Mega Man 9 Screenshots! Serious This Time!
The hoax that birthed “the first Mega Man 9 screenshot” went over with the fandom like a poop sandwich, but it looks like the August issue of Nintendo Power has the first real screenshots. Kombo has the story and The Mega Man Network has the pretty pictures, though the latter’s slow because of a traffic kablooey.
Word already has it that this will be a PSN and Xbox Live Arcade download, though what’s definitely confirmed is Mega Man 9’s status as a WiiWare download. Zounds!
If you do get to view the scanned article, you might say to yourself, “Enough of this retrospective bullshit. Where are the Mega Man 9 screenshots?”
Then suddenly you’ll realise…
…You’re looking at them.
And then your stomach will go cold with fear or warm with excitement.
The reaction to Capcom’s decision to return Mega Man to his 8-bit roots—like, really his 8-bit roots—is mostly positive. I’d say it’s surprisingly positive. I thought for sure the fandom would take a hyper spaz over Capcom’s audacity to use “recycled” sprites.
Granted, some fans are disappointed. I guess we were all expecting the scarce, lush pixel art that so rarely appears in games today. At the same time, I have to admit that this is exciting.
I’m definitely pleased to see that Capcom is fully reverting to an 8-bit style versus some old sprite work that’s been souped-up with that damnable pulsating neon bullshit every “retro” developer has copied since Pac-Man Championship Edition. You want old skool? Capcom’s bloody well giving you old skool. Swallow that jagged little pixel pill.
Oh, and what’s a Mega Man game without Robot Masters? A Mega Man game that lacks a humour outlet. This time Mega Man is up against Magma Man, Galaxy Man, Jewel Man, Concrete Man, Hornet Man, Plug Man, Tornado Man, and …
and…
Splash Woman?
Thanks for a female Robot Master, Capcom. Even though you read HR’s guidelines for gender equality in video games something like eleven years late.
(Image copyright Capcom and Nintendo Power. Scanned by Erico and used with permission.)
I find it quite ironic that people were generally assuming that the Wii release was the one in question before this leak. I like the 8-bit styling though and look forward to a (hopefully) excellent game.
I honestly adored 8’s super bright, fantasyland style of happy sprites and vivid backgrounds but you know, this is some pretty cool shit too.
I wonder what the storyline is going to be. Is it perverse for me to be hoping for two paragraphs tops, tucked away in a little virtual instruction booklet?
The way I hear it, the story involves Dr Light being framed for the latest robot rampage. Heavens! Do you think Wily is behind this???