I'm Clown Man!" at the start of a level isn't exactly immersive, but it certainly is funny.
What we've got in the end is one fantastic awsome classic collection. Mega Man 1-8 are all good in their own right, some of them maybe even masterpieces, and always a good time. They're easily an important aspect of gaming history, and this collection more than does the games justice, not just for the young crowd but for those with fond memories, as well. Bring on a Mega Man X Collection, Capcom!

I'm Hooked!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: April 12, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I loved these games on NES, it's so much fun to play them again. If you want a slight upgrade, the Navi mode allows for a remix of the music and helps you on the way. For the most part these games remain untouched. While we had to wait 9 months longer for the release on X-Box, it was worth the wait. These games are great! Worth the $20!

Megaman Classics

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: November 09, 2006
Author: Amazon User

This is a great revival of all the first megaman games. I thought I had lost all the old NES ones forever, but this collection brings them back and does a great job with it. Definitely worth buying if you're a diehard Megaman fan.

You can never beat the classics

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 3
Date: April 23, 2005
Author: Amazon User

This game should probably already be an Xbox platinum hit. Because I mean the game has 10 megaman games in one it even has Megaman The Power Battles and The Power Fighters which were never relesed in the US. Plus having the games Megaman 1-8 remade so it can fit Xbox requirements. Because if they left it as it were with those graphics on the NES, and SNES... it be a disaster. Thatm is as much as I can say without using spoilers. I give this game a 4.99 out of 5 and a 9.98 out of 10.

no problems

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 0 / 3
Date: January 11, 2008
Author: Amazon User

Everything was just the way is supposed to be.....

no problems with anything

thanks

Classic retro Mega Man

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: May 13, 2007
Author: Amazon User

If you liked all the Mega Man's from the 80's and the 90's then get this collection. The gameplay is awesome and once you play for awhile it seems like you're playing NES or SNES. This game will keep you busy for hours and there are unseen bonuses. I've only finished Mega Man 5 so far but I opened a half hour long episode featuring the creator of Mega Man after doing so, and that alone was well worth the price.

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