Mega Man

Voices of: N/A
Developer: Capcom
Directed by: Akira Kitamura
Rating: E
Genre: Action Platformer
System: Nintendo Entertainment System
1987

Times Completed:
Tim: 1

Summary: Six Robot Masters go out of control and must be stopped by Mega Man.

Review:
Tim: This 1987 NES game is iconic. I feel so much nostalgia as I reflect on this game. I had it as a kid and I played its punishing levels over and over, for hours at a time. When I think about the video games that shaped me, that helped me hone my skills as a player, Mega Man looms large.

By today's standards, the visuals and graphics are quite dated. I still find it to be a beautiful game, though. It establishes so much of the charm and character of the franchise that has continued, decades after this release. This game is not easy and I honestly cannot remember if I actually completed it as a kid or not. I got very far, I remember fighting the final level monsters, but for the life of me, I can't specifically recall beating it. I suspect I may have, but it's too flimsy a memory, too unreliable for me to make it official.

The game is superb- it sets the little blue Mega Man against six Robot Masters, each with their own power. Brilliantly, Mega Man absorbs their powers when he defeats them, and then can use them to take advantage of a weakness of a subsequent Master. As a kid, I played them in multiple different orders- there was no easily accessible online forum. Guts Man was the one to start with, a big, hulking foe that you had to use your Mega Buster to take down. Cut Man was one of my favorites- his deadly rolling cutter proving to be challenging. Cool design, though. Elec Man lit up the stage and you had to use the cutter to bring him down. Ice Man was next, a huge shift in tone and feel from the electrified stage. Fire Man was the direct opposite, and you start to see how the different weapons could be used to take down the next antagonist. Bomb Man was the final one, and those explosives were deadly. I loved that each Robot Master felt so unique, their level designs different and aligned with their powers. It all makes for a fantastic game.

After you defeat the 6 Robot Masters, you have to face the Yellow Devil. I still get shivers thinking about this boss. As a kid, he absolutely destroyed me- it felt impossible. I died against him, over and over again. I did finally beat him, but it took so much. Three decades later, I was able to learn the pattern more effectively to take him down- but what a challenge. The Yellow Devil is such a tremendous opponent, an iconic villain that is unforgettable to many people. Mega Man might look like a kid game, but it was hard. I defy anyone who wants to dismiss this game to beat that boss. After the Yellow Devil, you have to fight all the Robot Masters over again. Annoying, but you've learned their moves and weaknesses, so it's not too bad to do it again. Finally, you have to fight the real final boss, Dr. Wily. It feels like you've been on quite a journey.

No doubt about it, this game is fantastic. Sure, it's brutal in many ways- the controls aren't great and I likely died hundreds of times because of this. Some of the jumps feel impossible. The game is punishing at times. If you stick with it, though, eventually, you learn to master the controls and you get such a sense of accomplishment. This game started a massive franchise and it's still a blast to play today. It's seeped in nostalgia- the music, the brilliant level designs, the myriad opponents Mega Man faces. I know the game didn't sell well enough, so I'm quite thankful they moved ahead with a sequel anyway. This is a landmark game and one of the best for the NES.



Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: N/A



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