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Mega Man doesn't get enough recognition
- Thread starter Servbot24
- Start date
The short answer is I stand with lozjam.
The long answer is that there are so many Mega Man games that you're bound to find enough of them to make you a big fan of the whole franchise, and that's obviously something Mega Man can't rely on anymore.
Mega Man Classic has a lovely aesthetic, I would certainly, say, read an ongoing comic book adaptation of Mega Man that gives character focus to all the Robot Masters and a slew of interesting new characters as well as taking the shitty FMV game and turning it into the best arc of the whole series, but playing these samey games over and over? Couldn't be me. Mega Man X was a good time but it's one nearly 30 year old SNES game and for all the coolness of the Blade Runner by way of Shonen Anime world, eight games later and none of it meant anything. I can't see why I'd be excited for a hypothetical X9 when it's just gonna be X Another One; when you die for as long as Mega Man has, especially X, that changes the kind of expectations you have.
Mega Man was always changing and that it's not anymore, that it doesn't have enough life in it to change, I think that's real sad. There was always some new face of the franchise and now that's just gone, which I guess makes it a kinda fun glimpse into the future of Sonic the Hedgehog.
The long answer is that there are so many Mega Man games that you're bound to find enough of them to make you a big fan of the whole franchise, and that's obviously something Mega Man can't rely on anymore.
Mega Man Classic has a lovely aesthetic, I would certainly, say, read an ongoing comic book adaptation of Mega Man that gives character focus to all the Robot Masters and a slew of interesting new characters as well as taking the shitty FMV game and turning it into the best arc of the whole series, but playing these samey games over and over? Couldn't be me. Mega Man X was a good time but it's one nearly 30 year old SNES game and for all the coolness of the Blade Runner by way of Shonen Anime world, eight games later and none of it meant anything. I can't see why I'd be excited for a hypothetical X9 when it's just gonna be X Another One; when you die for as long as Mega Man has, especially X, that changes the kind of expectations you have.
Mega Man was always changing and that it's not anymore, that it doesn't have enough life in it to change, I think that's real sad. There was always some new face of the franchise and now that's just gone, which I guess makes it a kinda fun glimpse into the future of Sonic the Hedgehog.
You should have made a "Zelda gets too much undeserved recognition" thread instead, OP. ;)
Actually the more grounded opinion.
Don't forget the weird e-reader cards! Why yes, I do want to fill the Resistance Base with cats.
I know they decided that the changes to Zero's body are strictly art style changes, and canonically / in-universe Zero has the same appearance they had in X, but this fanart has me wishing that Omega had Zero's original look. Cartridge space be damned.
I do really like them dropping little hints about the lore in the Sunken Library, but yeah, if you're unlucky it just gets incredibly annoying real fast.
Not sure I can get behind Mega Man centrism, but we're really filling the spectrum of opinions here.
Well, centrism is a factor not just of how much recognition you think the series deserve, but how much recognition it actually has (although technically all three positions hinge on that), which is far from objective either. I personally think Mega Man is one of the most beloved series out there; e.g. he's consistently one of the most requested characters in crossover games (which is why him getting into Smash was met with such enthusiasm).
User Warned: Hostility
This shit again? You people don't get enough shitting up every possible Sonic thread with the same garbage, tired hot take, you need to derail other threads about entirely different games? How much toxicity is enough for you people? Fuck off with this trash.
You know what game in the Mega Man series deserves more recognition? Starforce 3
It's the "Battle Network 3" of the Starforce series. People didn't give it the same time to grow that they gave BN because it was a direct successor with a different battle system.
I'm glad and amazed that Battle Network 6 PVP is still alive online. It's a fucking joy to watch and it's crazy how strategic it is.
Eh they can just do a new series. They already have two timelines with OG and BN being the start and even within the timelines there has been vast changes (world got destroyed/jacked up like 2 times in the OG timeline). Honestly they should just expand on the Legends concept if they aren't going to do a sequel, they've already successfully brought Mega Man to 3D.
Though a part of me would definitely be interested on a Platinum/DMC styled take on Zero or a character like Zero.
It's the "Battle Network 3" of the Starforce series. People didn't give it the same time to grow that they gave BN because it was a direct successor with a different battle system.
I'm glad and amazed that Battle Network 6 PVP is still alive online. It's a fucking joy to watch and it's crazy how strategic it is.
Eh they can just do a new series. They already have two timelines with OG and BN being the start and even within the timelines there has been vast changes (world got destroyed/jacked up like 2 times in the OG timeline). Honestly they should just expand on the Legends concept if they aren't going to do a sequel, they've already successfully brought Mega Man to 3D.
Though a part of me would definitely be interested on a Platinum/DMC styled take on Zero or a character like Zero.
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The story Andrew will tell you in the first Zero game is probably the best writing in the entire series, disguising itself as inessential NPC dialog, so I'm just gonna post it here.
Andrew said:
Andrew said:
I really need to find the Akira Kitamura interview where he talks about the intended loneliness of Mega Man now (lol).
One thing I need to mention is how good the controls/physics are in the Mega Man Zero games. I don't know what exactly it is about these games, but there's just something that makes the movement "feel" so good and enjoyable to play around with. Everything's just so quick and snappy and yet despite the speed you still feel like you have complete control of Zero. They're honestly my favourite controls/physics in any 2d platformer.
Sorry, that was intended to just be indirectly mean to political centrists, not you guys.
I'm all for it, it's just nice to see people talking about Mega Man.
One thing I need to mention is how good the controls/physics are in the Mega Man Zero games. I don't know what exactly it is about these games, but there's just something that makes the movement "feel" so good and enjoyable. They're honestly my favourite controls/physics in any 2d platformer.
God all of the speedruns of the Zero games are crazy, 3 especially with what you can do with the recoil rod.
Zero just feels so precise to control, even compared to X.
The other thread got me to try the series out again, and I've now beaten both MM2 and 3. Both phenomenal! I'm near the end of 4 as well and I'm really glad the series finally clicked with me. All it took was skipping the first game.
Thread making me want to play a Mega Man game on my week off. A few random thoughts (and I agree with the premise of the thread):
1. Coming from someone who was primarily a fan of the original and X series, I think the Zero series has the undisputed best gameplay of the whole franchise. That said, I've never been able to get past the end of Zero 2 so to this day I've only played through the first game (and I only actually owned Zero 1 back upon it's original release—didn't own the others until the Collection on DS.
2. As someone who finds Mega Man 1 very easy, why are 9 and 10 (and 11 in all but easy mode) so damn difficult?
3. Sorry, but I've always been completely uninterested in Mega Man Legends. I've tried to play it a number of times over the years, but it does absolutely nothing for me.
4. Though I am not a huge fan of the games, I do appreciate where they were going with the ZX series as far as gameplay and structure go. I'd love to see them continue down that path and make a fully fleshed out ZX3.
1. Coming from someone who was primarily a fan of the original and X series, I think the Zero series has the undisputed best gameplay of the whole franchise. That said, I've never been able to get past the end of Zero 2 so to this day I've only played through the first game (and I only actually owned Zero 1 back upon it's original release—didn't own the others until the Collection on DS.
2. As someone who finds Mega Man 1 very easy, why are 9 and 10 (and 11 in all but easy mode) so damn difficult?
3. Sorry, but I've always been completely uninterested in Mega Man Legends. I've tried to play it a number of times over the years, but it does absolutely nothing for me.
4. Though I am not a huge fan of the games, I do appreciate where they were going with the ZX series as far as gameplay and structure go. I'd love to see them continue down that path and make a fully fleshed out ZX3.
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I use to roll my eyes at this stuff but I helped my kids with some of classic titles recently and realized how much stupid design was in some of the levels in the 16-bit titles, I guess I just ignored it when playing as a kid.
I don't like how they regressed in graphics and in tools for Mega Man 9 and 10.
The slide and charge shot were sick, there was no reason to remove them from Mega Man's kit.
Yes I know Proto Man has those abilities (along with his drawbacks) and Bass can shoot in 8 directions. Just felt like that made Mega Man the most boring character to play as in those games.
The slide and charge shot were sick, there was no reason to remove them from Mega Man's kit.
Yes I know Proto Man has those abilities (along with his drawbacks) and Bass can shoot in 8 directions. Just felt like that made Mega Man the most boring character to play as in those games.
I have two Mega Man games in my top ten favourite games of all time and tried to find out something about the Legacy Collections in your thread, I get that we talk about games more than actually playing them (well, most of us) but some of us are interested.
I asked about catching up for some matches in Smash threads. Doesn't happen.
The thread celebrating Super Mario Maker 2's multiplayer modes that instantly descended into moaning about online latency. Tried to ask about some time to try this out. Crickets.
It's not an issue that people will spend more time being negative (what version of Dark Souls should I play? Not the Switch version.....ok that doesn't answer my question though) it's actually something I need clarifying about the Legacy Collection games.
The best way to play Mega Man? That should be something that people actively want to share, I would think.
You make a fantastic case, OP!
The fatigue, the sense of sameyness, OP mentioned didn't hit me at all during my classic MM kick a few years ago. Removed from release cycles, from these or those expectations, from comparisons to other games that were doing different things, going through MM1-11 was a joyful, frictionless experience. You get to experience a bunch of short, good-great games that do iterate in their own ways. Sure, there is a valid criticism to be made on the lack of big innovations for example, but I never felt a desire for these (again, short) games I was deeply enjoying to radically change. As someone who didn't have much exposure to classic MM beforehand, the novelty actually took a pretty long time to wear off, tbh, if it ever really did.
MM6, as the last NES game in the series, is exhibit A for me for how a very good game can suffer in perception from the sense of being redundant. I found it totally lovable as a last hurrah before heading into the 16-bit era, yet I see it get so, so little love.
My Mega Man Franchise To Do List after feeling inspired by the OP:
1). Replay MMX1-4, and finally play MMX5-6 (perhaps others?)
2). Play MML for the first time. Replay MML2 for the first time in well over a decade
3). Give the Battle Network series a proper go. I remember emulating the first one back in the day, and don't think I beat it, but I definitely have a very positive impression of the series
The fatigue, the sense of sameyness, OP mentioned didn't hit me at all during my classic MM kick a few years ago. Removed from release cycles, from these or those expectations, from comparisons to other games that were doing different things, going through MM1-11 was a joyful, frictionless experience. You get to experience a bunch of short, good-great games that do iterate in their own ways. Sure, there is a valid criticism to be made on the lack of big innovations for example, but I never felt a desire for these (again, short) games I was deeply enjoying to radically change. As someone who didn't have much exposure to classic MM beforehand, the novelty actually took a pretty long time to wear off, tbh, if it ever really did.
MM6, as the last NES game in the series, is exhibit A for me for how a very good game can suffer in perception from the sense of being redundant. I found it totally lovable as a last hurrah before heading into the 16-bit era, yet I see it get so, so little love.
My Mega Man Franchise To Do List after feeling inspired by the OP:
1). Replay MMX1-4, and finally play MMX5-6 (perhaps others?)
2). Play MML for the first time. Replay MML2 for the first time in well over a decade
3). Give the Battle Network series a proper go. I remember emulating the first one back in the day, and don't think I beat it, but I definitely have a very positive impression of the series
Always great to see appreciation and love for Mega Man. Was the NES ones that really did it for me, but it's all good times, everybody has their favs. I love bands like The Protomen inspired by Mega Man, and cool covers performed live by bands like Powerglove and Bit Brigade. So cool to see crowds of people over the years jammin' to Mega Man, and with that nice nostalgia.
Like some mentioned, I'd love to see a new 3D take on Mega Man, really give it the AAA treatment. Put your coolest devs on it Capcom, make us proud.
Like some mentioned, I'd love to see a new 3D take on Mega Man, really give it the AAA treatment. Put your coolest devs on it Capcom, make us proud.
BN was one of those games I really could not grok when I first played them, and found them insanely hard. I should give them another shot.
I was about to post this.
On release it was probably the best game released that year and blew our minds.
A true classic.
OP
OP
My explanation is right at the start of the thread. Everyone already knows about MM2. I'm focusing on the games which are even better than MM2 but never get the same level of recognition.
Love this thread.
None of the 8-bit Mega Man games are bad.
Mega Man 4 is massively underrated, only praised for it's soundtrack but lambasted for having sillier enemy designs and "ruining the challenge" by giving Mega Man a charge shot. I was having too much fun to notice. The level designs (maybe not Ringman), the new mechanics and yes the amazing soundtrack, that's what makes this game hold up so well.
Mega Man 5 gets a ton of love so I don't need to defend that one. (Fuck yeah Proto Man!!)
I'm going to replay Mega Man 6 soon to see if it holds up as well as the others. I think it gets a pretty mixed reaction as well, people dog on the robot masters and even the soundtrack but I remember really liking it when I was a kid.
Mega Man 8 has lots of issues but I don't care. I fucking love it. I won't argue with folks that don't but it hits such a weird, sweet spot for me as a 2-D PlayStation side scroller with an anime-heavy look and soundtrack.
Mega Man 9 is still fantastic. MM10 is good too. MM11 is wonderful.
I love this series.
None of the 8-bit Mega Man games are bad.
Mega Man 4 is massively underrated, only praised for it's soundtrack but lambasted for having sillier enemy designs and "ruining the challenge" by giving Mega Man a charge shot. I was having too much fun to notice. The level designs (maybe not Ringman), the new mechanics and yes the amazing soundtrack, that's what makes this game hold up so well.
Mega Man 5 gets a ton of love so I don't need to defend that one. (Fuck yeah Proto Man!!)
I'm going to replay Mega Man 6 soon to see if it holds up as well as the others. I think it gets a pretty mixed reaction as well, people dog on the robot masters and even the soundtrack but I remember really liking it when I was a kid.
Mega Man 8 has lots of issues but I don't care. I fucking love it. I won't argue with folks that don't but it hits such a weird, sweet spot for me as a 2-D PlayStation side scroller with an anime-heavy look and soundtrack.
Mega Man 9 is still fantastic. MM10 is good too. MM11 is wonderful.
I love this series.
I mean, why not? There's no law that says your favorite video games have to be Zelda or Mario.
I've completed the first three games (at least a few times for 2 and 3) but I've never felt like I was especially good at them. The final battles, in particular, were massive difficulty hurdles for me and the postgame content was too tough to be fun. Whenever I read up on strategies or deck suggestions, it makes me realize how little I really understood the battle system. I'm still planning on replaying 3 again at some point.
