Rockman 2: Dr. Wairî no nazo

I commenting Mega Man 2 after beating it a lot of years since I beat it the first time. Thanks to Console Emulation I am living again the experience of playing gems like this baby. I am surprised to see how amazingly addictive this games are still to this day.

Mega Man 2 is not only a sequel made to cash-out the success of the first Mega Man is a step forward in many aspects. More user friendly than Mega 1, this game has a system of password-saving that lets the gamer save his progress without having to play the game in its entirety every time. Also Mega Man 2 is not as difficult as the first one because the worlds of Dr. Willy's creations are easy to learn and memorize. In all I believe some people may be frustrated because there are many things and processes to memorize (jump that, don't jump that; use that weapon with that enemy, learn the AI patron of that other one)and also some good reflexes are needed of course. But that's the entertaining side of this thing after all.

Almost twenty years later Mega Man 2 with simple sprite-animation can give me more hours of enjoyment than many modern hits with incredibly astounding 3D Animation. But not always the better-looking game is the best game. I can't rate it with any other number than ten. Capcom scores another victory with this one (I lose the count of how many great games they have released throughout the years). Without a doubt my favorite from the Mega Man series for the NES system.

With the sucess of the first Mega Man game, Capcom decided to make a sequel to the original game which was truly excellant. Unlike the first Mega Man game this time around Dr.Wily makes his own evil robots, and has his Skull castle hideout. But unlike the original in which you had to defeat 6 robots, you must defeat 8 robots which like the others of the pervious game have a name and use a specific weapon related to their name. When you defeat them, you get their weapon. Each robot leader is vulnerable to one of the robot leader's weapons (for instance, Air man is vulnerable to Wood Man's leaf shield). Then you must defeat Dr.Wily, but like the original, you must defeat his crazy mechanisms which are also vulerable to a certain weapon of one of the robot leaders, defeat the robot leaders again (just like in Mega Man), and defeat Dr. Wily himself again. Basically it's the same game concept with some added features. But it's still a great game to play. You can never get enough of the blue bomber.

Mega Man 2 is the game that would make Mega Man popular, and it shows. Set a year after the first, Dr. Wily returns, and has made eight robot masters of his own, each designed to combat Mega Man. This game retains the first game's difficulty (especially when it come to Quick Man's stage, which is filled with lasers that can cause instant death), so for the American release, Capcom added an easier difficulty that makes things easier. Also, the game is the first to feature a passwords system that would be used for titles up to Mega Man 7, and the game introduces three Items, transports that would serve as the prototype to Rush, received by beating a certain boss, as well as E Tanks, which automatically refill Mega Man's health to 100% when used. This is a great example of how a sequel should improve over the original, and must be played.

Its such an amazing game with less unfair deaths and better enemy placement! One complaint though, that is bubble man's stage... oh dear lord my eyes still twitch from that stage background. Yet the best way to play this game is on the wiley wars collection for genesis, it's much more appealing for the eyes and ears in my opinion.

Mega Man 2 is one of my favorate video games of all time, it was also believe it or not the very first game I've played in the franchise; this game is also my second favorate in the series (yeah I know ironic). I'm one of the kids from the 80s that grew up with an NES my very first video game console and when I got and played this game for the very first time it really blew my mind; even playing this game as an adult I still have a blast. It's not hard to see why this game just like any good sequel has lots going for it to make it steps up from it's predecessor.

This game indeed was unlike the common linear format we were all use to at the time. It gave us the option to chose which enemy and stage to get through, however like in all of the mega man games the catch is that it has to be in the right order as each Robot Master is vunerable to a particular weapon; this makes the game a puzzle but the kind where you have to think on your feet.

The stages are all unique each of them pertain to the Robot Master's design scheme. And each of the Masters are all colorfully designed and unique in their abilities, much like some of the villains in the James Bond films. Even their stages just like the enemy bases in the Bond films are practically deathtraps as they are just filled with obsticles and oppostion all trying to kill you, from giant flame throwing mechanized dogs, giant sized robot fish that spit out robotic shrimp, bubble bats, the usual cute hard hats, it's just crazy.

The game's gameplay is the same which I'm fine with that as an old saying goes "if it's not broke don't fix it." It's hard as usual, however it's manageable and rewarding. Each of the stages you'll most likely not get though on the first run, but once you play though a few more times you discover their actually really not all that hard they just seem that way at first, If you memorize all the places to go and hit as well as the right times to hit then you can easily breeze though the stage; I can actually get though the stages even this whole game without dying (at least not as much as before).

There are some additions like certain extra gadgets you aquire when you beat one of the masters. Like a flying rocket board as well as hover platforms, though like with the weapons you have to make sure the power gauge is full in order to keep using them.

However to me the real highlight of the game is the music which is one of my favorate video game soundtracks ever. Each of the songs are just memorable, their the kinds I could easily play on my Ipod, do remixes, even play at parties as some of the songs are danceable. Three of my favorate songs are the Bubble Man stage which is sort of calming but cool at the same time, Heat Man as that song has such intensity, but my favorate one of all no doubt is the Dr. Willy castle stage it is just a rockin action tune that practically screams charge.

Overall if your a rookie to the series this place is a good place to start. But for Mega fans, veteran games, as well as retro enthusists, this game is a mega treasure.

Rating: 4 stars