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Mega Man 9 intro elicits uninspired headline
We're hoping you'll just watch the video and not really bother with any of the padding we've surrounded it with. But in case you're wondering, we think Mega Man 9's intro sets the tone for the blue bomber's retro-vitalized return just perfectly. Requiring very little in the way of reflexes, it's also the only section we think we'll have mastered by the time the game hits PSN, XBLA and WiiWare. Oh, and did you catch the cute news reader cameo? How about that wascally Dr. Wily's "Swiss Bank" number?[Via Kramez's Blog]
In the year 20XX, Capcom might release more Mega Man
While this is a skip and a hop from being glorious confirmation of more Mega Man, this Comic-Con interview seems to suggest that Capcom is already thinking of follow-ups to Mega Man 9.We can't identify the Capcom developer in the video above, but whoever he is, we like what he's saying -- especially around two-thirds of the way through the video, when our mysterious new hero announces: "Fans will want more Mega Man titles, so I think we'll continue with it, especially after the huge response we're seeing now to Mega Man 9."If you were part of the internet's collective omgasm over Capcom's game (we like to think that we were), pat yourself on the back.
Mega Man 9 bosses are awfully familiar
Mega Man bosses have have essentially followed the same template since the beginning of the series. There are strong ones (Guts Man, Hard Man), elemental ones (Fire Man, Ice Man), and the weird ones (Clown Man? Seriously?). It seems like coming up with original robot designs is as difficult as the Mega Man series itself, as IGN has taken the liberty of introducing us to three of the new bosses to be featured in Mega Man 9. In no particular order, they are Concrete Man, Tornado Man and Magma Man. We'll let you guess which categories they all belong to. Concrete Man can be seen above. Check out the other two after the break (see if you can guess which one is which!).[Via Joystiq]
All eight Mega Man 9 boss sprites revealed
Normally used only for the purpose of gauging exactly how sedentary a gamer's lifestyle is, Xbox 360 Achievements have finally proven their value to the rest of the world -- even the non-360-owning portion -- thanks to Capcom. The icons associated with the Mega Man 9 achievements just happen to be black-and-white renditions of character sprites from the game, including all eight bosses! If partial greyscale sprites are all we can get for now, we'll take 'em! And hastily make a Mega Man 2-style character select screen out of them!As for the achievements themselves, they "reveal" secrets like the fact that Dr. Wily is in the game. Please do not tell us you consider that a spoiler. [Via Destructoid]
Rumor: Mega Man 9 Achievements are evil
If there's one thing you'll see a lot during your stroll through Mega Man 9's trap-laden, pit-filled and exceedingly deadly memory lane, it's the poor little robot boy exploding into a booming bloom of pulsating energy. Unfortunately, there appears to be no achievement for dying one billion times -- at least not in the list of in-game gongs posted by Inside MGC.So, how about beating the game without dying? Or without using energy tanks? How confident are you about defeating every boss using only the standard buster ... or without taking damage? Well, it looks like we'll be going for the WiiWare version of the game after all. We just can't deal with Capcom giving us a retro-wrapped gift with one hand and plucking Xbox 360 Achievements (or PSN Trophies?) out of our grasp with the other. Those meanies![Thanks, Morgon]
IGN shows off three Mega Man 9 bosses
Capcom has fed IGN screenshots featuring three of the 8-bit bosses in the upcoming nouveau retro Mega Man 9. There's apparently some backstory to this ninth fifty-somethingith game in the franchise, but the main point is that Mega Man will go on another killing spree with no care for robot rights. IGN had the opportunity to show off Concrete Man, Tornado Man and Magma Man ... not to be confused with Guts Man, Air Man, and every other fire guy in the series. Tornado Man is above, but check out Concrete Man and Magma Man after the break.%Gallery-28279%
Mega Man 9 achievements are mega tough
Anyone that has been gaming for a while knows that Mega Man is a tough series. Many of the original 8-bit entries in the series remain some of the toughest games around. Capcom looks to be honoring that legacy via the achievements in the upcoming XBLA release Mega Man 9, because these achievements are tough. At least they sound like they are. Among the achievements are feats such as completing the game five times in one day (Gamer's Day), clearing the game without dying (Invincible) and defeating every boss using only Mega Man's default weapon (Trusty Sidearm). Yow. Anyone out there who can land all twelve achievments gets our respect.[Thanks, Anonymous]
A trio of Mega Man bosses are detailed
One of the key aspects to those Mega Man games are boss fights. No, not boss battles, but boss fights. Thanks to IGN, we get an early peek at three of the bosses that our little robotic boy in blue will have to face in his latest adventure, Mega Man 9.Magma Man, Concrete Man and Tornado Man are all highlighted here, including their weapons. Head on over to IGN for the details.See also: Mega Man 9 to flicker like it's 1987%Gallery-26790%
Robots start going wild for Mega Man 9 videos
It is the year 20XX, and the world watches these awesome Mega Man 9 clips. They're a combination of stuff we've seen before -- the amazing intro and the E3 Plug Man levels -- and stuff that hasn't gotten much exposure on video, specifically the Concrete Man demo level (featuring robot elephants that are brutally serious business). And they're nice direct-feed videos, which means that you can hear the music loud and clear and understand just why we're considering a costly import. You can navigate through all the new videos via the sidebar thing on the video player, or hit IGN to see bigger versions. Watch videos, reader! For everlasting peace!%Gallery-26790%
Mega Man 9 soundtrack to Rock(man) Japan soon
Mega Man 9, Capcom's forthcoming platformer that is so 1987 it hurts, is planning to release two soundtracks for the game in Japan this fall.The first of these emerges on September 12th (to coincide with the title's release), and will feature all of the 35 original 8-bit recordings that were created for the game. The second will come out this October 10th, and will contain arranged versions of Mega Man 9's soundtrack. We'd like to import both, if only so we can gaze at that brilliant cover art whenever we feel like it.In related news, the soundtracks will not be falling in line with the retro philosophy that pervades Mega Man 9's development. Instead, they'll both be available on the very modern medium of CD, and not on compact cassette or wax cylinder or anything.%Gallery-26790%
Mega Man 9 getting intentional bugs, flicker
Capcom's going out of its way to make sure its deliciously stale Mega Man 9 offers a true 8-bit experience, bugs and all. The company's Hironobu Takeshita recently told Gamasutra that the download will have the look and feel of a NES-era release, and that things such as sprite flicker have even been included as a -- thankfully optional -- feature. "Yeah, there were some things, like you couldn't have more than three enemies on the screen at once, so we had to make sure that that's how it stayed in our game. In the part with the dragon with the flame, [there should be] flickering, and whatnot," noted the game's producer. "In the options of this game, you can adjust that, unlike the old games. We purposely put some of those old-school bugs into this game, so it does recreate that feel." Now, if only Capcom could emulate blowing into the cartridge we'd be in retro heaven.%Gallery-28279%
Mega Man 9 to flicker like it's 1987
We're beginning to suspect Capcom of tapping our phones, intercepting our emails, and reading our diaries. After learning that it would be possible to play Mega Man 9 using an NES controller (via an adaptor), we foolishly believed that the Blue Bomber's WiiWare comeback could not be any more faithful to Mega Man's 8-bit roots. We were wrong.Capcom's Hironobu Takeshita has revealed that Mega Man 9 will even deliberately recreate bugs found in the first Mega Man titles during the late-1980s -- including the legendary flickering of sprites that plagued the games when the on-screen action became too much for the host platform to handle. You can see some of this flickering in the Mega Man 2 video above.Though sprite flicker will be optional in Mega Man 9, it fascinates us that Capcom would go to the effort of imitating acknowledged flaws, purely for the sake of authenticity. It is madness, and we love it.%Gallery-26790%
Optional 8-bit glitches to reappear in MegaMan 9
Capcom has admitted they are letting in a few optional features for the upcoming downloadable MegaMan 9 that cause us to scratch our heads. Hironobu Takeshita sat down for an in-depth interview with Gamasutra, but we're going to focus on the added features relevant to the game itself.The old MegaMan games didn't allow more than three enemies on-screen at once without the sprites starting to flicker to support them ... this also resulted in slow-down. While we're not sure if the slowdown will be an option to turn on, Takeshita said "you can adjust [sprite flicker], unlike the old games. We purposely put some of those old-school bugs into this game, so it does recreate that feel." At least the sprite flicker option is just that -- an option. We're not sure why you'd want it on, but it's there just in case.
Mega Man 9, 2 coming this September
By way of its staff blog, Capcom USA has revealed that Mega Man 9, its retro revival of the classic series, will be available through Nintendo's WiiWare service as soon as this September. Make sure the ceiling is high enough before you jump for joy, lest you hurt your head. Mega Man 2 for the Virtual Console, which was posted on Europe's VC back in December 2007, is also scheduled to appear in the States in "early September." As for its predecessor, the original Mega Man, Capcom has announced that it will release the game in North America ... tomorrow! See also: More great VC news: Mega Man 1, 2, Earthworm Jim 2 rated%Gallery-26790%[Thanks, Sonic_13!]
Mega Man 9 gets even more authentically retro
Mega Man 9 will feature the graphics, sounds, and gameplay of yesteryear, and Capcom has now confirmed that it will be playable with virtually any old controller that can be slotted into the Wii.This means that the Classic Controller and GameCube pad are both fair game, but here's the best bit: purchase the appropriate adaptor, and you'll be able to die repeatedly while using an original NES controller. As if Mega Man 9 wasn't already looking like the kipper's knickers, it just found a way to get even better.%Gallery-26790%
Rumor: Konami trying its hands at retro revival
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/nintendo/Rumor_Konami_takes_cue_from_Capcom_doing_own_retro_revival'; This is a pretty juicy rumor. Apparently (as evidenced by the image to the right), Konami digs what Capcom's doing with reviving the retro. You know, Mega Man 9 and Bionic Commando: REarmed? Konami is all about it.So, the rumor goes (from the rumor section of the September 2008 issue of EGM) that they're thinking about doing a little bit of reviving to one of their older 2D franchises. Talk around Wii Fanboy HQ has us leaning toward three different franchises that could get the treatment: Rocket Knight Adventures, Zombies Ate my Neighbors and Legend of the Mystical Ninja (Ganbare Goemon). Of these three, we're pretty much leaning toward Rocket Knight Adventures, although some of us would like to see Ganbare Goemon get some love.What's your guess?
Wii Warm Up: Mega Movement
Koji Igarashi obliquely brought up an interesting idea: that the success of Mega Man 9 could kick off a movement of retro-style sequels to popular series. For Castlevania, the appeal is obvious: new games that look like the best Castlevanias, on low budgets. Without exaggerating, such a movement could lead to nothing less than the resurrection of 2D gaming.If it works, is this a good thing for you? Is an explosion of new 2D games worth a graphical regression? Of course, if you're anything like us, 8-bit style is no regression at all. For us, it's completely a step in the right direction.
PS3 Fanboy hands-on: Mega Man 9
[Editor's note: We played the Wii version of this game. If you're worried about the graphics being different for the PS3 version ... you're probably looking at the wrong hands-on article.]Mega Man 2 is my earliest truly memorable gameplay experience, so it's a bizarre feeling to be getting hands-on time with a game that looks identical fifteen years later. Make no bones about it, though. Mega Man 9 looks identical to the old NES games from the series. Capcom said they were taking the series back to its roots, and that's what they've done; difficulty included. If you've never played a NES Mega Man game, firstly -- shame on you! Secondly, you'll probably be confused by Mega Man 9's graphics. These are pixelated 8-bit sprite graphics at their finest. In fact, the game looks like it borrows assets from Mega Man 2. Particularly the forest level, where the background looks almost identical. Speaking of levels, there were only two available and they were both hard as nails. Mega Man 9 is going to make you weep like no modern game has done in years. During the levels I played, Mega Man doesn't have any particularly special abilities. No charge beam and no slide tackle. Rush returns with a spring in his back, letting you reach higher ledges, but that's it. There's no indication whether you'll be able to pick up these skills later in the game or not, but I'm hoping so. Even Mega Man 4 had the charge beam.%Gallery-28416%
E308: Mega Man 9 video lets you start memorizing a level now
Our operative (me) couldn't even get through the Plug Man level featured in the E3 Mega Man 9 demo. The heroes at Gamersyde, however, succeeded in that task, and recorded the event as well. That means a whole level of Mega Man 9 for your viewing pleasure, in only slightly shaky cam-vision. Or at least as much of a level as was available: the bosses were not present in the demo, with only a "Coming Soon" window in their place.We can't embed the video, but we think seeing Mega Man 9 in action is worth having to click on a link.
Mega Man 9 t-shirt will elicit a reaction
Look familiar? Those of who were alive at the time the original Mega Man came out might remember this particular cover. See the resemblance? We doubt the Mega Man 9 artwork above invoke anything but nonchalance from gamers -- you either love it or hate it. In celebration of Mega Man going backwards in time, Capcom got I Am 8-bit artist Gerald de Jesus to create a cover for the blue bomber's upcoming outing. Fortunately, the game will be distributed digitally, so the cover will never see the light of day. That is, unless you plan to buy one of the t-shirts Capcom will be releasing shortly for sale. Nothing says "chick magnet" better than this, baby![Via Joystiq]%Gallery-28416%
