#1 – Reintroduce Pixel Artwork Visuals
We personally completely love how Mega Man 11 regarded: it is clear, it is vibrant, and it is daring. However we might be mendacity if we mentioned we did not miss the “traditional” aesthetic of older Mega Man video games that Mega Man 9 and 10 went with. There’s simply one thing immediately charming about it, proper?
Video games like Castlevania III, Tremendous Mario World, and The Legend of Zelda: A Hyperlink to the Previous maintain up simply fantastic to this present day; arguably even higher than their 3D counterparts, and the Mega Man franchise isn’t any totally different, so we might like to see a return to an 8- or 16-bit artwork model. In 2022, nevertheless, simply how receptive are audiences going to be towards a brand new Mega Man that embraces pixel artwork? Particularly after Capcom took the collection in a considerably totally different path with the eleventh iteration.
Our resolution? Implement an ‘HD-2D’-style aesthetic. Keep the core identification of the unique NES titles, however increase it with real-time lighting, depth, and improved textures. We reckon that will look completely killer.
#2 – Convey Again Chiptune
This one type of goes hand-in-hand with our first level and we’re probably not certain you’ll be able to have one with out the opposite. Nonetheless, whereas we have been followers of among the tunes featured in Mega Man 11, they merely pale compared to the enduring scores discovered within the earlier NES titles; heck, even Mega Man 9 and 10 had music that fully trumps what was discovered within the newest title.
There’s nothing flawed with transferring away from chiptune music and making an attempt one thing slightly extra formidable, however with Mega Man, there’s one thing actually magical a couple of easy, easy 8-bit theme that immediately will get caught in your head.
Mega Man 2’s ‘Dr Wily’s Fort’ theme, Mega Man 3’s ‘Magnet Man’ theme, Mega Man 9’s ‘Galaxy Man’ theme (above)… They’re borderline perfection. Convey chiptune again, we are saying.
#3 – Change Up the Gear System
Mega Man 11’s gear system was undoubtedly its largest change in comparison with earlier titles. It bestowed the power to both decelerate time or energy up your weapon on the drop of a hat. Whereas it was a enjoyable little gimmick that labored properly inside the confines of the sport, its inclusion all through the entirety of the expertise arguably made some areas barely too straightforward, giving gamers a crutch to fall again on every time issues received a bit furry.
Our resolution? Pull again on its implementation barely. There are just a few methods Capcom might do that: our most well-liked possibility could be to maintain them out there always, however maybe restrict their use to 2 or 3 times per stage, forcing gamers to be a bit extra selective when deciding to make use of them.
Different choices embody having them seem within the phases as pickups, or introducing them as an possibility if gamers occur to die a sure variety of occasions, like in trendy Mario titles.
There’s, in fact, additionally the choice to ditch the gear system fully, however we’re unsure we’re followers of that concept. Whereas there isn’t any doubt that the phases in Mega Man 11 have been essentially constructed round their use, ditching them fully could be the flawed method right here. We like the gear system; it simply wants a little bit of refinement.
#4 – Enhance the Story
Mega Man 11 actually tried to introduce some semblance of plot and technically succeeded in doing so. That mentioned, we nonetheless would not go as far as to name it “good” and it actually wasn’t a patch on something you’d see within the spin-off collection Mega Man X.
Now, we’re not saying the core Mega Man franchise must introduce threats of world domination or a number of protagonists with questionable morals, however once you’re this far right into a franchise, it is advisable to give followers extra of a cause to stay round.
We would be fairly pleased if Mega Man 12 merely launched extra environmental cues pointing to a wider storyline, and even implement some cutscenes to introduce the Robotic Masters. Simply one thing to present this universe a bit extra life please, Capcom.
#5 – Talking of Mega Man X…
At this second in time, Capcom does not appear significantly fascinated with reviving the Mega Man X model, so why not implement a few of its core gameplay options into the mainline collection? Primarily, we’re pondering of the wall-jumping characteristic, which might add an additional sense of verticality to phases.
Different options embody the sprint (although that is mainly already out there within the type of a slide) and — dare we are saying it — a sword. Yeah, we’re not anticipating Zero to come back leaping into motion in Mega Man 12 or something, however it will be cool if Mega Man received a timed capacity to mainly go superpowered and wield some type of lightsaber for just a few moments!
#6 – Convey Again Rush’s Adaptor Means
Rush, Mega Man’s devoted robotic canine companion, is an absolute delight and has appeared in just about each recreation since his introduction again in Mega Man 3. His core skills, Coil and Jet, are nice little additions that blend up the gameplay, however we might find it irresistible if the subsequent instalment introduced again Mega Man 6’s ‘Adaptor’ capacity.
This successfully fused Rush with Mega Man, giving Mega Man an superior pink aesthetic and turning him into both Energy Mega Man or Jet Mega Man. Energy Mega Man was in a position to cost up punch assaults and annihilate enemy shields, whereas Jet Mega Man mainly allowed him to fly. What extra might you need? [Power Jet Mega Man? – Ed]
We would merely like to see these skills make a return in Mega Man 12.
Just like the sound of any of these concepts? Bought some higher ones of your individual? Tell us within the ballot under and be happy to have a good time 35 years of Mega Man within the feedback. You can even have a good time that we made it via all the article with out as soon as calling him the ‘Blue Bom—*editor bursts into the room, grabs the keyboard, and smashes it right into a thousand items*