Mega Man 9

Experimenting with Black Hole Bombs and other special weapons is great fun in Mega Man 9, a welcome departure from recent entries in the series, where an enhanced Mega Buster made other weaponry less relevant.

Buy it, finish it, love it, because if this takes off we’re going to see a renaissance of new-old games. And if that happens, a whole new batch of gamers will grow up learning why rock-solid gameplay, not tera-flipping flop-bib shaders, make games truly exceptional.

Sure the game isn't much to look at and it's still odd to hear the NES-like music blaring through a Dolby Surround Sound system, but when you get right down to it, there's just something incredibly satisfying and unique about playing a completely original 8-bit Mega Man title almost 15 years since the last NES release.

It may be short, but it is fun and challenging enough that you'll end up replaying it over and over, especially with the addition of challenges and Downloadable Content. Mega Man 9 isn't just a cheap attempt to cash in on nostalgia … it is a new Mega Man game, and one can only hope that Capcom's inevitable future attempts at 8-bit revivals are even half as successful.

It's damn near impossible, but you'll feel a great sense of accomplishment if you manage to beat the final boss. The replay value is high, thanks to additional challenge and time attack stages, along with promising downloadable content.

If you can look past the difficulty and dig the new (old) style, then by all means download this sadistic game that will no doubt have you hooked, regardless of how bad you are.

Mega Man 9 is a fantastic game. The music is incredible, seven out of eight of its stages are amongst the best the series has ever seen, it has butt kicking extra features, a great story, and it's only ten bucks. It's damn tempting to just give the game a 10 and be done with it.

Mega Man 9 sets out to be a better game than Mega Man 2 but for all of the same reasons why that game is respected: it succeeds, and it proves that gameplay is king while also artfully taking us back to an era where this was much more evident than it is today.

Merely as a technological achievement, MM9 is kickass.

Brand new classic Mega Man action that gamers will love, even the intense difficulty!

The ultimate retro game and a huge challenge. At around 7 quid, this is essential. [Dec 2008, p.82]

Playing Mega Man 9 is such a nice experience, especially for the ones who had the opportunity to play the classic series. It won't be a surprise to see this game on top of WiiWare sales.

Mega Man 9 is an extraordinary accomplishment through and through and has come at the right time.

Using the pixels of the past, Inti Creates has made Mega Man 9 a title that easily stacks up with the franchise’s greats, such as Mega Man 2 or Mega Man 3.

Mega Man 9 is exactly what hardcore gamers were hoping it would be, as Capcom has come out of the gate with a game that's full of nostalgia and fan-service, but also one that truly does rival the best in the franchise's 8-bit roots.

The original blue bomber returns in an all new adventure that will bring you back to the good old days of incredibly hard but simple games.

A retro travel in all its glory with a outstanding quality, even when compared to the best of the series. Megaman 9 is a mandatory buy for the fans of the blue bomber, and a highly recommended title for those with a taste for classic gaming. Definitely, a proof that no matter how much time has passed, or the technical limitations of the old machines, a great game comes by the talent of its creators.

The game encapsulates everything that made the franchise great in the late 80s and early 90s and recycles it for the current generation. Mega Man 9 is a worthy addition to any gamer's digital library.

MM9 is an unapologetic nod to one of gaming's greatest eras. It might've been made especially for nostalgia-crazed dorks like me, but it's something that any challenge-seeking gamer can dig.

It is as true as possible to the franchise's humble beginnings, which is a good and bad thing. In my opinion, it's a good thing because I love a game that can put me through the wringer and back-but still be fair about it.

Mega Man 9 succeeds in delivering an authentic retro experience, but that’s not to say it’s flawless.

This is a full-sized 8-bit title, complete with a time trial mode. Playing through the story once can take between six to eight hours, but you could easily spend twice this amount of time with the game and still be having fun.

I'm still going to recommend you check out the title, though, because it shows that Capcom cares about its loyal fanbase and because it's such a well executed throwback to the series' roots.

The vibrant, retro look reinforces the game's charm even further.

Speaking of unlockables, I would also like to have being given the chance of getting to mention the likes Time Attack, which is supported by online leaderboards, and Endless Attack, which is probably the most hard-hitting survival mode ever included in a game in the history of time, tasking players with getting by as many screen as possible before unmercifully dying.

One of the hardest games you’ll ever play. If you want a real challenge, here it is.

You'll get your money's worth if you put in the hours, but some would say that life's too short. [Dec 2008, p.73]