Mega May - Mega Man Celebration in May (OP - Updated)

[MyNameIsVince]

I definitely do want to get the Zero Collection. Cheaper than trying to get the Zero games on GBA.

It's the definitive version since it includes all the neat little e-Reader card bonuses for Zero 3 built in. It's a great package. I have said before and stand by that the Zero series is the most consistent of any Mega Man series in its quality and maybe even improving as it goes on.

I had no idea about that at all. I didn't really follow much of the Game Boy Advance during it's heyday outside of what my brothers played (and they did not play Mega Man Zero that's for sure). It is definitely on my upcoming list of games to get for my DSi (I think I may get Contra 4 first because a local Gamestop or 2 might still have it around here, but after that is the MMZ collection for sure).

[FerretGamer]

We're moving into the SNES era! It's time to start playing Mega Man 7, Mega Man X, and X2. I'm looking forward to some MMX.

[nightrnr]

Anyway, now would be a good time to give my thoughts on the 8-bit games!

I think if I had to put them in order of my favorite to least favorite it would go something like this:

2 > 3 > 6 > 4 > 1 > 5

Though really that's not a slight on any of them. 2 and 3 are of course classics, even though 3 feels a little rough and unfinished at times, probably because it was. They still managed to make an epic game out of it.

6 is one of the most underrated of the bunch, coming out when everyone was already being blown away by Mega Man X. The story is by far the goofiest which I feel turns a lot of people off but the "around the world" theme was actually pretty cool and the graphics are some of the best on the NES. It tried a lot of new things like alternate level exits and armor adapters, almost like a proto-Mega Man X. It's one of the easier entries, thanks in part to the Jet Adapter, but it's a lot of fun.

4 is nostalgic for me even if it's where most people started to see things go down hill. It's the first Mega Man game I personally played and I'll forever remember the origin story cutscene at the beginning. It started my love affair with the blue bomber that continues today. The level design is a little bland and the robot masters were getting a little abstract but there's still some great music, especially in the Dr. Cossack stages.

The first Mega Man feels like the prototype it is. While still a classic that set the standard and had brilliant features like its level select and weapon-stealing it's never been my personal favorite. The clever design of the original bosses cannot be denied however and they are as memorable as they are simple.

5 is last but not least. The graphics like 6 are fantastic at times but the difficulty was turned way down with random drops supplying you with loads of health and extra lives. The Mega Buster is at its worst here, so powerful you really don't need any other weapons. This is a problem that would later go on to plague the X series in my humble opinion. The only difficult parts come from poor level design that includes a few beginners traps but since lives are plentiful it's not a problem, just not very fun.

I haven't forgotten the Game Boy titles, the first of which was a fairly impressive early attempt to capture the NES game. Keeping Mega Man's sprite the same size as on the NES really helped make you feel like you were playing a NES game. Instead of just porting the original levels they designed new ones to fit the new perspective. It's pretty dang hard too, one of the hardest in the series, but only half the length and easy to plow through. The addition of the Mega Man killers in the Game Boy series was also really neat, a whole new boss specific only to the GB games.

The second game was handed off to a different development team and the difficulty swung in the other direction. This time it's easy, super easy, I dare say the easiest traditional Meg Man game out there. You can beat it in about 45 minutes the first time you sit down with it. Blind folded.

Not only that but it's weird, with a strange time travel plot that you'll only get from reading the manual and a Salvador Dali themed Wily level. The music of the first game was remixed really well for the Game Boy, but here it's absolutely atrocious and ear-splittingly high-pitched.

The third game went back to the makers of the first and they nailed it. The graphics, music and overall experience was even closer to the NES than their first attempt though it was still just a remix of existing games. The difficulty was also back, big time. I'd rate this among one of the hardest Mega Man titles.

With the fourth game they decided to experiment a bit. This was the first Mega Man game with a shop that you could buy items at, something that would be carried over to Mega Man 7 which is hardly a surprise given many of the people who worked on this one apparently went over to 7 (for those who are observant the sprite-to-screen ratio for Mega Man 7 is also the same as the Game Boy games).

Beyond that the graphics were better than ever and neat little touches were added such as the Mega Buster now having a "kick" to it, making it dangerous to use in some situations and adding a little more risk and balance to it. The graphical achievement came at a cost however, there's a lot of slowdown in this one. Despite that it's a superb game and one of the best of the 8-bit titles, even when put against the NES games.

Number 5 is of course the most famous with an entirely new story and all original bosses. It's the only Game Boy title that isn't a remix. While some of the level designs are a bit too bland and mechanical that's really my only complaint. Everything else is superb. It brought back everything that was good about the fourth GB title (and also the slowdown unfortunately) and added even more new gimmicks like the Mega Arm. It's really hard for me to say if it's better than 4 because they're both fantastic but if you only play one Game Boy Mega Man it should probably be this one.

Loved reading your reactions to the original series.

Mine would be something like:

2 or 3 > 5 > 4 > 6 > 1
(and had a blast with them all)

I was introduced to the games with Mega Man 3, so I have a soft spot for it...
...also, I feel severely handicapped when I can't slide in a Mega Man Game, so I have a hard time deciding whether I prefer 2 or 3.
I will concede that MM2 is the best in the original series. It's got the best music, the coolest bosses and weapons, and is just an amazing game that had stood the test of time. It is also the only one of the series which I have done an "Arm Cannon Only" run (except where necessary to use a weapons, like Some Wily bosses).

5 is last but not least. The graphics like 6 are fantastic at times but the difficulty was turned way down with random drops supplying you with loads of health and extra lives. The Mega Buster is at its worst here, so powerful you really don't need any other weapons. This is a problem that would later go on to plague the X series in my humble opinion. The only difficult parts come from poor level design that includes a few beginners traps but since lives are plentiful it's not a problem, just not very fun.

Mega Man 5 is a favorite of mine, probably in part because I like the music. But the easier difficulty combined with my (then young) persistence actually made me into a better player as I got more used to the Mega Man formula. I had a bad habit of using the pit/jump/invincibility cheat and 9 Energy tank password in MM3.
The game also prepared me for scouring the levels for powerups in the MMX games (as I made it a point to get BEAT every playthrough).

MM4 was initially a black sheep to me for some reason, but I've grown to love it over the years. I am FINALLY getting a physical copy for my NES to fill in my 2,3,5,6 collection gap. Skull Man is one of my favorite level music tracks in the series.

I can live without a copy of the original game (MM1). While I enjoyed it back in the day (borrowed from a friend), and still play through it on collections and emulators, it just isn't the Mega Man that I know and love (in a similar way that King of Fighters 94 just doesn't have the right elements [no team edit, fewer moves, etc.] for a good KOF game, MM1 lacks the standard 8 bosses, password save, and castle progression. It has a whole different feel to it. Plus, Mega Man on Game Boy was my introduction to the original robot bosses (well, 4 of them anyways).

MM6, I just have the least experience with and should play through a couple more times to really make a call on. I did really like the jet pack in that game though, and the bosses had a more detailed look to them.

As for the original Game Boy games:
I finally acquired them back when Mega Man Anniversary Collection was announced for GBA. I got sick of waiting for it (when it was TBA) and found the 1st 4 at a Gamestop for a pretty good deal. Found the 5th game at another Gamestop for more that I wanted to pay, but still a fraction of the going price on ebay now. I am so glad for my impatience, as it took the sting out of the cancellation.

The 1st game is special to me and I used to play on my original brick before I even had an NES of my own (frequently borrowed the game from a friend).
MMII is just weird and a poor tribute the the NES game. But it's still fun and is affordable and worth owning.
MMIII and MMIV, I played through in quick succession and enjoyed myself thoroughly (I think on a Super Game Boy). Can't say much beyond that.

MMV, I own but have yet to play through.
--GASP!-- (I know)
I have started several times and have beaten most of the original 4 levels/bosses one time or another, but can't seem to stick with it long enough for a proper playthrough. I must be crazy.

Not sure if I'll ever own MM7 on SNES (the game on MM Anniversary Collection fills the void well enough, and I'm getting a flash cart anyways),
but I am completing my MMX series by importing MMX3. I even have a spare extended pin cart that can house the board so I can print out a custom label for it.

Also, has anyone linked mmhp.net yet. The Mega Man Home Page is a great tribute to the series and is coming up on 20 years running on the net.