This may very well be the hardest game I'd ever been completely in love with.
This was particularly difficult back in the NES era, where it seemed many games only really held their fame when they were crushingly difficult. And where many grew up on Mario or Zelda, I grew up on Mega Man. And while my tastes in many of the old franchises either grew or waned, Mega Man manages to keep a certain timelessness for me. So forgive me if I appear to have the proverbial rose-colored shades of nostalgia equipped when reviewing this title, but in many ways, this was a tearful reunion for me, of a much simpler time, and in some ways, happier.
Graphics whores? You need not apply. This game does not need 1080p HDTV's... though compared to many of the Wii VC re-releases or even an actual NES hooked up to one, this game will look much better on such a screen than those on an actual NES or on the VC. But if you go into it expecting 't3h Crysis' of graphics, then you will be heinously disappointed. The 8-bit treatment is here because it works, and it works very well. Pixel-perfect jumps and usage of the weapons. Colorful enemies and probably some of the best robot masters designs since MM4, which is saying a lot.
Sounds are equally 8-bit, very MIDI-like, and will sound weird as hell coming out of those home theater speakers you may have by now. In many ways, this game seems more at home on the old tube TV than on your HDTV. But, we get to the meat of the game.
Simplicity rules, and the gameplay of Mega Man aces this. Eight Robot Masters, each particularly weak to one other RM's weapon. After which, you deal with Wily for a few stages, then a rematch with the RM's once more before finally taking on the whole enchilada. Those who've played for a while know the drill by now. And while it may seem repetitive, it works to this game's merit. While new players will more likely be playing this on their 360 or the ps3, those who want the more "true to form" way to play will have it on the Wii with the remote held sideways for the proper NES-like experience.
But in many ways, while this is indeed the hardest MM game to come out in the (classic) series, it - like those before it - is primarily only difficult the first couple times around. Eventually you get into a rhythm and/or learn some new tricks to make things easier. Mega Man simply lends itself to replayability, and being able to skillfully pull off strings of jumps and shots. By extension, the fifty available crowns in the game seem to take this type of play to heart. Some are very much automatic (beat the game); others are genuinely challenging (beat the RM's with ONLY the mega buster), and others are just plain brutal (Mr. Perfect, anyone?). While not quite the level of earnign a trophy or achieving gamerscore, the crowns in Mega Man 9 have their own sense of accomplishment for attaining.
This is clearly not a game meant for the people new to the (classic) MM series. This is very much a game made for those who have been around since the beginning. This is very much a game that is more of a love-letter to the fanbase that wanted this more than a cure for cancer. Chances are though, if you are one of these people, you (like me) would have bought it (almost) immediately.
For those who are on the fence or wish to try: Be prepared that this game will seem crushingly hard at first. But at the same time, the innate replayability (plus all the DLC that has since come out), will mean you'll get A LOT for your bucks.
Now if they'd just make a proper Mega Man Legends follow-up, I'd be a happy camper.