Mega Man 9 (Review)

Mega Man 9 (Nintendo WiiWare)

Rated “E” For “Everyone”

Mega Man has been featured in many games over the years. Capcom has added an X, Star Force, Anniversary, Soccer…you name it, to the end of the Blue Bomber’s name. But Capcom decided to go back and add another title to his resume and bring him back to his classic 8-bit roots with Mega Man 9.

Yes, it has been a few years since Mega Man last defeated his arch nemesis, Dr. Wily. After years and years of Robot Masters scrapped by Mega Man, you would think the evil doctor has learned his lesson. Well, he wouldn’t be that evil if he had not thought of another plan to hatch. Dr. Wily has “confessed” to the world that the latest string of Robot Masters that are wreaking havoc were creations of Dr. Light. Dr. Light is then arrested and it’s up to Mega Man to clear Light’s name, defeat the evil robots, and get to the bottom of another Wily scheme.

Like any other Mega Man game, there’s a simple formula. Take one blue robot, add 8 Robot Masters, add one Wily castle, and you have yourself the perfect Mega Cake. Well, Capcom added a few little ingredients to the mix. One of the main extra ingredients is Difficulty. This game is hard…very hard. While newcomers to the franchise might just see this as another hard game, veterans know that there is certainly in an increase in the game’s challenge. Sure, once you figure out the bosses weaknesses, the bosses aren’t much to handle and that has always been the way that Mega Man rolls. So where is the added difficulty? It’s added from the moment you start a level till you reach a boss.

Enemy’s are very simplistic as they range from the normal Hard Hats to birds dropping rocks. But the volume in which some are placed in may get to you at times. It’s not an overload, but it might be more than some may be used to from a Mega Man game. And don’t forget that this is an 8-bit venture. They’ll respawn if you move out of the area you just killed them in and walk back. The layouts for levels are genius (Dr. Wily may have learned a few things over the years) as it should be for any villain that doesn’t want the protagonist to reach him. Levels are planned out very well. Spikes are where they should be, pits are where they should be, and enemies are placed strategically well. While it may seem like an easy straight walk to avoid the spikes on the wall, you never know if a robot claw will drop down and do what it’s programmed to do; grab you and drag you back into that wall of spikes. Yes, Wily definitely learned how to beef up defenses.

Another addition are the Challenges. Challenges are attained as you play through the game. They range from simple tasks (beating a boss with only your Mega Buster) to the utterly impossible (beat the game without taking a hit). These Challenges are a great factor in bringing players back to hone their skills and earn their Blue Bomber badges. You may earn some without even trying. This is great practice for online rankings as you can challenge the world to beat stages and bosses in the fastest times possible.

And Capcom will be dishing out more Mega Man 9 goodies soon in the forms of downloadable content. Game was too easy for you? You’re lying, but there will be harder difficulties to download. The more anticipated download is the Proto Man download in which you can play through the entire game as Proto Man. These downloads will add more mileage to your game.

While this game stands on top of the difficulty meter and eats it, Mega Man is not totally helpless through it all. This installment of the game actually puts more emphasis on using the newly gained robot abilities you receive from defeating a boss. It won’t make the game a breeze, but it will alleviate some of that frustration that made you break your controller/TV/system. Can’t reach a platform, Rush Coil will work. Can’t reach that 1up? Did you try your Hornet attack? Too many enemy blasts, mindless floating robots, and a pit of spikes you need to avoid? Slap on that Jewel Satellite and all you have to worry about are spikes now.

There’s not much to dislike about the latest Mega Man. You will definitely hate the difficulty of it, but that’s a great thing. Did you really want to play another simple Mega Man game you can beat in no time at all? It’s a challenge. Sure, it may seem like it’s hard for the sake of being hard, but it’s not just haphazardly made that way. All points made above show why it’s supposed to be hard and supposed to challenge you whether you are a new comer or veteran. With it’s 8-bit graphical charm, superb 8-bit soundtrack, and it’s new-gen difficulty, there’s something for everybody to like here. This game feels, plays, looks, and is 8-bit in every way and it’s done well. Just remember, it’s tough, but you’ve got Mega Man by your side to go through and die with over and over again.

Rated 5 out of 5

IGN Review

Strong Bad's Cool Game For Attractive People (SBCB4AP): Episode 2 StrongBadia The Free (Review)

Strong Bad’s Cool Game For Attractive People (SBCG4AP): Episode 2 StrongBadia The Free (Nintendo WiiWare)

Rated “T” For “Teen”

SBCG4AP Episode 1 StrongBadia The Free (Review) - click

Did you try the first installment of Games For Attractive People provided by Strong Bad on your Wii? You weren’t attractive enough? Well, you had one month to get that make over because Episode 2 – StrongBadia The Free is here for us good looking people.

Strong Bad and losers in his world come back again for another PACA (point and click adventure). This time around, The King of Town has passed a new law adding a tax to all received and sent emails. Hey…that does not sit well with our masked hero…villain…sexy main character. So what is there to do? Easy, dethrone the King of Town.
Now who won’t follow Strong Bad in his task to dethrone the newly named “The Of Town?” Well, that would be everyone. All your attractive friends have decided to secede StrongBadia leaving it’s populace to a populace of one super strong and super bad man. Not only have they seceded, they have all formed their own countries, flags and all.
What does a country of one attractive man do? He brings all the unattractive beings together by forcefully taking over country one after another to make himself even more attractive by being surrounded by the less than face pleasing. While PACYW (pointing and clicking your way) through the familiar yet split world, you must be your awesome self and convince…manipulate…force others to join your side. Your PACWHSBG (pointing and clicking will help StrongBadia grow) as you make your way by engulfing countries such as Bleak House, Marzistar, and the creatively named country of Country.

The core of the game has remained the same since the first episode. So while you may need to look better from Episode 1, you don’t have to be that much smarter. PAC (point and click), make fun of the civilians, laugh at the content, and take over the world. And there is always time to enjoy the adventures of Teen Girl Squad and even relax with a great game of Videlectrix with Math Kickers Featuring Alge Bros. Algebra has never been this brutal.

Enjoy your comics, master some power equations, and don’t forget to recruit people for your army as you take over countries. Once you’ve conquered all the lands and formed your Homstarmy, you are ready to take on The Of Town at his castle keep.
And what is left after your Homstarmy storms the castle? Well, only those really attractive looking persons will find out. War can not be won so easily…sometimes. And was it all worth it? Was this a waste of time for Strong Bad? Was it worth it to expand and conquer all with StrongBadia and all its inhabitants? Is this the same game you played the first time around just with different content (yes)? Do you still need massive plastic surgery to play this game? Well…you could always turn your back to the television screen as your more attractive friend plays the game for you.

Rated 4 out of 5