Mega Man 4 is further proof that this series rocks!
THE GOOD
-Extremely fun level design
-New Mega Buster rocks
-Solid controls
-Superb graphics and sound
-Robot masters offer very useful power-ups
-Epic boss battles
THE BAD
-Most of the mini bosses are unfairly cheap
OVERVIEW
It has been a year since Mega Man destroyed Gamma and Dr. Wily and now a Russian scientist named Dr. Cossack has created eight new robot masters in a feud with Dr. Light to see who is the better robotic engineer. Cossack's robots are much stronger than the previous ones so Mega Man has an even more difficult task ahead of him. So, Dr. Light has now equipped Mega with the new Mega Buster, which allows him to charge up a powerful blast. Mega Man's trusty canine, Rush, is back to help him out too. The new robot masters consist of Bright Man, Toad Man, Drill Man, Pharaoh Man, Ring Man, Dust Man, Dive Man and Skull Man. Once again the forces of "Light" are put to the test.
GAMEPLAY
A year and a half has gone by, after Mega Man 3, and another exciting Mega Man game has been released for the Nintendo. The game play hasn't change too much in the fourth installment except for the noticeable new Mega Buster weapon. Now, by holding down the B button, you can charge up your blaster to unleash some extra damage. The rest of controls are still solid as ever with the same abilities as in Mega Man 3 like the slide. The level design for the game is again of high quality, a staple in the Mega Man series. The platforming has been kicked up a notch but not to the point where it is too difficult. Instead, it is a welcomed challenge. You'll see some new and familiar enemies. Another thing you'll notice is the abundance of mini bosses. Some of these bosses provide a good challenge whereas others can be overly cheap. This can be frustrating because you'll end up taking unavoidable damage. Each of uniquely themed stages finishes with an epic robot master battle. Just like in the previous games, you'll have the upper-hand if you have your opponent's weakness. If not, be prepared for one tough confrontation.
Just like before, once you defeat a robot master you'll obtain their powers permanently. This is a very cool feature because in Mega Man 4, the power-ups come in quite handy. For instance, if the screen is getting too cluttered with foes, just fire off one of Toad Man's rain shots to clear everything. Or use Dive Man's homing missile to defeat quick moving enemies. Rush also has his fair share of transformations as well with his spring board coil, marine vessel and jet. Another fun thing about Mega Man 4 is that there are two extra abilities to obtain which are the Balloon (rising platforms) and Wire (grappling hook). This along with plenty of extra lives and energy "E" containers to find will add a little more exploration into the gameplay.
GRAPHICS & SOUND
The stunning clarity in the graphics are mind blowing. Even the newly developed levels are even more striking than before.
The same fun filled audio is back. The music complements each stage very well and the boss music still adds suspense to the game. The great sounds effects haven't changed too much, although the sound of a charged Mega Buster can be quite fulfilling.
CONCLUSION
Mega Man 4 delivers high quality just like a game in this series would. If you enjoyed the other games in the franchise, you'll really enjoy the chance to fight some new robot masters. I would recommend this game to anyone familiar or not with the series. Mega Man is back and now his enemies tremble at the sight of the awesome power of his Mega Buster!