Still Such A Rush (Mega Man 8 (PS))

Member Name: scream4bruce

Product:	Mega Man 8 (PS)
Date:	15/10/08 (40 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Nice anime - style cutscenes and graphics, cool shoot-em-up bits

Disadvantages: Difficult jetboard sections, Mega Man's voice

The only Mega Man game of the classic series to appear on a CD-based console - these being the PlayStation and Saturn. There are numerous differences between these versions, unfortunately with the PS version there are no cameo appearances from Cut Man and Wood Man.

The music in Mega Man 8 is alright, with the sound effects being on the soft side, but what will hit players hard from the opening cutscene is that Mega Man is voiced by a girl! The cut scenes are of an anime-style and are well drawn. I like the 2D graphics in this game - deformed to the point of cuteness, bright and colourful and the animation is a delight. On Clown Man's stage it is nice to see toys of enemies from previous Mega Man games. Also, it's great to see the artwork for Robot Master designs at the credits.

Seemingly absent is an area consisting of the appearing/disappearing blocks of previous Mega Man games - whilst there is a section which is somewhat of a resemblence, where you'll need to keep your cool is on the jetboarding sections, as these are perhaps where the greatest difficulty lies in the game. It did lead to doubts as to whether the controls were tight enough. Also, Mega Man can swim in this game, it was tricky to control, luckily it was not required of him much.

There are shoot' em up style sections with Mega Man riding the Rush Jet where the power-ups allow for Mega Man's robot friends to assist with firepower! Rush does help in other ways. Of the weapons Mega Man comes to use, notable are the Thunder Claw allowing for swinging across a grappling point, and the Mega Ball, which Mega Man can kick - how's that for attacking football!

As ever the Robot Masters are well-designed, and it is still a pleasure to do battle with them, and figure out their pattern (or weakness). Their voice samples are amusing - some are hilarious! There is a boss encounter which should be of nice surprise to those who have played the first Mega Man game, although a feeling of deja vu perhaps in the final fight as the patterns should feel familiar to Mega Man fans.

Throughout the stages there are bolts - which are for spending on useful parts for Mega Man - to search high and low for. This gives incentive to replay a stage but as the bolts are limited there is no need to repeat a stage to make up numbers. With the Robot Master stages being divided into two for continue, it is not too disciplined a Mega Man game.

Not the strongest for replay value, but the presentation makes up for it. Lasted me a couple of nights. Sure, for fans it can feel recycled in places, but it's the same jumping, hooting, sliding play they have come to love.

Summary: Mega Man 8 for PS