Mega Man 9 Review

By Dan Whitehead Published 29 September, 2008

Solid as a rock.

Version tested: Xbox 360

I usually resist the urge to include snippets from press materials in my reviews, mostly because I like to retain a little fragment of industry mystique. If you knew the scintillating truth of what goes on behind the gilded portcullis of the games business (clue: lots of truffles) where would the magic be? Even so, the letter which accompanied the review code for Mega Man's ninth platform outing is almost too perfect not to share a little.

"We want to HURT YOU," it begins, in alarming fashion. "Mega Man 9 is the hardest game ever," it proclaims. "You will die on every screen. At least a hundred times," the letter continues, now sounding more like a terrorist threat than an invitation to play. "Our goal is to make you cry and give up, not just on the game, or gaming, but life itself."

Crikey. Capcom wants to drive us to suicide, and its weapon of choice is... Retro?

Mega Man 9 is a brand new NES game for the 360, PS3 and Wii. Unlike Capcom's recent digital downloads, this isn't a modernised sequel or remake. It's absolutely, undeniably a NES Mega Man game, right down to the crunchy music, chunky colourful sprites and basic controls. It just happens to have been made in 2008 for today's trio of consoles.

It's also bloody hard. There's a fine line between "hard" and "unfair", though, and it's in the sliver of space between the two that the difference between a good retro game and a bad retro game becomes apparent. Thankfully, Mega Man 9 is a good retro game.

'Mega Man 9' Screenshot 1

Fact: Capcom used over 5000 polygons to make Mega Man look like a flat 8-bit sprite.

Pretty much everything kills you. That's the first thing you learn. Mega Man's energy bar erodes quickly through the slightest contact with the numerous enemies and obstacles, some of which can be blasted away with your weapons (of which, more later) but there are also times when you swear it's impossible to get past a screen unscathed.

To make things extra tough, each impact knocks Mega Man backwards slightly. Just enough to drop him off a ledge, into a deadly pit, or onto some jaggy spiky thing. Mmm, thanks.

Yet when the worst happens, you're always aware it's your fault. Like most great 8-bit titles (or games in the 8-bit style) the game operates like clockwork. Everything is predictable, everything follows a set pattern. Identifying that pattern, and using it to avoid damage, is the throbbing heart of the gameplay. Far from becoming routine, it's a constant tightrope walk, with each new screen bringing fresh hazards to navigate past. Die, and in true sadistic retro style you start the level over again.

While some may justifiably wince at such cruel and arguably outdated design, it's essential for raising the stakes. The game just doesn't tolerate second best, and thus harks back to a time when completing the latest game was a feat you spent weeks or months obsessing over, earning enormous playground respect in the process - not something you absent-mindedly bashed through in a weekend rental.

For those who can stand up to the stiff demands Mega Man brings to the table, there's a huge amount of gameplay here. As is traditional for the series you can choose which order to tackle the game's stages in, and each has a different boss at the end. For the record you'll face Concrete Man, Jewel Man, Hornet Man, Tornado Man, Plug Man, Galaxy Man, Magma Man and, in a monumental blow for gender equality, Splash Woman.

When defeated each boss bequeaths you a new weapon, which then makes attacking the other stages slightly easier than facing them with your default blaster. Magma Man leaves you a bazooka, for instance. Beat Hornet Man and you get the ability to fire swarms of hornets that will home in on enemies. Rest assured, whichever boss you eventually beat first, the weapon you get as a reward will be a lot of fun.

You can also purchase additional items and abilities by collecting screws, and you start with some default assistance from Rush, the robot dog. Summon him and you can jump off his back to higher platforms. Later on, you get the ability to fly with your clanking canine pal.

It takes effort and perseverance to unlock the really useful goodies, but they can make the difference between swearing loudly for the hundredth time at the Game Over screen and actually completing another level. Also unlockable are additional game modes. You start with Time Attack, which offers online leaderboards and is thus perfect for speed-run freaks, and you can later add Endless Attack (survival mode by any other name) and a selection of "special" mini-games to your menu.

'Mega Man 9' Screenshot 2

I hate these rotating platforms so very much. They're also quite awesome. Such is the dichotomy of retro.

The game urges you onwards with a list of 50 challenges, although most of them will make the average gamer's blood run cold. How about beating the game 30 times? That earns you the title of Truly Hardcore. You can even lay claim to being Mr Perfect if you manage to clear the entire game without taking any damage. At all. I'm going to go out on a limb and declare that particular task physically impossible by any mortal human. Go on, prove me wrong, Mr Twitchy Fingers arcade addict.

Given its stated intent to punish the gamer, in order to make those tiny moments of victory taste all the sweeter, it's clearly foolish to criticise Mega Man 9 for its extreme difficulty. This is most definitely a game for players who savour every last pixel-perfect leap, an exercise in precision and dexterity that will leave the average player frustrated and punch drunk.

There will certainly be a large number of people who will view Mega Man's ninth outing as post-modern pandering to hopeless nostalgics. They won't be far wrong, but that's missing the point somewhat. Capcom has crafted a love letter to its own past, and its own fans, that is both effective and generous in satisfying its peculiar niche audience.

8 / 10

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Picture of Dan.

About Dan Whitehead

Dan has been writing for Eurogamer since 2006 and specialises in RPGs, shooters and games for children. His bestest game ever is Julian Gollop's Chaos.

Read more articles from Dan by visiting the Dan Whitehead archive page.

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Comments (75) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Byzanite #1 3 years ago

    Do you get an achievement for dying the most?

  • Dizzy #2 3 years ago

    This is madness!

  • Meho #3 3 years ago

    Sounds like it would drive me insane in a jiffy... 'fraid I am too old and slow to eve try to play this... If Contra 4 on DS is anything to go buy, hard games these days just remind me how crap I was at games in the eighties and that save anywhere mechanic was invented for the people like me. But, all that said, hats off to Capcom for being hardcore in a pretty good way...

  • mikeck #4 3 years ago

    "You can even lay claim to being Mr Perfect if you manage to clear the entire game without taking any damage. At all."

    Pah, easy right?! Ahem...

    This game would frustrate the hell out of me far too much to be enjoyable I think.

  • robg #5 3 years ago

    Are the controls decent?

  • trav #6 3 years ago

    Mega Man doesn't love you. He mocks you. He laughs everytime you get hit and fall down that pit.

    He laughs because he knows that no matter what punishment he gives you, you'll always come back for more.

    Mega Man is EVIL!

  • septimus #7 3 years ago

    Some shit needs to stay in the past. Including this.

    I just can't understand why I would want to buy this after playing the demo. There are so many good games out right now, download and retail, what is the point?

  • onyxbox #8 3 years ago

    I finished the Demo (PS3) and thought it was pretty tough, that f'ing elephant with a ball !

    I might pick this up on Wii, as the controller feels proper NES like and they've got Megaman 2 on the shopping channel too.

    Anyone know how well this controls on a 360 pad? And does the 360 version have Achievements?

  • dr_faulk #9 3 years ago

    Gotta love those mega man sprites!

  • pommak #10 3 years ago

    Really fun game and the difficulty feels really good. Took couple nights for me and my friend to get to all bosses, and so far we've managed to down one. Surely we'll get the rest soon as they get quite much easier once you manage to get more weapons. Now we just need to figure out which boss will die with that weapon...

    9/10 game for me.

    @robg The controls feel almost like original at least with PS3's pad. You can use digital or analog stick, whichever feels better. I prefer digital but my friend uses analog.

  • miiiguel #11 3 years ago

    "Anyone know how well this controls on a 360 pad? And does the 360 version have Achievements?"

    Every 360 game has Achievements, why this would be diferent? Anyway..., it has. They went public long ago.

  • onyxbox #12 3 years ago

    I think it's a great style, they did the right thing with this and I hope they do more games in the 'old' style.

    There's also something to be said about the precision found when you play an old school 2D sprite game, the new 2.5D stuff feels a bit too fluffy at times.

    edit: couldn't spell precision
    Edited by 1 at 29/09/08 @ 11:37

  • onyxbox #13 3 years ago

    Anyway..., it has.

    So Achievements in this game really are achievements.

  • miiiguel #14 3 years ago

    Jitterbug (20 points)
    Clear the game in 60 minutes or less.

    Invincible (30 points)
    Clear the game without dying.

    Almost Invincible (20 points)
    Clear the game without continuing.

    No Coffee Break (10 points)
    Clear the game without using any Energy or Mystery Tanks.

    Peacekeeper (20 points)
    Clear the game by defeating the fewest number of enemies possible.

    Conservationist (20 points)
    Clear the game by using the least amount of Weapon Energy possible.

    Gamer's Day (20 points)
    Clear the game 5 times in 1 day.

    Whomp Wily! (5 points)
    Clear the game once.

    Destroyer (20 points)
    Defeat your 1000th enemy.

    World Warrior (5 points)
    Defeat every type of enemy.

    Trusty Sidearm (20 points)
    Defeat the 8 Bosses with the Mega Buster.

    Blue Bomber (10 points)
    Defeat a Boss without getting damaged.



    good luck! ;)
    Edited by 1 at 29/09/08 @ 11:42

  • menage #15 3 years ago

    Bought it, just because I love Megaman 2 so much, this seems raher nifty.

    Oh and I didn't die on every screen, do I get a a medal? Now to figure out which boss needs to go down first.

  • sickpuppysoftware #16 3 years ago

    I tried the PS3 demo of this and to be honest I'd have had more fun if I'd just mashed the controller into my nuts instead.

    It's everything that was bad about retro gaming with very little of the good stuff. Instant deaths that you have to experience whilst you memorise the attacks, restarting from way back, crappy graphics just because they want it to look old (I love 2D art but when you deliberately make something blocky you had better have a great art style, this doesn't) and more evilness that my brain must have blanked out for me.

    When I deleted it I hit the button extra hard in the hope it would delete it hard enough to remove every trace.

    Get one of the old retro collections instead, they are often around this price and there's guaranteed to be at least 5 games in the collection that shit on this from a great height.

  • Moz #17 3 years ago

    hummm the graphics are alittle too retro for my liking fair enough if it was one of the old mega mans, but would have prefered nice hd 2d renders for a new game

  • yupyup #18 3 years ago

    For some reason, I don't think "Solid as A Rock" is a good slogan for our company when we are trying to shed that whole "middle eastern fiasco."

  • chub #19 3 years ago

    I read on Wikipedia that the Wii version is getting DLC in October to make the game even harder. Yes, just in case the game isn't hard enough already, you can pay more to make it so.

  • Zelos #20 3 years ago

    ...when completing the latest game was a feat you spent weeks or months obsessing over, earning enormous playground respect in the process...

    That's a telling quote, I think. I'm not at school any more, I'm not looking for playground respect. I'll definitely skip this one.

  • kinky_mong #21 3 years ago

    Reading this review just made what Yahtzee said in last weeks Zero Punctuation ring even more true. There's a reason why certain parts of retro games are all but non-existent in modern gaming and that's because they were frustratingly pointless and ruined the experience.

    I won't be buying this.

  • LazyDan #22 3 years ago

    One of the best games of the year for me, brilliant! I feel like I'm five again playing it. Ohhh the good old days...

  • Mayhem64 #23 3 years ago

    @Chub - probably just as well, I've already heard there's one video out there of someone completing the game without taking any damage...

  • Steroyd #24 3 years ago

    I'd feel ripped off at the fact that hey're charging as much as bloody BCR.

    I can't get over the Nes graphics, would have appreciated Snes more.

  • dancingphil #25 3 years ago

    Can you save your progress in this?

  • Der_tolle_Emil #26 3 years ago

    Game of the year for me. Absolutely brilliant in every way. The presentation, gameplay and feel are all spot on. I enjoy a good challenge and Mega Man 9 offers a lot of that. Call me insane but I would give this a 10/10.

    This is one of the best sequels in any series ever. This should feel incredibly outdated but that's simply not the case. It feels fresh yet so familiar. Mega Man 2 is almost 20 years old and yet Mega Man 9 - which is clearly based on Mega Man 2 and even discarding some of the later enhancements to the gameplay - manages to deliver pure and challenging gameplay. The only thing retro about this game is the presentation - the gameplay is more than up to modern standards easily surpassing a vast majority of today's games.

  • Tonka #27 3 years ago

    LOL!

    You have taken screenshots from Megaman 2 and put them in the review.

  • Arwin #28 3 years ago

    Nice reminder of how far we've come by putting this next to Mario Galaxy or Little Big Planet ... :) Wonder if we'll see megaman themed levels in LBP now, there's sure to be bits that could be an inspiration.

  • viper_h #29 3 years ago

    These 2d spamfests can go suck a dick. Give me Donkey Kong Country 4 or Mario World 3.

  • coomber #30 3 years ago

    It's amazing to see just how successful a well-oiled PR machine can be. This game is clearly a crock of shit, but bit of persuading here and there, and you people will lap up any old crap.

  • El_MUERkO #31 3 years ago

    "Fact: Capcom used over 5000 polygons to make Mega Man look like a flat 8-bit sprite."

    i couldn't see him in that image for a very long time

  • Tonka #32 3 years ago

    LOL!

    You forgot to put this review in the RETRO section..

  • mingster #33 3 years ago

    o come on manic miner was the best platform game ever...
    and it used the same pixel perfect jump or die mechanic.
    this is a marmite game for 8 bit lovers.. you either do or you don't.

  • menage #34 3 years ago

    @Kinky mong

    Yatzee should pull his joypad out of his ass if he really had that much difficulty completing BC on easy. the levels were freaking 3 minutes long.

  • Artemis_Matsas #35 3 years ago

    What a load of crap. Tried the demo and deleted it as fast as i could. Going to the dentist is more fun than this game.

  • Arsian #36 3 years ago

    I'm sorry but companies like Capcom and the like have been doing this for to many years. You games journos should be ashamed.

    For every next gen console all you harp on about are re-issues of old sh*t, like this, like Mario Kart etc.....giving praise to companies who just release the same game over and over with a couple of graphical fixes.

    By this reckoning EA's Fifa should be top of you wish list every year!

    Now pack it in and start campaigning for some original ideas please.

  • Ninja_Tino #37 3 years ago

    Wow. Sure are some angry people here. I'm not quite sure everyone knows what Capcom was trying to accomplish but whatever.

  • superjag86 #38 3 years ago

    This just makes me realise how AWESOME Bionic Commando Rearmed is!

  • Skurmedel #39 3 years ago

    Ninja_Tino: It's easy, it's like every other review thread. Some people doesn't like the game and thus other people isn't allowed to either.

  • Bluetooth #40 3 years ago

    Capcom are just lazy cunts.

    "We're making Mega Man in 3D, time to fire up 3ds max, Hiro!"

    "We have a million sprite graphic files on here. Shall I just use those instead?"

    "You're right! Game done! The boss will be proud that we finished it 2 years ahead of schedule!"

  • Joppers #41 3 years ago

    @ dancingphil

    Yes!

  • Daryoon #42 3 years ago

    Hopefully this will start a new trend of MODERN RETROISM.

    I haven't brought a new game for ages, because they're just not interesting me anymore. MegaMan, however, was an absolute MUST.

  • MrWonderstuff #43 3 years ago

    Retro is the new cool. I'm not cool. Next...

  • menage #44 3 years ago

    @Bluetooth

    Hey, at least they didn't do it the Sega way, like anally rape it, in 3D.

  • Lim-Dul #45 3 years ago

    Fact: Capcom used over 5000 polygons to make Mega Man look like a flat 8-bit sprite.

    Surely, you mean over 9000? :-D

  • Oh-Bollox #46 3 years ago

    I'm going to buy this now. People railing against it in this thread have decided it for me.

  • Darren #47 3 years ago

    I tried this game last night and absolutely hated it. It's old-school level design which forces you learn where enemies are rather than relying on subtle signposting instantly put me off. It's just a horrible, horrible game IMO.

  • That_Happy_Cat #48 3 years ago

    That review letter has Leo written all over it!

  • Krelle #49 3 years ago

    I hated this game for 45 min. Just too "hardcore" for me.
    Anyway, I struggled thru and beat the game in 5hours.
    And I SUCK at videogames. Im really worthless.

    So, bottomline, this game is not AT ALL as hard as people say it is. It just makes you feel worthless and sucky the first hour or so.
    Edited by 1 at 29/09/08 @ 13:55

  • Darren #50 3 years ago

    If a game doesn't grab me in the first 15 to 60 minutes (depending on the type of game it is) then I know it's not for me. Mega Man 9 is one such game. It's contains everything I despise about retro game design from having played these things in the 80s and early 90s; I have absolutely no desire to relive them, thank you!

  • Tetsuo_Shima #51 3 years ago

    I'm lucky enough still to have Mega Man 1 for my NES, fucking brilliant game. Even if it's nothing more than a remixed version of that then I'm well in, the real draw of these games is how you can always turn around and say to yourself 'You know what, that was my fault I died there. A different approach to this section next time might turn out better' rather than relying on luck and hoping the enemy isn't going to draw a bead on you like most of these shooter games these days.

  • wizbob #52 3 years ago

    Moaning milquetoasts and pantywaists! How does this stack up against NSMB? Because that was perfect for me, any harder and I would not enjoy it. I'm also really curious about the restrictions they used; surely with modern tools and processing power they were able to squeeze more into this game despite the graphical limitations - what about physics, particles, AI, etc?

  • spekkeh #53 3 years ago

    I hate this game. But I love hating it.

    It's actually about the only retrogame that I've played that holds up after twenty years. You just know it's going to be about pixel perfect jumping, trying to figure out patterns and the best order to beat the bosses. Somehow that makes me able to forgive all that. That said, the first hour in it's still frickin hard, much harder than I remember from my NES days. But it could be that all the mindless waggle minigames debilitated me
    Edited by 1 at 29/09/08 @ 16:08

  • Der_tolle_Emil #54 3 years ago

    wizbob: It's a NES game in every single aspect. The music even drops instruments when sound effects are played because they use the same effects channel. The sprites even flicker when there's too much happening on the screen (although you can turn that off if it bothers you).

  • Lim-Dul #55 3 years ago

    When it comes to the game being hard. On one hand I agree BUT on the other hand it just goes to show what pussies we, gamers - even the self proclaimed hardcore (hardcore my ass) ones - have become after the industry decided that games should carter for everyone. Even blind 80-year olds.
    I mean - I fired up some SNES classics after taking a long break from emulation and I KNOW that I could beat some of these while playing with my feet back when I was 12 or so... Nowadays I can barely make it through them without extensive save-state usage (a form of cheating, if you will =).

  • bonker #56 3 years ago

    "You will die on every screen. At least a hundred times," the letter continues, now sounding more like a terrorist threat than an invitation to play. "Our goal is to make you cry and give up, not just on the game, or gaming, but life itself."

    Sounds like Dead Rising :)

  • smelly #57 3 years ago

    "Sounds like Dead Rising :) "

    +1!!!

  • darc #58 3 years ago

    "Truly Hardcore" = "Truly Unemployed Insomniac".

  • cyber_nicco #59 3 years ago

    Ha ha ha. As long as you first say your game is stupidly hard, then you can't criticize them for it?

    What if they tell you it is crap, are you then not allowed to say that, either?

  • JamesBrophy #60 3 years ago

    I really loved mega man x on the snes, as much as I wanted to I Really couldn't get into the earlier games and the ultra punishing mechanics of yesteryear. I'm glad that they are producing games for the niche hardcore market. I'm also Really glad I read the review before I wasted money on it, played it two or three times and never went near it again. If they don't make the difficulty known to the average person looking at it through wii ware; then the detach rate is going to be Huge for it. Everyone remember the statistic for people not finishing 70 percent of there games? Games like this are the reason. It's only fair to let the punters know Before they part with there cash.
    Edited by 1 at 29/09/08 @ 22:51

  • spacenugget #61 3 years ago

    Sounds like a lot of people are afraid of a little effort to get rewards.
    I'm half ways through replaying Flashback on the Snes and the feeling of acomplishment when you reach the password screen is intense. I refused to emulate as quick saves really destroy some games. So I tracked down a copy. Some games become great when the save points, lives, health etc are taken away. This sounds right up my street as I bought too human and saw the ending in two days and will never forget my first play through of gears of war, where myself and buddy didnt die ONCE for the whole co-op campain. We were playing through on insane the other day and both agreed we should have had the difficulty up from the start.

    I honestly belive that when you take away duel anolouge (my spelling is terrible) controls and guns 90% of gamers suck.
    Buy this and get some new skills, I hope for the day to arrive when 2D is back in full force so we can enjoy the best of both worlds.

    Im now finished rambling

  • Obiwanshinobi #62 3 years ago

    Retro is the new cool. I'm not cool. Next...

    Next is the new casual, casual was the new emo, emo was the new sissy...
    Shame it's not coming on PC. Pretty much every single one pile of junk should handle it.

  • DFawkes #63 3 years ago

    The one make or break thing for me, bizarre and petty as it is, is the precise level intro sound. The Mega Man 2 one was perfect, then they broke it in every sequel.

    I genuinely couldn't believe it when I played it to find they had indeed restored my favourite sound ever. It's like Capcom have been spying in my brain. Though they obviously missed the "shit at games" bit. I'm stuck on about screen 3 of the demo, but I still want the game so I can be stuck on the other 7 levels too.

  • jammyj #64 3 years ago

    8/10 for a NES game that's designed to be too hard for most? Okay...;)

  • Mayhem64 #65 3 years ago

    Nah, not THAT hard at least... I was on the Wily levels in under two hours of play. Now those on the other hand...!

  • muscleblade #66 3 years ago

    I knew Darren was going to hate it. He dont like the challenge in games. I need a challenge to be entertained though.
    Edited by 1 at 30/09/08 @ 15:35

  • X #67 3 years ago

    Looking forward to buying this on the 360 tomorrow. Played the trial on the PS3 while I wait but still going for that version.

  • Wildsleven #68 3 years ago

    must get!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • saku_luk #69 3 years ago

    little cheaper and Ill buy it.... ~_~

  • Collymilad #70 3 years ago

    I love all these people saying that gamers are "pussies" now, etc etc.

    Why exactly should games be extremely hard? They should be challenging. The average gamer doesn't need this level of difficulty to get a sense of accomplishment and there's nothing wrong with that.

    I play games to have fun as do most other people, all you retro-grade-insane-dificulty lovers can stick it up your arse if you don't like it

    Games like this just need to die.

  • Wildsleven #71 3 years ago

    @collymilad

    to be completly fair this game is not too hard, agree its different with different ppl, what i can say is, when u get used to it and get a bit better at it. If u can, u will enjoy the game sooo much more.

    well if this game isnt for you just leave this it alone, megaman is known for its diffuclty, im glad capcom didnt change the aspect cos of some ppl who cant suck it up, peace brother :)

    ps there are much harder megaman games out there, hope this helps lol

  • famous_roy #72 3 years ago

    This is one of the greatest games I've played this year. I rate it as high as Geo Wars 2 in terms of quality and addictiveness. The level design is ingenious, the music instantly classic and memorable, and finally the look and feel is so spot on and coherent. People who complain about the difficulty are simply spoilt by too much hand holding in games of late.

    This is a truly excellent, classic game - to pass it by because you're too lazy to actually improve on a game, then its your own massive loss.

  • famous_roy #73 3 years ago

    By the way - Space nugget is spot on. People getting so vehementally angry over a game like this is testamant to how a lot of gamers today are qute simply close minded and stubborn when they're moved slightly our of their comfort zone of 'guns, space marines, football, tutorials''.

  • dcangel #74 3 years ago

    "post-modern pandering to hopeless nostalgics"

    Couldn't agree more. Nostalgia is a great feeling, until you cast an eye over the object of your nostalgic adoration and realise that, with the pink fog of time stripped away, it isn't nearly as amazing as you remembered. And in this way another wonderful past experience is forever tarnished by the cold and unforgiving light of the present day.

    IMO, anyway.

    I'm generally too lazy to play really hard games (Ikaruga was a notable exception) so I'll probably give MM9 a miss. I'm sure lots of people will love it, and fair play to them.

  • Nikanoru #75 3 years ago

    This thread, for me, has separated the real gamers, nay, worthwhile persons who can understand and appreciate good things for what they are (in terms of both graphics and gameplay), from the shallow 12 year old fucking shitheads who only want to press a button to make things explode on the screen.