Mega Man Megathread

[ciro64]

I'll leave it to @andyanajonseph's discretion whether to merge this thread or not.

The Mega Man Mega-Thread is a pretty cool place to closely engage with the fans. On the other hand, threads can facilitate parallel subjects and gain attention outside of the Mega-Thread.

The Cutting Room Floor is your best friend here

https://tcrf.net/Mega_Man_7

From my own memory, the secret two-player versus mode always seemed a little half-baked. Maybe they meant for it to be something greater, or maybe it was just an asset test for The Power Battle arcade game? Regardless, it makes for an interesting hint that there was something more to see...

I did manage to extract some amount of fun when I playing the VS mode with my brother when we were kids. It felt surprising to discover this mode hidden in it. I also sorta remember winning most matches as Bass, although my prideful memory could be playing tricks on me

I do love the little anecdotes about game development, particularly when it comes to games made by small teams. I've always been a fan of GoldenEye, for example, but knowing that it was made by a core group of about twelve people - several of whom had never even made a video game before - gives me a much greater appreciation for the final product. Mega Man 7 is not so different, in that regard

Yeah, the history behind the development of certain games can be very intriguing, sometimes even more than the game itself. Especially when the devs leave a personal mark due to what they were going through life at the time.

Also, 3 months is insane.

 

[Michael Frank]

Nostalgic throwbacks should go away, actually.

Honestly yeah, innovation should become the norm, imagine if 9,10 and 11, looked like 7 or 8, honestly 8-bit is cool and all, but the gameplay improved greatly in 7 and 8.

 

[Ikagura Ikagura]

Honestly yeah, innovation should become the norm, imagine if 9,10 and 11, looked like 7 or 8, honestly 8-bit is cool and all, but the gameplay improved greatly in 7 and 8.

Maybe a good gimmick like 11.

But I wish 11 wasn't in 2.5D. It kinda feels wrong imo. A 32-bits style 2D would've looked timeless.

 

[fake-kun]

Maybe a good gimmick like 11.

But I wish 11 wasn't in 2.5D. It kinda feels wrong imo. A 32-bits style 2D would've looked timeless.

It looks fine.

 

[Ikagura Ikagura]

It looks fine.

Yes, "fine".

But is "fine" enough? I mean Capcom produced the RE Engine and RE2 Remake looked extremely realistic.

I'm not asking for MM12 to be running under the RE Engine but I do miss 2D pixel art.

Like: Sonic Mania, Freedom Planet or even going full hand drawn like graphics like Ori or Hollow Knight.

 

[fake-kun]

Yes, "fine".

But is "fine" enough? I mean Capcom produced the RE Engine and RE2 Remake looked extremely realistic.

I'm not asking for MM12 to be running under the RE Engine but I do miss 2D pixel art.

Like: Sonic Mania, Freedom Planet or even going full hand drawn like graphics like Ori or Hollow Knight.

I'd rather not. There are already enough of pseudo-retro pixel art games, and I don't think Capcom would want to invest into a hand-drawn art style.

 

[Yousef]

I just want MM12 to exist at all LOL

 

[Ikagura Ikagura]

I'd rather not. There are already enough of pseudo-retro pixel art games.

What is "enough"? I mean are there enough photorealistic 3D video games out there?

 

[fake-kun]

What is "enough"? I mean are there enough photorealistic 3D video games out there?

Don't try to derail this conversation with your semantic nitpicks. You know well enough what I meant.

 

[Ikagura Ikagura]

Don't try to derail this conversation with your semantic nitpicks. You know well enough what I meant.

I still think that 2D stands the test of time much better and I'd take a pretty pixel art over a 3D that looks cheap. This is why Sonic SuperStars looks worse than Sonic Mania despite being made later or why DKC on the SNES still look better than the Retro Studio ones.

 

[ciro64]

I think 2D pixel art could work, but instead of aiming for simplicity, go for a ambitiously high resolution instead. I'll pick Freedom Planet 2 as an example of this. I think it's one of the prettiest games ever made:

Spoiler

I think 3D or hand drawn could theoretically achieve high levels of prettiness too, but there would need to be a equally high amount of budget, talent and time put into. Maybe this applies to the pixel art scenario too. But unfortunately I don't think Capcom is willing to put this amount of budget into Mega Man games anymore.

So, thinking for a more feasible scenario instead: I think Mega Man 11 looks fine but it could get better. Maybe if they swapped the character models for hand-drawn, while keeping the 3D scenario for a 2.5D aesthetic, it could look nice.

 

[fake-kun]

I think 2D pixel art could work, but instead of aiming for simplicity, go for a ambitiously high resolution instead. I'll pick Freedom Planet 2 as an example of this. I think it's one of the prettiest games ever made:

Spoiler

View attachment 73660

I think 3D or hand drawn could theoretically achieve high levels of prettiness too, but there would need to be a equally high amount of budget, talent and time put into. Maybe this applies to the pixel art scenario too. But unfortunately I don't think Capcom is willing to put this amount of budget into Mega Man games anymore.

So, thinking for a more feasible scenario instead: I think Mega Man 11 looks fine but it could get better. Maybe if they swapped the character models for hand-drawn, while keeping the 3D scenario for a 2.5D aesthetic, it could look nice.

This isn't directed at you specifically, but I don't understand Mega Man fans' obsession with 2D graphics. What's wrong with a 3D presentation?

 

[Ikagura Ikagura]

I think 2D pixel art could work, but instead of aiming for simplicity, go for a ambitiously high resolution instead. I'll pick Freedom Planet 2 as an example of this. I think it's one of the prettiest games ever made:

Spoiler

View attachment 73660

I think 3D or hand drawn could theoretically achieve high levels of prettiness too, but there would need to be a equally high amount of budget, talent and time put into. Maybe this applies to the pixel art scenario too. But unfortunately I don't think Capcom is willing to put this amount of budget into Mega Man games anymore.

So, thinking for a more feasible scenario instead: I think Mega Man 11 looks fine but it could get better. Maybe if they swapped the character models for hand-drawn, while keeping the 3D scenario for a 2.5D aesthetic, it could look nice.

Freedom Planet 2 is pretty I agree.

Yet somehow I think the art style is inferior to the first game.

Yeah I may have a bit of nostalgia but I find FP1 to have the better OST, art direction and even better bosses and story (sorry Merga, as tragic her backstory may have been, I still prefer a more typical villain that Brevon was).


Sonic Mania is still one of the most gorgeous games in its franchise (and I say that while I love SCD, 2, 3&K and even the Advance games) and platformers in general next to Ristar or even Yoshi's Island.

ArcSys with GG Xrd and Strive managed to make 3D as great as 2D but it requires a lot of efforts and talent while Street Fighter V and VI struggle to reach Third Strike level of smoothness.

This isn't directed at you specifically, but I don't understand Mega Man fans' obsession with 2D graphics. What's wrong with a 3D presentation?

I simply think that Megaman, like Castlevania and many other franchises of its era, work better in 2D.

Okay, Megaman Legend managed to have a great charming low poly look with the shaded textures but I always saw this spinoff series as a separate one with Megaman inserted in (like MM Battle Networks), not a proper follow-up to Classic MM and X (and then again X7 stopped feeling like a proper Megaman game compared to the 2D entries).

I think this is why many Megaman inspired indie games are 2D and that even the 3D fangames like 8-bits deathmatch kept the 8-bits sprites for the characters instead of including 3D models.

 

[fake-kun]

I think this is why many Megaman inspired indie games are 2D and that even the 3D fangames like 8-bits deathmatch kept the 8-bits sprites for the characters instead of including 3D models.

They use those sprites because every other Mega Man fan game does.

 

[Ikagura Ikagura]

They use those sprites because every other Mega Man fan game does.

Honestly, is this a big deal? I think Classic MM sprites are iconic as hell.

I really like this one:

 

[χKai]

What do you guys play to scratch that Megaman/X/Zero itch? Gravity Circuit was pretty good... Any suggestions?

Takkoman Kouzatsu World

 

[fake-kun]

Honestly, is this a big deal? I think Classic MM sprites are iconic as hell.

I really like this one:
View attachment 73825

No, but annoying people who obsess over 2D graphics keep making it a big deal.

 

[Ikagura Ikagura]

No, but annoying people who obsess over 2D graphics keep making it a big deal.

I'll be honest: I still find that SNES graphics are still beautiful even to this day.

I think that there's something unmatchable about pixel art in the same way that oil painting have that "special feel" compared to the latest CGIs.

PS:Sure, I also got nostalgia for low poly but that's not the same thing.

 

[_-_AceDragon_-_]

Freedom Planet 2 is pretty I agree.

Yet somehow I think the art style is inferior to the first game.

Yeah I may have a bit of nostalgia but I find FP1 to have the better OST, art direction and even better bosses and story (sorry Merga, as tragic her backstory may have been, I still prefer a more typical villain that Brevon was).


Sonic Mania is still one of the most gorgeous games in its franchise (and I say that while I love SCD, 2, 3&K and even the Advance games) and platformers in general next to Ristar or even Yoshi's Island.

ArcSys with GG Xrd and Strive managed to make 3D as great as 2D but it requires a lot of efforts and talent while Street Fighter V and VI struggle to reach Third Strike level of smoothness.


I simply think that Megaman, like Castlevania and many other franchises of its era, work better in 2D.

Okay, Megaman Legend managed to have a great charming low poly look with the shaded textures but I always saw this spinoff series as a separate one with Megaman inserted in (like MM Battle Networks), not a proper follow-up to Classic MM and X (and then again X7 stopped feeling like a proper Megaman game compared to the 2D entries).

I think this is why many Megaman inspired indie games are 2D and that even the 3D fangames like 8-bits deathmatch kept the 8-bits sprites for the characters instead of including 3D models.

Literally every point you've made here.... And I also thought FP1 was better than FP2!

Imagine if they actually took Megaman X to the next level. Something like how they looked in Project X Zone but with more polish of course. That would have been a dream.

Post automatically merged: May 26, 2025

Takkoman Kouzatsu World

Looks great thank you!! I'll report back once played

 

[andyanajonseph]

Definitely a mock-up, but this is so something I'd love to make a reality at some point.
Especially since as much as I adore 6, it definitely should've been on the SNES for many reasons. Mainly cause of timing, and it could've been as impactful as X1.

I'm at least wanting to working on the assets, but I'm torn on if I wanna go for the Wily Wars look or something a bit more advance looking that's a bit below 7's level. I'm also torn on which globe I wanna base off for the title screen.

btw yes I'd also like to give 5 the same treatment, but that'll be later cause tbh I could go either way with 5 being on SNES or not. On one hand it could've been way more beloved initially being on at the time the more relevant system, on the other it easily could've been the Top-Loader game instead of 6.

 

[Yousef]

This isn't directed at you specifically, but I don't understand Mega Man fans' obsession with 2D graphics. What's wrong with a 3D presentation?

Thank you. I find it a really frustrating take too.

 

[Yousef]

Honestly, is this a big deal? I think Classic MM sprites are iconic as hell.

I really like this one:
View attachment 73825

Megaman x8 jumpscare

 

[Ikagura Ikagura]

Thank you. I find it a really frustrating take too.

I dunno where's the frustration.

I feel that if we could get a hand drawn MM game on the same level as Lizardcube's Wonder Boy III Remake or Streets of Rage 4 it would look nice (pic from a guide used as an example)

Powered up looks cute but honestly I see it more as a reinterpretation of the original game than a real remake.

 

[Michael Frank]

What is "enough"? I mean are there enough photorealistic 3D video games out there?

What is enough?! (throws his E-Tank to the floor, which shatters on the ground as he stands up) A miserable little pile of content!

 

[YoshifreakZX]

7 had the best sprites out of the classic series IMO.