Mega Man Powered Up

About twenty years ago, Mega Man hit the scene and pretty much invented a style of gameplay that the series continues to use even today. This is more than just a remake, this is a completely revamped version of a classic game. Mega Man is often ranked as one of the best NES games out there. Now it's been remade on your PSP. While I have to admit I miss the original NES version, this version is really good in its own right.

There are two modes to play in this game. A mode that allows you to play through the original game where everything is just about the same (only the looks have changed) and a new style mode where some levels have been redesigned, two new bosses join the mix and there are some interesting secrets to unearth.

For those who loved the NES version, playing the game in the normal style mode is a treat. You'll get to relive the first Mega Man game ever in a whole new light. You might also want to try the new style as well. That's like a whol new experience all together. For one, Capcom added two new bosses to the mix. Oil Man and Time Man. Now I know what you're thinking, "What Godawful names for bosses." If that IS you, allow me to remind you that this is the FIRST Mega Man game and that in this re-release Capcom still wants to maintain that classic feel. Adding these two gives a new experience to the game. This means there are actually two new levels to play as well. And of course, you can save your game (isn't that so much better than having to complete it in one sitting?).

What's also interesting is that if you defeat a boss without using a special weapon, you unlock that boss as a character! Each boss has their own unique weapon and abilities. There are some items in levels that Mega Man is unable to reach. But some of the boss characters might be able to reach it. The only problem with playing as a boss is there are moments where they're severely handicapped. Where as Mega Man is a well rounded character, most of the playable boss characters aren't. Their attacks might be useless on some enemies, for example.

Still, that's not such a bad thing. Capcom also added difficulty levels to this game. For the hardcore Mega Man fan who couldn't get enough of this already hard game, why not try your hand at Hard Mode? An adjustible difficulty level is just what Mega Man needs.

There's also a challenge mode introduced here. A mode where you can play as Mega Man and the bosses again. The game--honestly speaking--isn't long. The challenge mode here is though. There are about 100 levels and they'll keep you busy for a while if the main game just becomes boring. There are bosses to fight in challenge mode as well.

Perhaps the most rewarding thing in this entire package is the ability to be able to design your own level. It's not hard to get used to, but it takes a lot of time to design the perfect level. When you have designed that level though, you can put it online. Even better, you can download levels that others have created and have a blast. This gives a whole new experience to Mega Man.

Where the game will definitely be a hit or miss is the graphics. Does Mega Man Powered Up look good? Sure it does. It looks fantastic. But it also looks a little too cute for the average gamer. I'll be honest, Mega Man really does look like a baby. The cuteness of this game, for some gamers, could be an all out turn off. And that's really sad because it is a very fun and rewarding gaming experience.

So the game is good. It's fantastic. There are times when I'm still nostalgic for the NES original, but a re-release isn't so bad. The cute look of this game might be a turn off to some gamers, but it is, for the most part, a great gaming experience for old fans and a great introduction for new fans.

The Good

+A Classic Game

+There are now cutscenes to flesh out the story

+Same addictive gameplay

+Great Graphical Overhaul...

+Play as the boss characters

+New game modes!

+New level designs

+Design your own levels

The Bad

-Playing as the bosses can be annoying

-Despite how great these graphics are, the "cute" look will definitely turn some people away.

I'm a pretty big Mega Man fan, and I really liked this game. It's a very good Mega Man game, a good platformer, and it has a ton of cool features.

The story in this game is like that of the original Mega Man game for the Nintendi Entertainment System(NES). The evil dr. Wily has stolen all of dr. Light's(Mega Man's creator) robots, and is using them to do his evil doings. You play as Mega Man, and it's your job to stop him.

The graphics are awesome, and they're all rendered in 3D, just like the other Mega Man game on the PSP(Maverick Hunter X). They're all cartoonish, and all of the character designs are great, too. However, some people might really hate the graphics. Why? well, all of the characters look really cute. That is, they have little bodies, big heads, cute voices, etc. I didn't really mind this, but people who hate cute-ish things like this may not like the game. But if this does not bother you, don't worry about the graphics.

The gameplay is everything you'd want from a Mega Man game. You start out with only the standard Mega Buster weapon, and after you defeat each boss, you get their weapon. For example: Cutman's weapon is a pair of scissors that goes out and hits your enemies, then returns to you like a boomerang. Fireman's weapon is a fireball which explodes on contact, etc. There is also platforming, which is also like any other Mega Man game, involving you jumping on platforms, over spikes and chasms, etc. However, the biggest asoect of the game is the difficulty. There are three levels of difficulty, easy, normal, and hard. However, they're all very difficult, and you'll lose a lot of times. People who don't like difficult games will be turned down by this, but many others will find it as a big attribute to the game.

Fans of the original Mega Man game will be happy to know that there are two playable versions of the game. One is a version that has all of the levels of the original Mega Man game, done in the new graphics. That's right, all of these levels are designed exactly like the old levels. People who played the oroginal game will like this feature very much. The other version of the game is the new Mega Man version. Speaking of level designs, you can also design your very own level and play it yourself, or put it up on the internet for other people to play! You can even play the levels other people made! The level editor is also very easy to control. You can put all kinds of obstacles, enemies, blocks, and other things on the level you're going to built. This is an awesome feature, and will keep you preoccupied for a while.

Now, onto the features I mentioned earlier. One of the biggest features is the fact that you'll actually be able to play as the bosses! You can obtain them if you defeat them by using only the Mega Buster weapon. Every one of the bosses has his own specific weapon, and also a special ability. For example, Cutman is able to jump on walls, Gutsman is able to create blocks on which he can walk, etc. These special abilities help you get to new areas in levels to which you can't get to as Mega Man. Overall, playing as the bosses is very fun, but playing as them can get kind of tough, because they still have their weaknesses, and it can get kind of iritating at times. However, it is a pretty satisfying experience overall.

There is also a feature called the Challenge Mode. It consists of 100 challenges which get progressively harder. They range from doing things like jumping on some platforms to get to an area, to defeating enemies in a certain amount of time, and so on. However, the ones I mentioned are very simple ones, and the later ones are much more difficult and complex.

In conclusion, this is a great addition to the series, and it should please fans and newcomers. It should also keep you preoccupied for a long time, because of the great diffculty, and the tons of new features. If games like this keep coming up, the future looks bright for the PSP

Being a longtime Mega Man fan for countless years, I simply had to pick up this game for the PSP. In case you didn't know, Mega Man Powered Up is a remake of the classic 5-bit NES original, but still captures that old school feeling, while keeping its own style and substance. The graphics have been given a 3D makeover, but the game play stays the same: run through levels, defeat the main boss, and receive the main boss's power/ability. Players are also given the choice to play two different versions of the game.

In the Powered Up version, there is more story and background, which also reveals the origins of Mega Man and his arch-nemesis, Dr. Wily. In addition, the original soundtrack has been remixed and the level designs have been slightly tweaked. You can even play as the main robot masters (e.g. Cut Man) if you fight and defeat them with just the regular buster weapon. Using their powers and abilities will enable you to retrieve hidden items. For example, Guts Man's lifting abiltity may help you reach a certain spot that you couldn't reach before. Finally, there are two extra bosses never-before-seen in any Mega Man game: Oil Man and Time Man!

The Old School version allows you to play in the tradition of the classic Mega Man games on the NES, while keeping the new 3D look. Unlike the Powered Up version, the original NES game soundtrack is restored. The levels are also as they originally were. However, you cannot play as any of the robot masters and there is no Oil Man or Time Man. Still, purists and die hard fans of the franchise will not be disappointed!

Whether you're familiar or new to the Mega Man series, this is an excellent game for everyone! You can even set the difficulty level to Easy, Normal, or Hard, which makes it playable even for younger children. An outstanding job by Capcom, indeed!

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