| System: Game Boy Advance | Graphics: |
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| Publisher: Capcom | Sound: |
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| Year: 2003 | Difficulty: |
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| Genre: Action-platformer | Rating: |
7/10 |
A year after the events of the first game, we find Zero wandering as a lone vagabond, still battling Neo Arcadia’s soldiers. Exhausted, he eventually reunites with Ciel and the members of the resistance. Not much has changed, apart from the rise of Elpizo, the resistance’s new leader, who’s set on eliminating the human threat once and for all…
A Mega Man game as classic as they come. And that’s a good thing!
Visually, it’s smoother, though I miss the “sketched” look of Mega Man Zero.
As for extras—weapons, cyber-elves, and other delights—the game remains just as rich. To achieve 100% completion, you’ll need to revisit each level several times. Gotta love it.
On the downside, the ranking system is as unforgiving as ever. When you finish a level, you’re graded based on factors like time taken, damage received, and enemies defeated (among other things). The rank you achieve determines access to new abilities (EX skills).
It’s great to provide a challenge for hardcore players. The problem? Only your first visit to a level counts! It would have been far smarter to let you take your time exploring thoroughly on your first run, then come back later to aim for an “A” or “S” rank. But no, you’re forced to deliver a flawless performance right out of the gate. After that, tough luck…
