Mega Man Returns
Personally I think going back to basics was defenately the right solution, this franchise for a while was kinda suffering the same kinda syndrome TV series sometimes have called longevity syndrome where something can go on too long it lags even loses the quality that made it what it is. Mega Man 9 has refound that quality again.
Playing this game in the 8 bit style again just feels really great, it really gave me that feeling of nolstalgia because my first video game system is the "Nintendo" so I was there when the first games were around.
I love the fact that the gameplay is the same as ever and they didn't add any extra gimicks which I always felt cheapened things more than add to the franchise. The only gimick is Rush which I"m fine with. The difficulity as usual is hard which most people will complain about, all I can say to that is tough, every fan/veteran of this franchise knows these are the risks that come with the territory, if you can't stand the heat stay out of the kicten. Yeah it's hard but it's not unbeatable, this is one of those games you have to take you time with because sections of this game will take some practice to get though, but trust me once you get it down you'll have no problems, it's easy if you know how, I can get though the levels almost without dying or at least not many times as before. I even love how the levels are designed, they are littlerally designed to kill you much like in the James Bond movies
The robot masters are as daft and cheesy as before, I'll admit saying their names I can't help but laugh a little, it's hard to take badies seriously with names like that. I always liked the simplyistic/silly designs of the robot masters which make them both comic bookish villians and almost a humourous charm as opposed to the more than the complex ones in some of the later entries 7 and 8 which for some reason I never found memorable. Each has different abilities as usual, though one unique think is the fact that for once they have a female robot master which is cool, I never understood why all the robot masters had to always be male, with a difference in gender at least there would be more variety.
And of course one of the best things about the Mega Man franchise has always been the music. This game has lots of memorable tracks which have been recently remixed online. I'd have to say my favorate track is the Concrete man level because it has sort of that action film like tune.
This may sound contrivercial but this is my third favorate in the series ( the third and second sequel are my first and second favorates) , may'be it's the nolalgic feeling or just the symplitic quality of it. Whatever the case I love it.
Mega Man has returned in fine form and I hope keeps it up in the many new volumes to come.