Retro Thursday - MegaMan X4

Hello and Welcome.

This week's Retro Thursday we will talk about one of my Favorites: MegaMan X4.

 

X4 was the first entry on the PlayStation and brought with it a few new conventions.  For one, X and Zero grew a little taller, and had more of a contemporary anime look to their sprites. It also added anime cut-scenes to tell key parts of the 'story'.  The most notable feature however, is the ability to play the entire game as Zero.

X4 Opening Cinematic

Aside from these extra features, X4 was pretty much more of the same:  8 Maverick Bosses with the same weakness systems that made MegaMan great, X's upgradeable armor, and chargeable enemy weapons.

Despite all that, or maybe because of, this is my favorite MegaManX game.  Playing as X is fun as always, due to the ability to upgrade, but Playing the game again (or the first time) as Zero is where I got the most challenge and enjoyment.

Zero's arsenal consists of different sword attacks gleaned from defeated Mavericks.  All of these sword attacks are (obviously) melee attacks, so you can't attack from a safe distance like X.  It makes for a challenging and rewarding combat for sure.

X4 is available as part of the MegaMan X collection for PS2 and GameCube (it's probably less than $20 at your local game retailer).  The collection also has X1-3 and 5-6, plus two games that were released only in Japan.  I think it is MegaMan cart racing or something silly like that.

Anyway, pick it up, woop up on Sigma with Zero.  You won't be sorry.

~K

Unplugged Wednesday - Video Game Halloween costumes (Ok, its really cosplay..)

Hello and Welcome.

So this week, I thought we could talk about what everyone is going to be for Halloween.  I was thinking about going as something Video Game related so I started looking for Ideas.

Then I stumbled on this:

 

Wow, that is a pretty amazing costume.  MegaMan helmet, mega buster, THAT LIGHTS UP.   This kid is so awesome.

So I thought, Hey, I could do something like this right?  Just change the scale a bit, and it would work great.  And so I found this:

So it looks like Mega Man is out.  I mean, I don't want to look like this fool.  Maybe I will just carve my Pumpkin to look like Mega Man.

Ok, my list of Ideas right now are:

• Castle Crasher Knights 
• Gordon Freeman (Half Life, I would have to grow my beard back though...)
• King of All Cosmos (Katamari).
• Cervantes (Soul Calibur, ok it's just a glorified pirate....)

Those are what I have so far.  Any other Ideas?  Votes?

Freeplay Friday - Mega Man: The Power Battle

Hello and Welcome.

This FreePlay Friday is going to give relief to all of you stressing about Mega Man 9.  Get ready for some Mega Man : The Power Battle.

The Power Battle was originally released as an arcade game in Japan.  It was packaged as part of the Mega Man Anniversary Collection (along with its sequel) on the PS2 and GCN.

And now you can play it FREE on gametap.   It requires the Gametap client and a small download, but it is completely free once you get that set up.  And it runs on crappy machines like my laptop.

The Game itself is pretty simple.  Rather than progress through a long (sometimes frustrating) stage to fight the boss, you immediately fight the boss.  Plus you get unlimited continues and ressurect in battle with the boss at the same level of health, so it is pretty easy.  Think of it like an Anti-Mega Man 9.  If you get frustrated with MM9, boot it up and woop up on some Master Robots.

You can play as Mega Man, Proto Man, or Bass.   The style of the game looks just like Mega Man 7, and you can play 3 different worlds.  Mega Man 1-3, 4-6, and 7.  Each World has 6 Robot Masters from the Various games and  a Dr. Wiley stage at the end.

You still get the bosses power after a battle, and they can be used to defeat other bosses more easily.

I highly recommend a controller for this, as it is very difficult on the keyboard (carpal tunnel?).

So, give it a try and show those robot masters that you aren't afraid of them (just their hideouts....)

~K

DLC Monday: MegaMan 9

Hello and Welcome.

Wow, I love Mega Man.  Loved it since I saw that atrocious box art and knew I had to play it.  So this week I decided to talk about the recently released : MegaMan 9.

Love that box art, huh?  Capcom opted for a retro look to MegaMan 9, rather than the anime-esque approach of 7 and 8.  Keiji Inafune (and much of the original MegaMan team) wanted people to experience MegaMan in all it's simple and original glory.  Removing things like the Charged shot, and the slide, MegaMan 9 is MegaMan in the purest form.

One of the things that MegaMan 9 returns to, is the blistering difficulty of the original games.  Actually, its more than the difficulty of original games.  The original difficulty of MegaMan was a combination of the limits of programming and graphics.  MegaMan 9 is intentionally difficult at times.  It lulls you into a false sense of saftey, then attacks when you have no hope (or chance) of salvation.  Don't take my word for it, check out this video:

Mega Man 9 'Game Center CX' clip

The music in this game is as good as any of the classics, MegaMan 2 and 3 not withstanding. (the Video above should give you a good idea.)

Capcom finally decided to be "progressive" and stray away from all this "Man" business.  Instead of 8 "Man" robots, they included one "Woman" robot.  Splash Woman to be exact.  She's a mermaid. Progressive right?

Another new feature of MegaMan 9 are the "Challenges".  These are feats(similiar to Xbox Live achievements) that accomplish nothing but bragging rights.  Some of the achievements for the XBLA version are derived from these.  For a least of Challenges check here.   Achievements here.

The last new feature I will talk about is the availability of DLC(for a DLC game?) .  The confirmed list includes Proto-Man as a playable character, as well as some additional modes, mostly higher difficulties (like we need that...)

Well, I am going to go back to trying to defeat the 8 Master (er, 7 master, and one Mistress?) Robots.  Luckily I have two controllers (in case I break one...)

~K