Mega Man 10 – Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy [ VIDEO ]
I’m a huge fan of the Mega Man series. I own almost every Mega Man game that was released in the west on the original format they were released on. But for some reason the inclusion of Easy Mode in Mega Man 10 seriously rubs me the wrong way.
Part of the fun of original Mega Man series (the numbereds) is the challenge. You battle through a level learning the enemies locations, knowing when to jump and trying to defeat that stage’s boss with your basic mega blaster or any of weapons you’ve acquired from the previous stages robot masters. If you can’t defeat the boss with that weapon, you leave and try another stage. It’s a lot of trial and error and does actually require some sort of skill and forethought. And there was no Easy Mode… until now.
Easy Mode takes the challenge factor out of the game. “But Steve (that’s my name) they just included it to attract a larger audience.” So what!? Look, the people that would have wanted to play this twenty-three year old franchise would have played it by now and those who you might attract play this installment will probably be turned away from the lack of dumbed down levels and mentally challenges enemies in the previous incarnations. Also, the inclusion of an Easy Mode might also tempt those who would be willing to overcome the challenge of the game to be swayed to a much more wussified experience.
All I’m saying is that there’s other Mega Man spinoffs: The Battle Networks, the Star Forces, the ZXs… Let one of them be the Mega Man for the weak, but leave the numbereds (and the Xs) to the purists. And while you’re at it, update the graphics too. These things look like they were developed for the NES ;)
Update: The video has made it onto Joystiq and GoNintendo. I love the comment that JC Fletcher makes about the video on Joystiq, “Dueling Analogs‘ take on the new Easy Mode, in which the cartoonist does his very best to make you feel ashamed of ever considering it an option.” Ah, loving this! :) I really wish you guys could see the smile on my face right now.
