Mega Man Anniversary Collection for GameCube

I will like to begin this article with the proclamation that I am an avid old school gamer. Furthermore is my admiration for Mega Man series. Mega Man is a boy who has suffered much trauma, he is part boy part machine, and tries his hardest to destroy gargantuan foes. He is in worthy league to be in the ranks of Samus, Link, and even Cloud. Because the strength he has is not on the weapons (which are the coolest single handed weapons I've seen from the past), but from the perseverance he portrays. The blue guy has been in nearly 20 games. And as many adventures he has taken. He still goes head strong to defeat eight robots in an attempt to save the world from the clutches of a deranged manic-eccentric professor.

This collection is made as more of an example of how to make successful characters that are plotted into a very stellar game with unique concepts. I mean in the NES days, this WAS Halo meets Psi-Ops. A totally radical action game where you could take other peoples abilities from them to further your advancement. That was the concept of Mega Man.

Now here I am raving the whole Mega Man universe, that one would assume that I would give this collection a perfect score. Well, brace yourself, because I will not. This game is a very awesome experience, for old schoolers. But in the gaming world these days, this game just does not live up to par. The reason I didn't give it a substantial rating remains on the fact of not the gameplay (which is top notch), but the graphics. Nothing is enchanced in the graphics department, which was a disappointment. Because after playing Resident Evil and Viewtiful Joe, I was expecting Capcom to pull a few surprises up their sleeves. But the game is the same old thing. Which isn't bad at all, seeing how it perfectly transferred the graphics of each individual game and erased the problem of flickering if too many objects were in the screen. Basically I would call this the cleaner cut version of Mega Man games than a solid remake. Which is okay to old gamers, but to newbies and next-gen enthusiasts, it wouldn't warrant them a first impression suitable enough to warrant a purchase.

Now about the gameplay. Like how I previously informed, all Mega Man games one through eight (without the gameboy, game gear, PC, and mega man x versions) are all in tact. Each game offers about 8 bosses to pry them of their dignity and their weapons. Nearly 80 abilities to use. And enough sub bosses and Wiley inventions to satisfy any power hungry action gamer. Each boss exists within their unique level that inflicts a description of their actual persona. (Air Man's level is in a cloud world, while Shade Man, a vampire, exists in a very wickedly awesome Castlevania-like transelvanian castle. Just to name a few...)

And what is funner than the boss fights (which can at times be relatively easy to nearly impossible), are the actual layouts, and creatures found in the game. Mega Man's adventure takes him on speeding trains, to underwater mine fields, to space stations in another galaxy. And in those levels, he will quickly dodge bodies of quickly gushing lava, jump on levitating platforms, and even fall heights that range over a hundred feet, while avoiding spikes and jet propelled baddies.

The baddies are very amusing as well. These creatures are very threatening robots (which in the whole collection, possibly average easily over 120 different types) that have a neo-technological fluster covered in cartoonish persona. Giving an overall lovable trait, in which sometimes one would regret (for a split second) of destroying one of the cute mini robots. But then that regret is instantly taken away by the self discovery that the cute enemies are ready to kill Mega Man. While, flowing past stages, killing dozens of enemies, I couldn't help but feeling indulged within the music, which livens up any surreal (and threatening) occasion that Mega Man may experience. So, in the gameplay department, I would say that perfection exists excessively.

Now to the sound. If you haven't played Mega Man, then let me in the slightest terms illustrate to you what the sound track to every game in the series is. The soundtrack is a compilation of sophistically orchestrated techno tunes. These tunes in the game promisingly sets the mood of the futuristic realms through the adventure. The songs convince the person that he is in the year 20XX, the future is havoc, let me hurry up and complete my quest before all hope ends. That's basically the feeling I experience when listening to most of the songs. However, some songs (specifically five out of the 100+ song list) I do not care for. For instance, the aggrevatingly repetitive SpringMan stage song. Okay the stage tune sounds like a springy, circus song that keeps repeating itself so much that not only does it get stuck in the gamer's mind, but seems like the song itself taunts the player from concentration as he/she tries to go through the level. Case in being, a horrible song fitted in the wrong environment. But I won't insult the overall tracks of the collection. Frankly, I feel that most songs in the whole collection are original and never fail to set my heart rate a notch below ecstatic. Overall, the music was way ahead of its time.

As for the sound effects. Well, their your basic sound effects. A bouncing sound when jumping a zapping sound when firing your default cannon. All other weapons do possess different sounds that are effective to describe what weapon they are (Bubble Man's weapon gives a bubbly bouncy sound, Junk Man's weapon sound like junk scarping away anything that comes in its direction). The sound effects are not revolutionary, but they are satisfyingly placed.

The controls, although oddly placed, are smooth and very responsive. You could move Mega Man with either the analog stick, or the crosspad. He jumps using the A button and shoots using the B button. Y does auto fire, if you want to make the game a bit easier. They all fit comfortably. But I do find myself sometimes making Mega Man run straight into a bottomless pit. The reason being that I accidentally pressed the shoot button (used to the old settings) instead of the jump button. But I've seen much worse control layouts in other games.

Now about the complaints. Well, there are just nitpicks. If I would label any complaint as being a major one, I would have to say that the auto-save gets a bit annoying. Auto-save saves any of the megaman games, and activates when a level is completed., However, if for instance, you are playing Mega Man seven and have a lot of missing screws (to repair a robot for upgrades, kind of like a futuristic barter), you have to go through the huge stage and complete it in order for the amount of cash (thats what I preferably call the screws) to save. Furthermore, and this implies to all games in the collection, the Auto Save does not save all the lives racked up. So, say you are readying yourself for the big fight in Wileys castle, and try to rack up as many lives and energy refills as you can store. If you decide to save and leave the game, the auto save function will grant you just the default 4 lives and 2 energy tanks. Futhermore, if you use the auto-save during Wiley's Castle you will have to begin at the beginning of the gargantuan, multi-level Wiley Castle after you get a game over. I felt very upset when it happens. Yet, it isn't all bad. Seeing that the game perfectly blends a high factor of gameplay with a suitable amount of challenge.

Megaman collection is a definite buy for practically anyone. It has the futuristic level creation of Contra and Metroid, the longetivity of Mario games, and an attitude all it's own.

Gameplay 5/5 You can't find a funner package of old-school mayhem. The depth of the weapon usage, mixed with a furturistic cartoon mood. And nearly a hundred original bosses, who could ask for more?

Graphics 3/5 Not revolutionary, but beautiful in its own way. No slow down, and better yet, no glitches.

Sound 4/5 Besides one or two misplaced or annoying tunes, the game has many catchy songs that are mostly memorable. The overall soundtrack sounds like the workings of early aged techno-metal.

Control 5/5 Sleek, responsive, and easy. Allowing Mega Man to slide through stages with somewhat grace.

Story 3/5
Same old stuff. Either Dr Wiley making another deadly weapon to destroy Earth with, or Mega Mans friends are in danger. Interesting, but not very creative. But hey, the games don't need a compelling story. They are already compelling enough to just play.

Replay 4/5 8 Mega Man classics, and 2 bonus fighting games, all a promising 100+ stages. This collection should keep any raving gamer busy for weeks.

Overall 4/5 Besides a few flaws, Mega Man Collection reigns classic in the video gaming galaxy. Proving once and for all that a third party developer could have great imagination and strength to create one of the most lovable, courageous, and imaginative game hero icons of not only our era, but generations afar.