Top Ten Mega Man Games

This week marks the 25th anniversary of Mega Man. Actually, Monday officially marked the 25h anniversary of Mega Man. Regardless, SuperPhillip Central is celebrating the Blue Bomber's birthday in style with a week of content. Today I have somehow managed to pick my ten favorite Mega Man games. There was a lot of them to thumb through, so this list was definitely a challenge to create. After you've read my picks, let your opinion be known in the comments section below.

10) Mega Man Legends (PS1)

Starring a character named Mega Man Volnutt, Mega Man Legends was a drastic departure from other Mega Man spinoffs. It was the first to feature fully three-dimensional areas and movement as well as many role-playing elements. The game contained towns for young Volnutt to converse with the citizens as well as dungeons for exploration and destroying enemies. I like Mega Man Legends because it was such a change in the series's normal structure. It was a bold new direction, and one that I wish would have continued with the now-cancelled Mega Man Legends 3.

9) Mega Man 8 (PS1, SAT)

Mega Man leaped into the 32-bit era and the PlayStation console with Mega Man 8, twhich would be the last mainline classic series Mega Man game for a decade. The art style was suitably colorful with vivid sprites and lovely detailed backgrounds. I enjoyed the hackneyed voice acting, which added to the charm of the game, in this writer's opinion. Furthermore, I loved collecting the hidden bolts that could be used to buy upgrades at Dr. Light's laboratory. The game could be as easy or as hard as the player wanted depending on which parts they purchased. Mega Man 8 stays in my memory not only because it's a competent classic Mega Man, but because of "Jump, jump. Slide, slide", which will stay ingrained in my memory as well.

8) Mega Man Battle Network 2 (GBA)

My favorite game of the Mega Man Battle Network franchise, Mega Man Battle Network 2 took the original formula MMBN 1 laid out and improved it exponentially. The same RPG, action-card game traits were still present, but new features like multiple chip folders for different battle occasions and the addition of Subchips made the game work more seamlessly. It is also the only Mega Man Battle Network game that I fully completed 100%, so to say that this fact didn't factor into my giving the game a spot on this list would be a lie.

7) Mega Man Zero 2 (GBA)

While the original Mega Man Zero had an immensely challenging difficulty, Mega Man Zero 2 brought it down to more reasonable levels. Speaking of levels of a different type, Mega Man Zero 2 shied away from the interconnected levels of the original. The structure was more traditional Mega Man with a level select menu. The new inclusions of EX Skills, won by completing missions with either an S or A ranking, and Forms, earned by accomplishing certain in-game goals, changed the gameplay well enough for Zero 2 to distinguish itself from its predecessor. What the game kept, however, was the fun challenge, the more serious story, and the engaging missions of the original Zero.

6) Mega Man 9 (WiiWare, XBLA, PSN)

After a decade of dormancy, classic Mega Man returned to the spotlight with Mega Man 9, available on all three of the major console downloadable services. Drawing huge inspiration from the original two Mega Man games, Mega Man in Mega Man 9 cannot slide or charge his Mega Buster. It was back to basics. Though the game used the old school 8-bit art style fans knew so well, the developers of the game have noted that as it is, Mega Man 9 would be much too large to fit on a traditional NES cartridge. The game was a breath of fresh air, retaining a lot from Mega Man's past while creating an entirely new experience, and finally, a woman was represented as a Robot Master in the form of Splash Woman. Now that's progress!

5) Mega Man 3 (NES)

In some ways I prefer Mega Man 3 to Mega Man 2. Perhaps it's because Mega Man 2 is so highly rated that I feel that Mega Man 3 is severely underrated. Perhaps it's the level design (no obnoxious Quick Man stage, for example). Or perhaps it's the introduction of Mega Man's trusty canine Rush, his three transformations, and Mega's ability to slide that form my opinion. Regardless, Mega Man 3 is series creator's Keiji Inafune's least favorite additions to the franchise. Most of that was due to development time restrictions that left a lot on the cutting room floor. Still, I am always impressed with what was put into the game despite these problems. 

4) Mega Man X4 (PS1, SAT)

Alongside the release of Mega Man 8 was Mega Man X's debut in the PlayStation era. For the first time in franchise history, Zero had his own separate story from X, meaning that players had two campaigns to run, gun, and jump through. The more detailed graphics meant that players would definitely get a visual delight with the more powerful PlayStation platform. The levels were killer too, featuring training tests in cyberspace, rumbles in the jungle, a ride aboard a military train, and a red hot trip through a volcano. Mega Man X4 is infamous for its atrociously acted cutscenes, but like Mega Man 8, I think that just adds to the charm. Mega Man X4 ranks right up there with the better Mega Man games. It's level design, visuals, and overall high octane package make it that.

3) Mega Man X2 (SNES)

Mega Man X2 continued the tradition of fast paced gameplay that its predecessor introduced to the Mega Man franchise. Indeed, Mega Man X2 was very much more of the same, but when "more of the same" means more Mega Man X action, you really can't go wrong. In fact, Mega Man X2 features some of my most favorite memories of the X series. Everything from the incredibly well done level design to the catchy soundtrack will forever be etched into my gamer mind. The addition of collecting all three of Zero's parts created even more replay value than its predecessor.

2) Mega Man 2 (NES)

The best-selling Mega Man game-- and for good reason-- Mega Man 2 is a trusty title to name as one's favorite classic Mega Man. It introduced concepts that would remain in the classic series such as eight Robot Masters to defeat as opposed to the original's mere six and one-time use Energy Tanks, that refill Mega Man's health when needed. It also featured some of most memorable 8-bit tunes in video game history. I don't think I even need to say Dr. Wily's stage theme. Well, I just did. Regardless, Mega Man 2 is usually listed as one of the greatest video games of all time on various sites. If you don't know why, playing this game for yourself will provide you with the answers.

1) Mega Man X (SNES)

If you have read any Mega Man articles from me in the past, then you know that my favorite Mega Man series is the X series. The addition of wall climbing and armor upgrades from Dr. Light capsules such as dashing and X-Buster charging made made for an entertaining time. Hidden heart tanks and subtanks meant the replay value of Mega Man X was much greater than that of the classic series on the NES. The 16-bit graphics meant more detail and more impressive visuals. Mega Man X delivered in spades on better action, more secrets, and a darker story. It not only remains my favorite Mega Man game (in any series), but it also remains one of my favorite video games of all time.

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This list of my top ten Mega Man games is complete. Do you have ten favorites that you'd like to share? If not, what is your favorite Mega Man game in general, with regard to any series? Let the community know in the comments section.

Style Savvy: Trendsetters (3DS) Review

It is a week before Christmas. If you are still feeling that finding that perfect gift for the gamer in your life is difficult, take a look at my 2012 Holiday Gift Guide's Part One and Part Two. This next game I will be reviewing was listed as a Nintendo 3DS game to get that special someone in your life. It's Style Savvy: Trendsetters. Let's get dressed for the occasion, shall we?

Fashion fades, style is eternal. 
Screenshots taken by SuperPhillip.

A game about fashion-- no, that is not normally what you see reviewed here at SuperPhillip Central. Instead you normally see platformers, first-person shooters, role-playing games, and action titles. You might simply dismiss the subject of this review as shovelware, simply because of its content. However, let it be known that such a position would be folly as Style Savvy: Trendsetters is one of the most from-out-of-nowhere-good games in the Nintendo 3DS library. Here's why.

Style Savvy: Trendsetters begins with you being hired by Michaela, a heavily renowned fashion stylist with plenty of credentials under her belt. She teaches you the proverbial ropes of running a fashion boutique, pleasing customers, and taking care of inventory. Eventually, Michaela gives you ownership of the store, allowing you to name it whatever you want, refurbish the store (setting its look and music), fixing up the store's mannequin, and essentially lets you loose to do your own thing.

My character (on the left) 
with Michaela (on the right).

As you become more famous in the fashion world by schmoozing with the locals and winning fashion contests (more on those later), the popularity of your store grows, giving you more customers. There are over 100 unique customers in Style Savvy: Trendsetters, and each one comes to you with their own tastes and what kind of style/piece of clothing they want. At first the requests from your customers are rather basic-- a pop-style skirt, an edgy jacket, and so on-- but as you get further into the game the customers ask you to create entire outfits based on their tastes, which you have to discern for yourself.

Occasionally, a customer will do an impulse
buy on what you have in the store window.

A new addition to this sequel of Style Savvy is the ability to dress men customers. Unfortunately, you cannot be a male character for your in-game avatar, which is disappointing. I understand it would have made a lot more work for the developers, so I cannot complain too much. Regardless, the amount of men clothing pieces and styles are far less than women pieces, but there is still plenty of pieces to look into and buy. Whether it is a male or female customer, whenever they buy something, their store card is stamped depending on how many items they purchased. The fun is to try to get your new customers to become repeat customers, buying more and more stuff for your shop funds to increase and for your customers to get more stamps on their cards.

For the first time, men's fashion is available.

Even though the task of finding the right fashion item for a customer may seem daunting, you are not entirely on your own. Style Savvy: Trendsetters makes coordinating outfits easy-- even for those of us without a tasteful eye for fashion. You can browse clothing pieces by type (dress, base, outerwear, shoes, etc.), brand, taste (pop, preppy, bold, girly, luxury, etc.), color, and price. It's a welcome feature of the game, and one that gives weaker fashionistas leeway to enjoy the game.

Please your clients and they'll
keep coming back for more!

When selling outfits and clothing pieces to customers, they get removed from your store's stock. This is where the Buyer Center comes in. The Buyer Center is where you go to stock up on the latest fashions from numerous brands, each with their own styles. At the beginning of the game, you are limited to holding a small amount of styles, meaning you can't just buy everything you see (your shop's meager funds will also make sure of that). However, the amount your shop can hold will increase as you play through the game. With that in mind, you still need to purchase a good mix of clothing styles to make sure you're ready for whatever your customers request. Also, anything you buy or receive clothing-wise goes to your closet for your character to strut around town in.

Speaking of which, every busy working girl needs some time to herself. That is what My Apartment is for. You can sit down, unwind and relax, and do all kinds of activities. For one, you can advance time from day to night or night to day at your will. You are able to change clothes via your closet, dressing up in anything you have purchased or won. If you have any photos you have taken, you can use that photo to copy what you were wearing and wear it in the present. It's a very cool feature! Finally, you can redecorate your room-- change the wallpaper, flooring, and customize the furniture.

Sometimes you just need time to relax.

Another feature of the game-- this one can be accessed at virtually any time in the game-- is the cell phone. Here you can view pictures taken, look up fashion terms mentioned in the game, look at a fictional magazine for the hottest fashions and style news, take a glance at your schedule and any messages you may have received, glimpse over customers your boutique has served, see your profile card (which can be exchanged with others over StreetPass), and visit the Fashion Plaza, where you can open your own online store and view other players' stores.

As you satisfy the requests of customers and perform other tasks in-game, your receive happiness. A gauge fills higher and higher with each positive action you partake in. As a game day ends, all of the happiness you have gathered fills up the moon in the starry sky. Fill it completely and you receive a bonus of some type. It may be a new store opening in town like the photo studio, the hair salon, the makeup studio, or the furniture store. It may be an increase in how much inventory you can store in your boutique, or it may be a new brand that comes to town. Accumulating happiness is an enjoyable activity, and you're always wanting to see what unlocks next in the game. You constantly have something to strive towards, which is very addicting.

Say... "Calvin Klein!"

Places like the photo studio allow you to take three pictures of your in-game character in various poses against numerous backdrops. Show off your favorite outfits to your friends as every photo (either taken by you or done in the photo studio) can be saved to an SD card. In the hair salon and makeup studio, you predictably change your hairstyle/color/highlights and makeup respectively. Lastly, in the furniture store you can purchase items for your apartment to spruce things up a bit.

One important feature that opens up as you gain happiness and progress through the game is the fashion contest. These contests are held nightly at the Contest Hall, and each one has a different theme. Each requires all four entrants to create an outfit based on a one sentence description. For instance, and this one is made up, "an edgy outfit with attitude." If your outfit is well coordinated and all pieces match together well, you will be the winner. There are multiple contests per fashion contest difficulty. Making your way through the Beginner Contests to the Premier Contests, and then finally beating the Elite Contest will give you top bragging rights, great prestige, and a view at the game's credits. Of course, there is definitely still plenty to do even after seeing the game's personnel as you and your friends strut on the catwalk.

As you progress through the fashion contests,
the competition gets more and more heated.

Style Savvy: Trendsetters is full of content, and is easily worth the forty dollar asking price. From all the customers to please to the over 12,000 unique clothing items, your inner fashionista will be very enthused. Reaching the ending of the game took about twenty hours, and there was much more that I could accomplish with my save data.

The game's presentation is certainly top-tier for the style of game it is. I've been so used to Imagine games from Ubisoft that I forgot that games of this genre could have remarkable production values. There is an Animal Crossing level of dialogue in Style Savvy: Trendsetters. It will take a long time to see a repeated line of text from customers. The visual design is well done. I like the anime aesthetic and how it doesn't overdo its own look. The graphics are colorful while not being too sugary sweet. The 3D effect is nice and has the text and characters popping out from the screen. Meanwhile, the music is quaint and serviceable for this type of game. I especially like the fashion contest theme that occurs as you're coordinating an outfit for your model of choice. Overall, Trendsetters really impresses presentation-wise.

This outfit makes everyone know that
this girl is dressed for school success!

But that's not all in how Style Savvy: Trendsetters impresses. From how complex the game is (but not too much so that it is inaccessible to beginner players) to all of the available customization, this 3DS version of Style Savvy is terrific. The game is a serious effort and well worth the money. It might become repetitive occasionally, but the good without a doubt outweighs the bad. Style Savvy: Trendsetters is definitely dressed for success. I am honestly surprised how much fun I had with the game, especially considering I am not the target demographic. Give Trendsetters a chance-- you might be surprised too.

[SuperPhillip Says: 8.5/10]

Style Savvy: Trendsetters (3DS) Fashion Showcase, Part One

One of the games that I have recently been playing is Style Savvy: Trendsetters, a game that I wouldn't have expected to like going into it. However, I found myself becoming insanely addictive to the game, supplying my store, entering fashion contests, and most importantly, dressing my clients. The following are a series of screens I took using the in-game tool. Enjoy, and expect a full review of Style Savvy: Trendsetters later today.

SuperPhillip's Favorite VGMs - Mega Man Mania Edition

Today is a special edition of SuperPhillip's Favorite VGMs. Today we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Blue Bomber, which just happens to be today. Yes, twenty-five years ago the gaming world was introduced to Mega Man. Because today is a special occasion, I have doubled the amount of VGMs for the day to ten. From Mega Man to Mega Man Legends, your Mega Man needs are taken care of. Let's start the celebration!

v261. Mega Man X (SNES) - Take Back the Tower (Arranged)

This theme from Mega Man X comes off a special arrange album. All of the songs featured on the album are jazz pieces. This particular theme is from Boomer Kuwanger's stage. I encourage you to track down all of the other themes from the CD as it is quite good.

v262. Mega Man ZX Advent (DS) - Twisted Vine (Arranged)

Mega Man ZX Advent was a Metroid-like-in-design game for the Nintendo DS that had two playable characters who could utilize different armor each with their own capabilities. ZX Advent introduced the ability to transform into defeated bosses to access new areas. Twisted Vine is one of my favorite themes from the game, and this version comes from an arranged soundtrack.

v263. Mega Man Network Transmission (GCN) - Color Man's Stage

Mega Man Network Transmission was a game that was unlike the other entries in the Mega Man Battle Network franchise. It was a 2D platformer-- a hard one at that-- which featured Mega Man.EXE in all of his virus-busting glory. The game contained numerous levels, each with a net navi as the boss. If you're looking for a challenging platformer, Mega Man Network Transmission is an often forgotten game.

v264. Mega Man 4 (NES) - Skull Man, Soldier of the Underworld (Special CD)

Like Take Back the Tower and Twisted Vine before it, this is an arranged track as well. This VGM volume comes from a special Mega Man arranged compilation. The subject of this theme is Skull Man, and it has a wonderfully rockin' tone to it.

v265. Mega Man X4 (PS1, SAT) - Slash Beast Stage (Military Train)

Mega Man X4 probably possesses what I consider to be the best soundtrack in the X series's history, right next to the original Mega Man X. Slash Beast's stage takes place aboard a chugging military train (as if the name of the track did not already specify that).

v266. Mega Man X6 (PS1) - Sigma 2nd

The final boss of Mega Man X6, one of my least favorite entries in the franchise, is a gold Sigma golem that shoots laser beams out of its mouth. The theme that accompanies the boss is a heavy metal cacophony, perfect for a final battle.

v267. Mega Man 7 (SNES) - Wily Stage 1

Mega Man 7 was the sole 16-bit entry in the mainline Mega Man games. Wily Stage 1 features synth electric guitars and bass. In my view, Mega Man 7 features the most difficult final form of Dr. Wily in series history. What do you say?

v268. Mega Man Legends (PS1) - Apple Market

Let us peacefully stroll through the outdoor corridor known as Apple Market for this VGM volume. Mega Man Legends was a spinoff series that took Mega Man into three-dimensions. The game was not without its issues, namely the controls and camera, but it was a wonderful effort nonetheless. Too bad about that third game in the series, though.

v269. Mega Man X8 (PS2) - VS. Lumine - The Second Form

Unlike every other game in the Mega Man X franchise, Sigma is not the true final boss of Mega Man X8. Instead, that honor goes to a character named Lumine. In the final boss fight, players only have a limited amount of time to defeat Lumine before he destroys the entire battlefield, costing the player a life. Lumine's second form's music is intense and high octane.

v270. Mega Man 3, 4, & 6 (NES) - Wily Boss Medley (25th Anniversary Rock Version)

As if this edition of SuperPhillip's Favorite VGMs didn't have enough arrangements on it, this medley features music from Wily boss fights from Mega Man 3, Mega Man 4, and Mega Man 6. Exactly why Mega Man 5 was omitted is beyond me, but the music more than makes up for it. Heavy rock guitar with a choir chanting? Yes, please!

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Happy birthday, Mega Man. I think this celebration was better than Capcom's even! At least you still have millions of  fans that love you, Mega, regardless of whether your publisher does. Next week we will be celebrating the holiday season with ten wintertime themes. Look forward to that. Until then, check out my VGM Database for every song I have spotlighted. Toodles!

Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards (N64, Wii VC) Retro Review

This past Thursday we took at a look at Astro Boy: Omega Factor for our first retro review in a long time. Now, we commemorate Kirby's 20th with a retro review of one of the less talked about Kirby games: Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards. Let's see how it fares to today's standards!

Fun that is as clear as crystal.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the adorable pink puffball Kirby. While other franchises have been given less than spectacular celebrations on their milestone anniversaries from Nintendo, Kirby received a special Wii compilation of six classic Kirby games and bonus content. The most recent playable game on that collection is Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards, originally released on the Nintendo 64 in 2000. Does the addition of polygons add to the entertainment?

Behold Ripple Star, a planet that fairies call their home. When it is invaded by a mass called Dark Matter, one of the fairies escapes into outer space, holding her home planet's prized ornament, a giant purple crystal. Dark Matter pursues and crashes into the crystal. The shattered pieces rain down on six planets, including Pop Star, Kirby's home. Speaking of the pink puffer, Kirby meets up with the fairy who informs him of Ripple Star's dire situation. He agrees to assist, and thus the the crystal shard quest begins.

The start to Kirby 64's simple story.

Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards is the first mainline game in the series to feature 3D models. While the models are polygonal, the game is still played on a 2D plane. Perhaps 2-1/2D would be more appropriate of a term, as the game has Kirby careening along windy paths and presenting the player with dynamic camera angles.

This first area of the level wraps
around this tower.

The Kirb-man himself controls quite well. Unlike Kirby's Dream Land, Kirby in this game is limited to floating in the air for a certain period of time. Then he will tucker himself out and fall to the ground, or in a worst case scenario, to a bottomless pit below. Perhaps the only complaint I have towards how Kirby feels is how slow even his fastest moving speed seems to be. It makes returning to levels a pain in the puffball.

Kirby is known for his ability to inhale foes and then copy their powers. This is true for Kirby 64. While there are only seven unique copy abilities in the game-- which may seem very limiting-- the main gameplay feature this time around is the option to combine copy abilities into one new ability. For instance, combining Burn and Bomb allows the Kirbster to generate fireworks around him, destroying enemies in a glorious blaze. Kirby can spit out powers into specific creatures to create a given power combination.

Sun, sand, and sweet danger--
just like Kirby likes it.

There are six planets in Kirby 64 to explore, and each planet consists of 4-5 stages. The level variety is quite nice with some levels featuring verdant plains, desert ruins, sweltering volcanoes, frozen fjords, booby trap-laden jungles, mysterious spaceships, and industrial factories.

This vertical passage fills with sand
as the screen auto-scrolls upward.

Some stages implement Kirby's pals to help him out. Waddle Dee will join Kirby on various vehicles such as mine carts and rafts, Adeleine will paint items onto the canvas which will come to life to give Kirby a boost, and King Dedede will become a playable character, having Kirby ride on his back as he hammers opponents into next week.

Each planet concludes with a boss battle. The fights are made easier by having a copy ability already bestowed to Kirby. Otherwise the battles take some time to beat. A boss usually slams into the ground or gives Kirby an opportunity to suck something up and shoot it at the boss to damage it. Kirby 64 features a wide range of enemy combatants-- the familiar Whispy Woods, a killer whale, and a technologically advanced machine of sorts, to name a few.

A different dimension makes even the 
oldest of foes feel brand-new.

The eponymous crystal shards in the game refer to the pieces that make up the shattered sacred treasure of Ripple Star. There are three per normal levels and one per boss level. All must be collected to unlock the true final boss encounter.

The shards are placed in areas of all shapes, sizes, and ranges of effort. Some are right out in the open. Others require some ingenuity. Certain walls, floors, and ceilings are colored in two tones. This means that Kirby must have the correct copy ability combination to destroy it and get the housed shard. It can be annoying experimenting with copy ability combinations, trying to come up with the right one to get that blasted shard.

Unlike a majority of Kirby games, Kirby 64 has not aged as well as the other games in the series. The early 3D models hurt the presentation in a small way. However, the backgrounds are full of interesting things to look at. Sometimes when the action gets a little too heated, the framerate will stutter a tad. It's hardly noticeable but it happens. The music of Kirby 64 features several new arrangements of old Kirby themes and entirely new compositions that will delight fans of jaunty video game music.

With this copy ability, it's bombs away.

Overall, Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards is a fun, albeit short ride. While the game can be completed 100% in a mere five hours, collecting all of the enemy cards, playing all of the multiplayer mini-games, and trying one's hand at the boss rush mode will give the game some longevity. It is the type of title that one returns to again and again. Maybe Kirby 64 would seem like an average platformer without the ingenious option to combine copy abilities, but still, the level design is superb, the presentation is generally middle-to-top shelf material, and the game is accessible to even beginning players. Kirby 64 is an enjoyable game, and that is a statement you can be crystal clear on.

[SuperPhillip Says: 8.25/10]