Mega Man 10 (Wiiware) Review

Posted by Justin Weinblatt on 03.09.2010

Capcom turns back the clock once again to bring us a new NES title in 2010. Will the simple design that worked in 1987 captivate gamers of 2010?


Title: Mega Man 10
Publisher: Capcom
Developer: Inti Creates, Capcom
Genre: Platformer
Players: 1
Rated: E

You young whipper-snappers don’t realize how easy you have it. Back in my day we didn’t have these fancy HD graphics or dual analog sticks. We had 8 bits and two dimensions, and we were damn grateful for it. And none of that namby pamby infinite respawning either. We started with three lives and the second we touched anything sharper than a blade of grass one of them was gone. I tell you kids, they don’t make them like this anymore.

It’s been a little over a year since we last saw the Blue Bomber and apparently all is not well in the world of Mega Man. A virus outbreak is causing robots to go rogue and wreak havoc. While Dr. Light teams up with long time rival Dr. Wily to create a cure, Mega Man (or Proto Man, who is also a playable character) goes on a mission to bring down the renegade robots.


Choose Proto Man. He has shades.

I’m sure most gamers are familiar with the Mega Man formula by now, but for the sake of thoroughness I’ll go over it briefly. As the game starts you’ll choose from one of 8 robot master stages. You’ll proceed through the stage blasting enemies, jumping over bottomless pits, and avoiding all sorts of nasty obstacles. At the end of each stage you’ll fight a robot master and if you defeat him you’ll add his unique weapon to your arsenal. Once you’ve beaten all 8 robot masters you’ll open up a new set of levels, leading up to the game's final boss.

As mentioned earlier you have a choice in heroes this time around. Mega Man keeps things simple with only two moves, jump and fire. Proto Man can slide, charge his arm cannon, and deflect projectiles with his shield, but he takes more damage than Mega Man. Whichever character you choose, you’ll traverse the same levels and acquire the same powers.

In addition to choosing between characters you’ll also be able to choose between three different difficulty settings. Normal mode will provide a strong challenge even for veterans, easy mode is suitable for younger or less experienced gamers, and hard mode (which will only be unlocked after completing the normal difficulty) is strictly for the hardcore. Each mode features slight changes in level design and enemy placement. Enemies will also change their attack patterns, becoming more deadly and aggressive as you move up the difficulty ladder.

Mega Man 10 features some very strong level design. Each stage feels unique with its own enemies and obstacles. Blade Man’s stage takes you through a medieval style castle with floating axes threatening to turn Mega Man into Ichabod Crane. Nitro Man’s stage has Mega Man crossing a highway against oncoming traffic. Strike Man has a rather bizarre sports theme which features enemy pitching machines, rocket propelled soccer balls, and a boss battle with a living soccer net.


GOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAL!!!

Experienced Mega Man players should be able to finish the game in an afternoon. Once you finish the main quest you can take on any of 88 mini-levels called challenges. You may have to make it past a room of enemies without using your arm cannon, complete a series of tough jumps, or clear out a room using a particular boss weapon. There’s also time trial mode where you can compete with the world for the fastest completion time on any of the game’s stages.

The main strike against Mega Man 10 is that we played a very similar game not too long ago. Part of the reason Mega Man 9 worked so well was the fact that it had been close to two decades since the last NES Mega Man. This time it’s only been about a year and a half so some of the retro charm is gone. In addition the new robot masters aren’t aren't quite as good as their predecessors and neither are their weapons. Of the 8 different weapons I only found 3 to be particularly useful. Ultimately Mega Man 10 is a slightly but noticeably weaker entry to the series than Mega Man 9.


Amazing. He hasn't aged a day. What's his secret?

Pros
+ Looks, sounds, and feels like an NES game.
+ Strong level design
+ Multiple difficulty settings
+ Playable Protoman
+ Challenge mode is a nice addition

Cons
- Not everyone will appreciate the retro style.
- Some of the robot masters, and weapons are pretty lame.

The 411:

Mega Man 10 delivers the addictive hardcore action that the series is known for. The level design is strong and the difficulty is just right. The audio visual package is a joy to behold for anyone who grew up on the original Nintendo. If you’re a fan of Mega Man or retro games in general this is a no brainer. Newer gamers may not be able to fully appreciate the retro goodness, but give it a chance and maybe you’ll see what all the fuss was about. Just prepare to be humbled.

Graphics	7.5	Obviously this isn’t the best looking game on the market but it’s hard to knock what is essentially an NES game for looking like an NES game.
Gameplay	9.0	The old school formula still works today. The great level design doesn’t hurt either.
Sound	8.0	The classic midi tunes are as catchy as ever. Mega Man 10’s soundtrack is up there with the best of the series.
Lasting Appeal	7.0	Even multiple difficulty modes, a second playable character, and a slew of mini-challenges can’t fully make up for the main quest’s short length.
Fun Factor	9.0	There is a good reason people are still willing to buy Mega Man games two decades after the franchise’s debut. Mega Man’s gameplay is simple and challenging and will likely be enjoyed by gamers in another 20 years.
Overall	8.5   [ Very Good ]

Screenshots
All 16 Mega Man 10 Screenshots