Customer Reviews

Mega Man Anniversary Collection

5 star:		(31)
4 star:		(25)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

NOTE - I have not played much of the PS2 version of "Mega Man Anniversary Collection", but I have noticed the controller is much easier to use than the GameCube's. If you're interested in this title, the technical aspects of both versions should be identical.

REVIEW
Just how much fun is it to play that old-school, side-scrolling, blue bomber anyway? These games have not lost their touch at all. Both gamers who suffer from incurable nostalgia (like me) and those of the next-gen consoles (like most of today's generation) can enjoy this compilation.

The basic premise for this series is that as Mega Man, you will complete from 4-to-8 stages (depending on the game), each with plenty of side-scrolling shooting your way through robot enemies and jumping exercises, and each ending with a Boss battle. You must choose wisely, though, because although you can finish them in any order, certain bosses' weapons have a distinct advantage over another. After defeating these foes, Dr. Wily awaits Mega Man at his castle, which will require every weapon you've just gained to progress. It is this freedom-of-choice that gives the "Mega Man" franchise such a proud place in gaming history.

What Capcom did right with this series is not incorporate too many new features that weren't already in the games. For example, you won't be able to Slide until the 3rd game, nor will you charge up your Mega Buster until the 4th game. These games are properly ported form their original versions.
Sure, there are a few touches here and there. There isn't as much framerate slowdown as before, a useless map is now added to the PAUSE Menu, and the timeline references ("20XX") match today's timeline ("2004"). The best addition is a SAVE feature, that allows you to avoid those annoying Passwords, and just jump right where you left off. You'll lose you acquired Lives and E-Tanks, but the level-and-weapon status remains intact.

Many consider the first 3 games to be the classic titles.
The first "Mega Man" is still the hardest of them all. The enemies are unrelenting, and I've read that there used to be a Boss glitch that Capcom removed, forcing you to use your skills even more. Although basic in concept, the challenge is very unforgiving in some levels. This game is hard.

"Mega Man 2" is my favorite of them all, because the music is catchy as hell, plus the bosses and levels are expertly designed. For those who've played this game before, the fourth Dr. Wily boss is still a pain-in-the-ass though.

"Mega Man 3" is by far the longest in the series, as you'll battle 8 original bosses, then the 8 from "Mega Man 2", then tackle Dr. Wily's 6 stages of combat. This entry is also a little tough, because you're gonna have to be extra-smart to make it through this one.

Most fans consider the next three games ("Mega Man" 4,5,6) to be the money-making sequels. Back in the day, I would agree, but since the price of this disc is less than these 3 titles combined at original price, I won't complain. Also, they're so much fun that how can you resist the technical improvements.

The 4th game is when the powers and upgrades become more plentiful. Eight more levels await, and this time there are actually 2 castles to shoot your way through. This one holds a special place in my heart, as it was the first one I ever beat.

"Mega Man 5" and "Mega Man 6" share many similiarities. Both games start off with 8 robot bosses, then reveal the supposed enemy's castle of 4 stages, only to expose that Dr. Wily was behind it all, and give us a few more stages to battle through. The stories are a joke, but who's reading anyway. But neither of these games are bad at all, and proudly earn their spots in the classic NES sextilogy.

"Mega Man 7" was the SNES game that reinvigorated the franchise for many fans. Better graphics and sound quality, not to mention some unique bosses, gave this series some more life. To be honest, I think this game runs a little slower than my taste, as the NES games are much more faster-paced. Still, a worthy entry,

The 8th game was released on the PS-one, and to be honest, I haven't beaten it yet because the stages are truly mind-boggling in puzzles and challenging with their platforming sections. I'm having a great time with it, though, and eagerly await the concluding obstacles...

There are even two bonus fighting games that aren't too bad. They're both themed after the 8 previous games, and allow Mega Man, his brother Proto Man, and newfound ally Bass, to face off in classic Capcom 2D fighting. Think "Street Fighter" with "Mega Man" weapons.

Included on this disc are some bogus extra features that I could do without, but that's not why you buy collections like this. "Mega Man Anniversary Collection" is all about the evolution of gaming. The action of these titles was deceptively simple, and I have no problem recommending this disc to anybody. My minor quibble with this game is that the GameCube controller's D-Pad is too damn small, but that's a problem I can overlook. I'm recommending people buy this collection of titles because they are all about gaming. You won't find "Metal Gear Solid"-like complicated stories, or "Final Fantasy"-like levelling up, or "Resident Evil"-like puzzles. All of those are great titles, but "Mega Man" is much simpler. All you need are two hands, keen eyes, and a hunger to execute these commands..."Run---Jump---Shoot". Can you do that? Good, now stop reading my review and buy this already!

Mega Man Anniversary Collection takes the original 8 Mega Man games, throws in two arcade Mega Man games (one unrealesed in the USA until now) and combine them all to form one hell of a great Mega Man package. Then Capeven added Navi mode to all eight games (something that was added later in the series, and can be turned off if you want to play them as they originally were) added re-mixed music, and added in a save feature to replace the pass codes from the old games. The GCN version includes an interview with the creator of Mega Man.

First off, could you people remember to give the product some stars!?! You're killing its rating by giving it a praising review BUT not giving it any stars! Plus, this is all Capcom's doing, not Nintendo's. When it comes to releasing classics, Nintendo sucks. Just look at the overpriced, one game per cartridge "classic" series for Gameboy Advance. Or the Zelda compilation disc for GameCube that doesn't even have the SuperNES Zelda: A Link To The Past. Plus, you HAD to buy a GameCube to even get it.

As for MegaMan fans, this is a must. These game are better than anything recent from the series. MegaMen 1-6 were on the NES. Megaman 7 was on the SuperNES. MegaMan 8 was on the PlayStation. The other two game are arcade titles. It is worth it just for the 8 original games.

The NES MegaMen will set you back around $10-$20 for each NES cartridge. MegaMan 7 (along with the other SuperNES Megamen X, X2, X3) will set you back anywhere from $20-$100 a piece!!!! This compilation is a godsend form Capcom. Nintendo could learn a few things.

I would be exceptionally sorry if I put my name in as a game tester. From my experience, I have never had a more difficult time with the messed up controls than I have with this version. Reversing the jump button as B and fire as A is completely opposite from the original NES controller. Logically, those who have played these games would think that they could come back old hat but find themselves firing or jumping at the wrong times. The "Rapid Fire" button is cumbersome too, since it's not located near the jump button its impossible to do a quick jump shot without completely lifting your thumb off one and onto the other. I nearly wanted to open up the controller and switch the wires that went from one to the other. I think Capcom should apologize and send a "complementary gamecube button converter" that you plug into the end of your controller to switch the functions of the A and B buttons since none is provided in game like the recent X games for PS/PS2. Of course the analog stick is quite inaccurate for diagonal shots and the digital pad is so small to control perfectly. I am sure the PS2 version is more cleverly thought out with its controls. Do yourself a favor, if you have both systems save yourself the headache and get the PS2 version instead.

Like 99% of the reviewers below, I was at first stymied and annoyed by Capcom's choice to make the A button shoot and the B button jump, a set-up that goes against the last 20 years of video gaming.

However, I started to think of the alternative: Since the rapid-fire button is above the fire button, that means if B fired, you'd have to switch fingers to go from single shot to rapid fire. Capcom simply was trying to keep the two fire buttons together, and it works, after a few minutes to get used to it.

Now that that's out of the way, the game: I believe that the first three Mega Man games are three of the best video games of all time, and certainly three of the top 20 platform games ever. The quality starts to slide after that (sometimes in graphics, always in playability), but this disc is worth having for the first three games alone.

The variety is the reason Mega Man is so fun. One screen might be filled with small enemies to attack; scroll over and there's a jumping challenge with disappearing platforms; the next screen has a large mini-boss; then there's a tall obstacle you have to find a way to get over, etc. It's not just mindless, dull jumping and shooting - the levels are expertly designed. The sound and music also stands out. The tunes are insanely catchy, and I love the chirping sound Mega Man makes when he lands after a jump.

Of course the novel idea behind Mega Man is choosing the order of the bosses you fight and using their own weapons against the next boss. Finding out that one weapon that destroys a certain boss when nothing else makes a dent is hugely satisfying.

Overall, this is an awesome package, and it's PRICED RIGHT (see Nintendo's current GameBoy Advance Classics series for an example of how not to price 20-year-old games). (...)

Overall, this collection of Megaman games isn't too bad. There are a few flaws, but the good overshadows the bad.

Most people complain about the controls (with the B button being jump and A being fire). But if you're not giving this game a chance simply because of this, you've given up much too easily. I will concede that the controls should have been customizable, however, it doesn't take long to get used to this setup.

All eight classic Megaman games are here, along with two unlockable bonus games, Megaman Power Fighters and Megaman Power Fighters (previously released only in arcades). While the remixed music from the Playstation 2 version is absent, this version still has the "Navi Mode", which features hints and improved in-game weapon menu graphics for the NES games.

All the games play like their old selves, and while the graphics may be simple, the games are still a lot of fun. I recommend this to anyone who wants an old-school challenge or eight.

OK, so I only played Mega Man 2 on the NES and never got around to playing the other Mega Man series.

I was so excited about the MegaMan Anniversary game and I played Mega Man 2. It is true about the controls, it can be difficult at first, but it takes some getting used to. I tried playing the other games and I'm still having fun with them. I really don't care too much for Mega Man 7 or 8, even though the graphics and the music are better than Mega Man 1-6.

Two things though, where was Mega Man X for the Super Nintendo? And they should have had a control configuration in the options screen.

In Mega Man 2 (this is what I know so far), you don't have to write down the password. The game saves where you left off so I don't think there is a need to write down a password. And you also don't have to go to your weapons screen. You can change your weapons using your L button. (Now I see why people are complaining about the controls LOL)

Other than that, I will continue to play the Mega Man Anniversary.

Mega Man Anniversary Collection contains 10 games from the blue bomber's past. It contains Mega Man 1-6 originaly for the original NES, Mega Man 7 originaly for the Super NES, Mega Man 8 originally for the PlayStation and Sega Saturn, and 2 Mega Man arcade games that were never released in the US before. I am pretty sure all of the games have their original graphics, but they have improved the sound quality.
The disk also contains some extras, some of which are exclusive to the GameCube version of the game and some of which are exclusive to the PS2 version.
If you grew up with these games like I did, this is a must buy. A piece of childhood where graphics were simple and that was just fine with us.

If you grew up with Mega Man games like I did, you are likely salivating at the opportunity to have so many endearingly fun games conveniently on one disc. I sure was. Everything you love about the Blue Bomber is here. The graphics. The music. The non-linear gameplay. These are true masterpieces from the 8-bit and 16-bit eras.

BUT... and this is HUGE... the button layout is incorrect and cannot be reconfigured! Jumping and shooting are controlled exactly opposite of the way they were back when these games were originally released. For the life of me, I can't figure out why Capcom did this. Worst of all, they didn't allow the option to reconfigure to your likings.

I've tried to play these. Believe me, I've tried. But it just doesn't work. What a shame.

I love the mega man games and having them all on one disk is awesome, but somebody made a critical mistake. I played mega man a lot on the NES, and anyone who has gets the button routine down. Now some idiot decided as some joke to flip the controls around. So A shoots and B jumps. And there is no control options. Seriously, how do you mess up a two button game! I cant play it.