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Mega Man 2
When I think of old school NES Mega Man, Mega Man 2 is the game that comes to
mind first. The second game in the series is actually the first Mega Man I
ever played, and also has the distinction of being the first NES game I managed
to beat. Now that I've said that, a little history. Mega Man is one
of the biggest game series to exist, spawning six NES games, five Game Boy Games, an
SNES game and a Playstion game. Also, four spinoff series; Mega Man X,
MegaMan.exe, Megaman Legends, and Mega Man Zero. The gameplay is pretty
simple; explore stages and fight enemies,
seeking out the boss robots that give you special abilities.
Mega Man 2 picks up right where the first game left off. Dr. Wily, who had
been defeated in the first game, escapes from prison and sends eight new robots
after Mega Man. Mega Man must travel through the domain of each boss
before defeating them in a battle that is part endurance match, part strategy.
The unique weapons of each boss can be used later in the game as weapons, or in
some cases to open new areas of the levels. Also along the way you can
pick up some item abilities, such as a floating platform or a jet. Add in the
fact that each boss robot is weak against one of the weapons, and you can make the
fights easier or harder.
The thing that sets Mega Man 2 aside from the others is the fact it is probably
of the easiest of the series. The game is also the only one to come with a
difficulty modifier. As it turns out, the game was watered down from its
Japanese counterpart. In the recently released Mega Man Anniversary Collection, the original difficulty has returned.
The stages in the game are all very fun and versatile. There's an
underwater chamber, a stage made of flashing strobe crystals, a pipe maze, and a
forest. There's also a metalworking factory, a gigantic furnace, an empire
in the clouds, and a laser-filled death trap where speed is the only way to
survive. You can choose to tackle the stages in the order of your choice,
and if you follow a certain path you can always have an easy time with the
bosses by always being prepared. Otherwise, you can choose to trek through
the stages with only minimal equipment, making the game more challenging.
The music in the game is some of the best in Mega Man history. Of them, my
favorites would have to be Metal Man, Flash Man, and Quick Man's stage themes.
The title screen song, which has since become Mega Man's theme song, was also
used in the ending credits of the first game. This helps set up the second
game as a direct sequal by picking up musically where the last game left off.
This game is certainly one you will enjoy. If it proves too easy for your
tastes, there is always the option of picking up the Anniversery Collection to
have a more challenging game.
Graphics 7/10 (NES standards)
Sound 9/10
Control 8/10
Fun 10/10
Overall 9.5/10
Review by Red Silvers
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