Mega Man 4? More like Mega Man bore.
I've only liked one Mega Man game so far (MM3) but this is the first game in the series that I think I'd call outright bad. MM1 and 2 may be fundamentally flawed in a way that 4 isn't, but this is a much more soulless experience. Weapons are mostly just slightly altered versions of previous weapons, the music doesn't match up to 2's, and I just hate the level design. The level design in this game is completely barren, basic, and way less intricate than in previous games, with virtually no risk-reward elements. To compensate, there's way more enemy spam throughout, as if that can substitute for challenging difficulty. And the castle levels, my least favourite part of any Mega Man game, are doubled down here, making them feel even more endless than they already were. Yippee...
Two stars because Mega Man controls great as always (the only reason I'm still pushing through these games), the charged shot is a welcome addition, and the visuals and presentation are an awesome step up from the first three games and probably one of the best-looking NES games in general. Still, bad game. Holding out hope that I'll like 5 and 6 because I've made a commitment to finishing these games before I start the X series.
I've only liked one Mega Man game so far (MM3) but this is the first game in the series that I think I'd call outright bad. MM1 and 2 may be fundamentally flawed in a way that 4 isn't, but this is a much more soulless experience. Weapons are mostly just slightly altered versions of previous weapons, the music doesn't match up to 2's, and I just hate the level design. The level design in this game is completely barren, basic, and way less intricate than in previous games, with virtually no risk-reward elements. To compensate, there's way more enemy spam throughout, as if that can substitute for challenging difficulty. And the castle levels, my least favourite part of any Mega Man game, are doubled down here, making them feel even more endless than they already were. Yippee...
Two stars because Mega Man controls great as always (the only reason I'm still pushing through these games), the charged shot is a welcome addition, and the visuals and presentation are an awesome step up from the first three games and probably one of the best-looking NES games in general. Still, bad game. Holding out hope that I'll like 5 and 6 because I've made a commitment to finishing these games before I start the X series.