User Rating: 7.5 | RockMan & Forte GBA
Mega Man & Bass, originally for the Super NES (though never released stateside), has made its way to the Game Boy Advance in the form of a pretty well-done port filled with classic Mega Man action. In light of recent Mega Man GBA experimentations such as Mega Man Battle Network and Mega Man Zero, MM&B is a refreshing throwback to the Mega Man formula that’s worked so well for 15 years and counting. The game’s plot revolves around the title characters’ mission to take down a malicious robot named King, who has somehow managed to take over series villain Dr. Wily’s base of operations. King has declared robots superior to humans, and has begun raising an army to ensure the machines’ dominance over mankind. Dr. Wily, ever the megalomaniacal mad scientist, sends his war robot Bass to tend to the matter. Bass forges an uneasy alliance with Mega Man, and the two head off to fight their common foe. As either Mega Man or Bass, you must fight your way through a variety of side-scrolling landscapes, facing off with a powerful robot master at the end of each stage. Defeating a robot master earns you its weapon, which can be used in future battles. The key to success in any traditional Mega Man game--and MM&B is no different--is figuring out which weapons work well against which robot masters. Some stages are off-limits until you beat others, though you’re given a fair amount of freedom to play the levels in any order you see fit. Aside from collecting extra weapons from fallen bosses, there are a variety of other goodies to look for. Some enemies drop screws when you destroy them, which can later be exchanged for enhancements to your character’s abilities. Examples of these tune-ups include a shock guard that provides a one-time reprieve from otherwise fatal spike traps, and a transceiver that allows you to call Mega Man’s sister Roll for hints. Mega Man and Bass’ canine companions--Rush and Gospel, respectively--are also purchased with screws. Rush can dig up hidden items for Mega Man, while Gospel fuses with Bass, granting him temporary flight abilities. In addition to collecting screws, CDs are scattered throughout the game that open up a bonus art gallery with information on various robot masters from past Mega Man games. Both Mega Man and Bass have their own set of moves. Mega Man plays like you’d expect him to play; he’s armed with his trusty arm cannon, which he can charge up for more powerful shots. He’s also equipped with his trademark slide move. Bass, on the other hand, brandishes a rapid-fire arm cannon that can be aimed in any direction. He’s also capable of executing a quick dash, as well as a life-saving double jump. All told, Mega Man tends to pack more of a punch with his weaponry, while Bass sacrifices some of the firepower for greater mobility. Some areas are only accessible by a certain character, which adds to the game’s replay value. The controls in MM&B are as tight as ever. Both characters respond well, and their special moves are easy to pull off at a moment’s notice. Bass generally seems to have an easier time getting through some of the more difficult spots, but make no mistake about it--this game is one tough cookie no matter which character you choose. Boss battles can be particularly hard, especially if you don’t have an optimal weapon for the encounter. But hey--half the fun of any Mega Man game is figuring out an effective stage order. MM&B is certainly one of the best-looking games ever to grace the Game Boy Advance. Sprites are large, detailed, and very well-animated; the characters have a traditional anime look to them. There’s plenty of variety to the different levels as well; as is the standard in Mega Man games, each stage is thematically tailored to match its respective robot master’s motif. For example, Ground Man’s stage is filed with burrowing earthworms and sand traps, while Cold Man’s stage consists of slippery terrain rife with thin ice floors. All in all, MM&B is a nice looking game. Sound-wise, MM&B is pretty much par for the course. The soundtrack holds plenty of simple and upbeat tunes--typical Mega Man fare. There isn’t really anything spectacular about the music, though it’s certainly not something that’s going to get on your nerves. The sound effects are fine as well; longtime Mega Man mainstays such as the "death explosion" that occurs when you run out of energy are present and accounted for. When you get right down to it, MM&B is a fun, old-fashioned, and challenging Mega Man romp that longtime fans of the series will certainly appreciate. It’s good to see that Capcom has been toying with new ideas in games such as Mega Man Battle Network, but it’s always fun to have a traditional Mega Man platformer to play through every now and then. After 15 years, Capcom certainly seems to have the formula worked down to a science, and Mega Man & Bass definitely goes to show that the formula still works well.