MegaMan Anniversary Collection

[LoneCynic]

MegaMan Anniversary Collection
(Available formats: Playstation 2, Gamecube, Xbox)

MegaMan Anniversary Collection is a compilation disc that includes MegaMan 1-8, as well as the two obscure Arcade titles as unlockables. This review will cover a brief history of the series, an explanation of each title in the collection and what version it is, then provide a list of differences between the three versions of the game (GCN, PS2, Xbox). Scoring and recomendations will follow at the end.

You would be hard pressed to find a retro gamer who has not experienced the joys of battling as MegaMan against Dr. Wily and his horde of mechanical minions. MegaMan was an innovative game, as it allowed the player to choose the stages in any order. After defeating one of the theme named boss characters, MegaMan gains their special power. This is the key to the game, as each stage master is weak against one of these powers. Strategy then comes into play when choosing what order to tackle the stages and accumulate the various powers. Each of the seven sequels follows this same pattern, with a few changes here and there. Although often critisized for being virtually the "same game" every time a new chapter in the series released, fans know and appreciate that the creators stuck with what worked and didn't break the magic that made MegaMan so special.

Chances are, if you are reading this review, you have played MegaMan before. You are here for information about the features and game versions included in this compilation. MegaMan 1-6 are the Playstation 1 enhanced versions that were released only in Japan. These enhanced versions are still direct ports of the NES originals, but have a few small additions to them. These features include the following: An updated lifebar with an outline and lives remaining counter that is identical to the one in the later MegaMan 8, a personal guide character for each game that provides tips and hints from a pause menu, a grid map of each stage from this same menu, an icon that flashes on screen when your guide has information for you, and for MegaMan 1-3, and updated weapon select menu with icons and full names for each of your weapons and adaptors. The Anniversary Collection allows you to play with these features turned on or off. Also noteworthy is the fact that having these bonus features turned on also enables remixed versions of the themes on many of the stages in these first six games. Regardless of features on or off, the graphics and gameplay are that of the NES originals.

Here is a quick list of each game and what version is included on the compilation for the curious:

MegaMan - PS1 port of NES version with optional enhanced features
MegaMan 2 - PS1 port of NES version (original "Hard" difficulty setting from USA NES version) with optional enhanced features
MegaMan 3 - PS1 port of NES version with optional enhanced features
MegaMan 4 - PS1 port of NES version with optional enhanced features
MegaMan 5 - PS1 port of NES version with optional enhanced features
MegaMan 6 - PS1 port of NES version with optional enhanced features
MegaMan 7 - Apparantly an Emulated version of the SNES version
MegaMan 8 - PS1 version (Too bad it was not the superior Sega Saturn version)

Notes: With enhanced features turned on, MegaMan 1-3 only have remixed music on some stages, while MegaMan 4-6 have remixed music on every single stage if turned on. MegaMan 6 had a different intro theme in the NES Japan and NES USA versions, the intro theme on the collection is the Japanese one. MegaMan 7's ending sequence originally showed a scene of MegaMan walking angrily away from the burning remains of Skull Castle, followed by shots of the bosses during the credit roll. For whatever reason, the credits just roll over a black background on the version included in the collection and these scenes are not present. MegaMan 8 has no save/load option, just a single save file, like the rest of the games on the collection. MegaMan 8 is slightly disappointing considering the Playstation 1 version was included over the preferred Saturn version, which included two additional boss fights not found in the PS1 version.

MegaMan Anniversary Collection is a worthy compilation that every MegaMan fan should own. Now, which version should you pick up? What are the differences? This is a very important question for this compilation. Surprisingly enough, it comes down to a matter of sound and controls, and ultimately, what consoles you own. I own all three versions, so I will give my thoughts on each.

Nintendo Gamecube Version: While at first this may seem like the ideal system to grab this collection for, I have two serious complaints with it that retro gamers, and especially older gamers should be aware of. Most of us who played these games growing up were used to the NES pad's setup. Move with control pad, shoot with B, jump with A. For whatever reason, the Gamecube version is reversed. The little B Button is jump, and the larger A button is shoot. With no adjustable control settings, you have no choice but to play it that way, or get another version of the game. To add insult to injury, the stage music tracks for MegaMan 8 on this version are incomplete. Normally, each stage of MegaMan 8 had a few notes at the beginning that gets the theme going, then it plays through and loops back to just after the first few notes and repeats throughout the stage. This version just starts at where the song loops, and goes from there. MegaMan teleports onto the screen and the music is already into the middle of the theme. It just feels "off" that you only get a partial of each stage song. The unlockable arcade games, art galleries, and such are extras included in all three versions. The Gamecube's exclusive is an interview with people from capcom. Not as exciting as you might think, and a couple people on there didn't even really know that much about MegaMan to even be commenting on it. I really cannot recommend this version unless a Gamecube/Wii is your ONLY game platform option, or you just don't mind these glaring flaws.

Sony Playstation 2 Version: All music tracks are intact, the controls are identical to those of MegaMan 8 on the PS1, and this version is more or less the version to own. It has the first episode of the old USA MegaMan cartoon series instead of the interview, and while a tad on the cheesy side, has its memorable moments if you had watched as a kid. The Dual Shock 2 makes the games comfortable and easy to play with an intuitive control setup that all other MegaMan titles on the console have used. Square shoots, X Jumps, L1/R1 cycle weapons, L2/R2 cycle Rush forms and other adaptors. If you have a Playstation 2 or a Playstation 3, this is the version to get.

Microsoft Xbox Version: This version has the extra features that the other two versions have, plus it actually has a customizable control setup with mutiple control setup options. This is a feature that shines above the other two versions of the game. It is also a tad bit brighter and slightly pixelated when compared to the PS2 version. All in all, a decent alternative though, and a must have for anyone with an Xbox 360, as the game is backwards compatible with that system, and is much easier to play with that controller than with the original Xbox controller.


Final Thoughts:
Although not perfect, the MegaMan Anniversary Collection is a definate recommendation from me for any MegaMan fan, or anyone just curious what all the excitement over these games was back in the day. The ease of having the entire series on one disc, on one system is like a dream come true. Pick it up for the Playstation 2 or the Xbox if you spot it, the game is worth its weight in gold. The replay value alone on these games is enough to keeping you coming back long after you've finished them all. Just watch out for that Gamecube version if you're a longtime fan and set in your ways about how you like the controls setup. It's bad juu-juu if you can't handle its flaws. Which is a real shame too, as most of these were originally given life on a Nintendo console.

Overall Score: 9/10 (PS2/Xbox), 5/10 (Gamecube)

[Flak Beard]

I had actually pre-ordered the Gamecube version before the game came out, but switched it to PS2 when I picked it up after finding about the A/B being swapped. The guy at EB actually told me I was third person to do this.

[LoneCynic]

Yeah, I have no idea what possesed them to set it that way and not offer a button configuration option. Damn near makes the game unplayable for me. The PS2 and Xbox versions are fantastic.

[AwesomeMonstar]

What about the other 2 games? Mega Man: The Power Battle and Mega Man 2: The Power Fighters. How do these hold up?

[LoneCynic]

I played the first one in Arcades when I was around 15 years old. They are just one-on-one or two-on-one (If playing two players) boss fights where you aquire the powers or secondary powers of each guy you beat, then a big sub boss, followed by a Wily battle. They are fun and the graphics are styled after MegaMan 7's sprites. They wear a little thin after a playthrough or two, but they sure are nice bonues to have for sure.

Speaking of sprite styles, that was something I always liked about the MegaMan series. The first game was cutting edge for NES graphics when it first came out. MegaMan actually had a stand still animation, he blinked every couple of seconds. While this is nothing by today's standards, that was pretty cool back in 1987. The sprites, with their theme namesakes and robots that each had their own personalities, they stuck with a graphics style that worked and didn't change it for any of the first six games. Backgrounds improved, enemy sprites improved some, but MegaMan himself looked the same in all the NES MegaMan titles. When every other game series tried to revamp the graphics for every sequel, MegaMan looked so great the first time, he was good to go the long haul from the outset. The controls got tighter as the sequels came out, and he learned a few new moves along the way, but his basic look remained the same. I always liked it, and it gave the series a comonality amoung the games that made them all feel strongly connected.

Here is a list of all the original series MegaMan games, including the last one that was originally a Super Famicom sequel, but saw release in the USA as a Gameboy Advance Cart. MegaMan retained the same graphics style for multiple games each time along the way.

Sprite Series 1: MegaMan 1-6
Sprite Series 2: MegaMan 7, MegaMan: The Power Battles, MegaMan: The Power Fighters
Sprite Series 3: MegaMan 8, MegaMan & Bass

Only game series I've really seen do this. Following the addage, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it", MegaMan was the embodiment of this statement. He is the only game character to pull it off with such style.

[jackspicer]

that was really helpfull i think im going to pick this up

[Pullmyfinger]

Great review LoneCynic! I have a question though, how is the menu on the PS2 version? Is it the same as the Xbox? I ended up selling it because of having to walk across all those doors, I wish the game select menu had been more like a boss select screen from Megaman 1-7.

There was another sprite set, the Genesis one! Don't think it really counts though and many are just recolored NES sprites.

[LoneCynic]

Yes, it is the door menu, but it really isn't THAT bad is it? Pretty straight forward.

I must make one adjustment to my review. I was playing the Xbox version a few days ago, and encountered slowdown on MM7 that was not there before and some minor graphical glitching here and there in MegaMan 8. This was on Xbox 360, so I don't recall if this was the case when played on the original Xbox or not. Because of this, and the fact that the PS2 version runs perfectly on my PS2 and my PS3, I have to give that version the highest recomendation of the three versions.

[jackspicer]

I just want to say my gamestop only had the gamecube version so thats what i picked up, and the button configuration IS very irritating, i wouldn't recommend this port...

[RackGaki]

Great review! I will have to pick up the PS2 version of this collection; I only have the Gamecube port thus far.