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Home Mega Man updates

Mega Man 9 coming to WiiWare, Spacecat yawns and goes back to sleep

2:15 PM on 06.26.2008, Colette Bennett 62 comments

Mega Man 9 coming to WiiWare, Spacecat yawns and goes back to sleep photo
     Mega Man

Secrets are hard to keep, as our own industry insider connection Spacecat can agree, and this one has finally burst from the seams with a real announcement in Nintendo Power: Mega Man 9 will be coming to WiiWare. Even more interesting, the game looks like a retro Mega Man title. Wasn't RetroforceGO! just talking about how the series could be revived with a return to its roots?

You may have to squint to read the fine print, but the scans from the article have been posted on community member nilcam's c-blog, which you can check out here. By scrutinizing these on my monitor, I was able to tell that the title will have a more in-depth story than previous titles, and everything down to the music and sound effects is 8-bit-style. To sum up -- every retro fan in the world is going to cry crystalline tears of ecstatic joy.

Now that it's in print, details will probably begin to spill out faster than the speed of light, but until then, we have a lot to be happy about. Looks like Koji Igarashi isn't the only man in the business paying attention to the rallied cries of retro gamers. Viva La Mega Man!


Next page: More Wiiware stories




mix's Avatar
mix at 06/26/2008 14:18
What happened to Mega Man since the last time I played?
He is looking mightily out of shape, Dr. Wiley must not be cranking out them bots.
Faceless's Avatar
Faceless at 06/26/2008 14:20
If it's anything like Mega Man 1-3 I'll buy it day one. I still go back and play those occasionally.
robestyles's Avatar
robestyles at 06/26/2008 14:22
Can we have some classic Mega Man music in this and not some techno dance shit.
iwontusemyname's Avatar
iwontusemyname at 06/26/2008 14:22
so..that means that they'll release the first three games on the VC....right? RIGHT?
ParaParaKing's Avatar
ParaParaKing at 06/26/2008 14:24
This is another one of the graphics over gameplay problems. Only this time they choose shitty graphics over pretty ones.
Of course everybody who loves MegaMan 2 will be happy, but most of them couldn't care about any MegaMan past 4, so why care about 9 then?

I am really sad about this, because I had high hopes for pretty HD graphics.
rebelphoenix's Avatar
rebelphoenix at 06/26/2008 14:25
Do Want.
killias2's Avatar
killias2 at 06/26/2008 14:25
I REALLY want.
Necros's Avatar
Necros at 06/26/2008 14:26
A couple of random complaints I have:

1) Why no 360 release? Spacecat promised us...and frankly, if it's new games, I'd rather have them on my 360.
2) Hey, it's great that the Wii is getting this game. It'd be a great idea if they released the rest of the early games on VC so I didn't have to buy that poor quality Mega Man collection on Gamecube. Wait, 1 and 2 are out everywhere but America? Well, fuck you, Capcom.
3. Why NES graphics? Why not SNES/Playstation graphics?
4. You say the story is more in-depth, but I also hear that this will just be "another Mega Man game" and not bridge the original series and the X series, which is a missed opportunity to fill in a convoluted timeline. (Then again, who really cares.)

Otherwise...yay retro revivals, I guess?
AngelsDontBurn's Avatar
AngelsDontBurn at 06/26/2008 14:29
Bet that guy's costume is tearing at the ass.
killias2's Avatar
killias2 at 06/26/2008 14:29
I'm surprised that the visuals are total 8-bit instead of Super Paper Mario faux retro, but I'm still excited as hell.
Zen Albatross's Avatar
Zen Albatross at 06/26/2008 14:34
DO WANT.

PEW PEW PEW.
iwontusemyname's Avatar
iwontusemyname at 06/26/2008 14:35
yeah. what with street fighter II superdebloopybloop HD coming out, with that great drawn style, capcom would do something similar. or, at the very least, something like the PSP powered up game.

but i'm still not complaining, and i'm hoping it turns out great. (and if it does, i hope sega and sonic team are watching...)
GuitarAtomik's Avatar
GuitarAtomik at 06/26/2008 14:36
Honestly, I think the 8-bit graphics move is dumb. I wouldn't mind if the sound fx were old school but I don't want to play anything that looks like it was on NES ever again so I'm disappointed. I was really hoping for some nice clean HD 2D sprites.

Oh well. I prefer the X series anyway so whatever :/
itemforty's Avatar
itemforty at 06/26/2008 14:42
I'm confused; the pictures in that magazine are of old Mega Man titles, right?
CypherVR's Avatar
CypherVR at 06/26/2008 14:43
If this is any good, it'll be the first ever WiiWare title i buy. Since getting VC titles left and right >_>
GuitarAtomik's Avatar
GuitarAtomik at 06/26/2008 14:44
@itemforty

Nope. That's the new one.
Def JM's Avatar
Def JM at 06/26/2008 14:45
What itemforty said.
Hoodie's Avatar
Hoodie at 06/26/2008 14:49
I'm really intrigued by the retro graphics! This is a really cool and bold idea. Hats off to Capcom.

It would be awesome if they just kept the 8-bit art style, but included stuff that the NES wasn't capable of- huge sprites, maybe some smoother animation and neat effects- nothing too contemporary. Though I wouldn't complain if they blew our minds with some Fez-like axis shifts.
michiyoyoshiku's Avatar
michiyoyoshiku at 06/26/2008 14:56
It looks like a half assed Mega Man 2 Rom Hack I'm disapointed.
-PL-'s Avatar
-PL- at 06/26/2008 15:03
Half-assed, lolz... rom hacking is pretty tough. You ever done it?
Cyberxion's Avatar
Cyberxion at 06/26/2008 15:06
I'm with Hoodie. I actually think that making a sequel that is in line graphically with the NES games is an interesting move.

That said, the screen-shots like they were lifted directly from old Megaman games. I'm not talking about the recycled sprites either. I'm seeing stuff that looks EXACTLY like areas in the old games. That's kinda off-putting.
eternalplayer2345's Avatar
eternalplayer2345 at 06/26/2008 15:09
NES graphics are a unique approach but I'm still a little iffy. Here's hoping they put my fears to rest.
itemforty's Avatar
itemforty at 06/26/2008 15:11
So, because it's difficult it's OK if a ROM hack looks like shit?
Dr Milkdad's Avatar
Dr Milkdad at 06/26/2008 15:21
Best news I've heard...ever.
Highlar's Avatar
Highlar at 06/26/2008 15:25
According to this link it sounds like its no rumor, but a confirmed game:

http://gonintendo.com/?p=47632#comment-1996883

Can't wait for it myself. I've always been a HUGE fan of the original NES Megaman games. Very tough, but very personally rewarding when you finally won through them. They are just a pure platforming joy to play. :-)
Tubatic's Avatar
Tubatic at 06/26/2008 15:26
I think it looks great.

8-bit =/= bad graphics =/= bad game

Notice in one scan that they have Mega Man rotating in "3d" space around rotating platform. There's still a few tricks they can pull in 8-bit.

Do. Want.
deiga-the-semivaliant's Avatar
deiga-the-semivaliant at 06/26/2008 15:38
Right um...

I'm all for retro. I like retro. I play old games all the time. But I play them for the NOSTALGIA. Because it's a game I thought looked good as a CHILD. Not because I think IT LOOKS GOOD.

I'm disappointed. With today's technology, Mega Man 9 could have been so much more creative, with eye popping two-dimensional graphics and effects. They could have played with color depth, or maybe even the use of artistic filters to give the game a uniquely crafted look.

Instead, they practically reuse old NES sprites and animations.

Mega Man was the beginning of my obsession with video games. It's my most favorite series of all time.

But this is a disappointment.
GuitarAtomik's Avatar
GuitarAtomik at 06/26/2008 15:42
What Deiga said.
mistic's Avatar
mistic at 06/26/2008 15:45
sweet looks really charming like that :-)
Gen Eric Gui's Avatar
Gen Eric Gui at 06/26/2008 15:46
What Tubatic said.
SLiFE's Avatar
SLiFE at 06/26/2008 15:47
So fucking awesome. I want this game badly. I only hope it isn't confined to WiiWare.

A couple clever bosses/weapons, some good level design, memorable music... this game could be the start of a new retro revolution if it hits all the right points.
Cowzilla3's Avatar
Cowzilla3 at 06/26/2008 15:53
I don't think we've even seen it in motion yet. I'll reserve judgement on how they're using the truly retro look until then. If it looks like they've copied and pasted that's fine but the thing with graphics like these is you can't tell how good they'll be until you actually see them in action.
Tubatic's Avatar
Tubatic at 06/26/2008 15:56
I'm not arguing with anyone's opinion. You feel how you feel, that's cool. I'm not trying to win the internets :)

But the more I think about it, the more it makes good sense, and ends up being a nice homage to the classics.

1 through 6, save for a few new animations here and there, had the same sprites all throughout's kind of something I though was very cool back then. Each adventure was your same Mega Man, but in a new scenario. I honestly thought that was one of the really slick things about the series. 1-6 were more like expansions than completely new game iterations, and it definitely worked. It was even kind of comfortable to say to yourself "OK, its Mega Man again. What do I get to do now?"
Slick Icarus's Avatar
Slick Icarus at 06/26/2008 15:59
YAAAAAY!!!!!

No, really, this is freakin' rad. Love the 8-bit graphics. Hope the music is just as good as the classics. Now when do we get Mega Man 2 on VC?
Jonathan Holmes's Avatar
Jonathan Holmes at 06/26/2008 16:08
This game looks fucking fantastic. I couldn't ask for anything better than this.

For those of you who want a new Mega Man game with SNES or PS1 quality graphics, you have the ZX and Star Force games to play. But for those of us who thought that 8-Bit Mega Man is the best looking Mega Man (like myself), this is a fucking god send.

Plus, did you see this rumored boss list?

SPLASH WOMAN????

HOLY FUCK!!!
GuitarAtomik's Avatar
GuitarAtomik at 06/26/2008 16:12
I just personally wish the graphics were up to today's standard. I've been DIEING for someone to bring out something with 2d sprites that takes advantage of today's hardware (preferably in HD) that's outside of the fighting genre. With the announcement of this, I kind of got my hopes up that this would be like that. I'll reserve my full impressions of it for when I see it in motion as I'm hoping they take advantage of the hardware in some more interesting ways (ala PacMan CE) but I'm not holding my breath. I don't even care if the game play is pretty much identical, I'd just like the visuals to be up to speed.

I'm really not angry at all, just kind of dissapointed (I would be a little angry if this was the X series). I think the novelty of the idea is kind of cool but I feel like it's just that. A novelty.
Tubatic's Avatar
Tubatic at 06/26/2008 16:19
@GuitarAtomik

Separately from Mega Man 9, I totally want that too. Odin Sphere had the right idea. Beautiful. 2D. Sidescrolling. I hear that the same company is doing something for Wii that is allegedly along the same lines of that, but in a more actiony setting.
GuitarAtomik's Avatar
GuitarAtomik at 06/26/2008 16:23
@Tubatic

Yeah, that ninja game. That thing looks really awesome.
skruloos's Avatar
skruloos at 06/26/2008 16:26
I'm glad they went the way they did. The series feels right in this incarnation. I was much disappointed with Megaman 7 and 8 because of the updated graphics. It looked too much like Megaman X, which just wasn't my cup of tea.

If they can come close to Megaman 2 and 3 in terms of bosses and quality, then that's all I need.
Cowzilla3's Avatar
Cowzilla3 at 06/26/2008 16:27
@ Guitaratomik

don't know if its up your alley but the new warioland also is a 2d platformer. Who knows if it will suck or not but it's graphcis look good.
nilcam's Avatar
nilcam at 06/26/2008 16:35
I refuse to judge the graphics until I see them in motion. I keep thinking about how cool Mega Man would look if he had the 8-bit look and animation like the Space Invaders Extreme bosses. I would cry tears of joy and start to hate 3D again like I did during the PS1/N64 era.
sweetchuck's Avatar
sweetchuck at 06/26/2008 16:35
I wonder if the graphics choice has anything to do with keeping the file size down? In any case, I'll sure as hell be buying this thing.
@ Faceless - just buy the anniversary collection for GC, I'm sure you can find it cheap.
Knives's Avatar
Knives at 06/26/2008 16:37
I knew I could trust cats.

Yay Megaman!!!
king3vbo's Avatar
king3vbo at 06/26/2008 16:58
GIMME
OhHeyLookFreeGrenade's Avatar
OhHeyLookFreeGrenade at 06/26/2008 17:00
I've already bought it. Twice. In the future.
Brahms's Avatar
Brahms at 06/26/2008 18:13
Deiga got it. Unfortunately. I'm waiting for some gameplay information.
Paul Soth's Avatar
Paul Soth at 06/26/2008 18:14
Hornet Man?

Buster's Avatar
Buster at 06/26/2008 18:15
wiiware? fuck, i guess i dont have to be excited for it anymore
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