Mega Man Anniversary Collection

I played all 6 originals, but only owned 2 thru 5, so it is great to own those that I never had. After playing them again, I just can't believe how wonderful play control is in these original games. I don't think there are any games produced since with control this tight and crisp. I think the original 6 games have better control than 7 and 8.

Some notes on each game:

MM1-This game makes me realize why I don't get upset at games as much anymore. This game is so difficult and frustrating, I still haven't been able to finish it. No E-tanks, no slide, no Megabuster, just jump, run, and shoot.
MM2-This is the first Mega Man game I ever played as a kid. I loved it then and still love it now.
MM3-Probably my favorite of the original 6 games. The tunes are the most memorable. The stages where you face the MM2 robots are quite irritating.
MM4, MM5, MM6-All similar games, all very good but not quite as good as 2 and 3. 4 is probably most difficult, followed by 6 then 5.
MM7 and MM8-I had never played these in the past. I have played both a little, and they are not as good as the NES releases. More modern technology made these much more complicated than the originals. You can't just pick up and play them and expect to get very far.

This is overall a great collection, and I had been waiting for something like this probably since the original Playstation was released.

But for those whose gaming life began with the MegaMan games, this collection is pure heaven. The games, from the controls to the music to the graphics, are exactly the way they've always been. And you don't have to pull any cartridges out to blow the dust out of the connectors. (C'mon, you old-school gamers know EXACTLY what I'm talking about)

I'll be honest: Because of its old-school nature, the collection will NOT live up to the expectations of the younger generation. It will do little to win over anyone who's used to the more aesthetically-appealing games now produced. Don't get me wrong ... the newer games are fun in their own right. But let's not forget where those games came from. History is important, people!

I have comments about a few of the games in particular ---

MegaMan --- This has always been (and it continues to be) the most difficult in the series. No Energy Tanks and no password feature. Those damn cyclops-ish hopping things that can kill you in three or four hits. Those floating platforms on IceMan's stage that also shoot out of both sides have always given me hell. And now it seems that the "pause the game repeatedly to kill difficult bosses" trick no longer works. It didn't for me, at any rate. Still stands out as the starting point of a great franchise.

MegaMan 2 --- *sigh* This is the game that really got me hooked on this series. And even after ten years or so I could still remember what order the levels are supposed to go. Is that sad? I could even whistle along with some of the music.

MegaMan 4 --- ToadMan is too easy. Honestly, if you can't defeat him, you're a loser. Sorry to sound mean, but it's the frikkin' truth.

MegaMan 6 --- FlameMan, on the other hand, is a hard one. His stage and the 'bot himself. Ah, well.

It seems to me that the programmers were probably running out of ideas for the 'bots by the end of the series. I mean, how many names can a robot who is affiliated with fire have, really? FireMan, HeatMan, FlameMan. I guess it's better than the Fire Manatee or whatever it was that showed up in the MegaMan X series.

But I digress.

If you're familiar with the games from your days of youth, pick up this collection. It's a lot of fun to relive your childhood, and you won't even have to go to the hassle of dusting off that old RF adaptor. Hee hee.