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Mega Man 9

EMAIL PRINT xbox360

7.2 User Score:

Generally favorable reviews

Based on 32 critic reviews
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Based on 12 votes
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Game Info

Publisher: Capcom

Developer: Capcom / Inti

Genre(s): Action

Players: 1

ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)

Release Date: October 1, 2008

Summary

[Xbox Live Arcade] In the year 200X, as the advanced science of the era has created industrial robots that co-exist with humans. However, an evil genius, Dr. Wily, plots for world domination and creates his own robot army to take over mankind. Luckily for humanity, Dr. Light outfits one of his domestic robots "Rock" to fight Dr. Wily’s creations and Mega Man is born.Set after the events of Mega Man 8, multiple riots have sprung up all over the world. Whilst many people suspect that this is another plot from Dr. Wily, Dr. Light is stunned to recognize that some of the robots rioting on the TV screen are his own creations. Even more stunning, Dr. Wily appears on television to proclaim that Dr. Light is the evil mastermind behind these latest catastrophic incidents and it’s up to Mega Man to clear his creator’s name. The original 2D classic Mega Man returns, bringing the series back to its roots with retroaction-platform gameplay and NES-inspired old school graphics. Relive the Mega Man experience with maniacally themed environments, a host of power-ups, and classically-inspired bosses, each with their own unique weapons and weaknesses. [Capcom]

Cheat Codes & Hints: Cheat Code Central

Also On The Web: Official Website

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

The Onion (A.V. Club)

Experimenting with Black Hole Bombs and other special weapons is great fun in Mega Man 9, a welcome departure from recent entries in the series, where an enhanced Mega Buster made other weaponry less relevant.

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Games Radar (in-house)

Buy it, finish it, love it, because if this takes off we’re going to see a renaissance of new-old games. And if that happens, a whole new batch of gamers will grow up learning why rock-solid gameplay, not tera-flipping flop-bib shaders, make games truly exceptional.

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TeamXbox

Those that cringe at the site of the arcade or 8-bit style of games on XBLA need to stay far, far away from Mega Man 9; the difficulty and overall replay value will not sit well with you. But for those that are simply in love with the Mega Man IP, or those that continually pull out the NES for old time’s sake, Mega Man 9 is one is a rare treat– a tasty morsel likened to the decades-later discovery of a previously unreleased recording from Zeppelin, or similar rock gods.

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GameDaily

It's damn near impossible, but you'll feel a great sense of accomplishment if you manage to beat the final boss. The replay value is high, thanks to additional challenge and time attack stages, along with promising downloadable content.

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ZTGameDomain

Overall, this game is a dream come true for an old school, 8 bit gamer like myself. From the difficulty level, to the nostalgic graphics and sound, it's everything I could want from a new Mega Man title.

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X360 Magazine UK

Without doubt, this is a download for the true hardcore, but anyone who dares will be treated to one of the greatest games yet on Live Arcade. [Issue#38, p.114]

Game Over Online

I can't imagine any casual gamers getting much out of Mega Man 9. It requires and tests a skill set that you only tend to have these days if you've been playing games for the last twenty years.

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Official Xbox Magazine UK

Who knew agony could be so much fun? [Dec 2008, p.100]

Console Monster

Mega Man 9 was probably created for retro-freaks like me, however any gamer who loves a challenge will feel right at home with Mega Man 9.

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Gamer 2.0

Mega Man 9 is an extraordinary accomplishment through and through and has come at the right time.

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Gamers' Temple

With his roots buried so deeply into the 8-bit era, Mega Man nearly has no problem whatsoever with turning back the clock in this installment.

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IGN

Mega Man 9 is exactly what hardcore gamers were hoping it would be, as Capcom has come out of the gate with a game that's full of nostalgia and fan-service, but also one that truly does rival the best in the franchise's 8-bit roots.

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GamerNode

The game encapsulates everything that made the franchise great in the late 80s and early 90s and recycles it for the current generation. Mega Man 9 is a worthy addition to any gamer's digital library.

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GameSpot

The original blue bomber returns in an all new adventure that will bring you back to the good old days of incredibly hard but simple games.

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1UP

After having a chance to check out all three versions, we recommend picking up the Wii version and playing with the Classic Controller -- it's got a much more natural feel than the other two consoles' controllers, especially the wonky Xbox 360 D-pad.

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Gaming Nexus

Mega Man 9 is going to give you your money's worth in the long run.

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Talk Xbox

Mega Man 9 is definitely a challenging game and designed for the hardcore gamer that remembers a simpler time consisting of two button controllers, cartridges and 8-bit graphics.

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Worth Playing

This definitely caters to the hardcore gamer who wants to experience the original Mega Man titles again. Mega Man 9 does a fantastic job of this, and for at $10, it's a steal.

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Gaming Age

It is as true as possible to the franchise's humble beginnings, which is a good and bad thing. In my opinion, it's a good thing because I love a game that can put me through the wringer and back-but still be fair about it.

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Cheat Code Central

This is a full-sized 8-bit title, complete with a time trial mode. Playing through the story once can take between six to eight hours, but you could easily spend twice this amount of time with the game and still be having fun.

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VideoGamer

The vibrant, retro look reinforces the game's charm even further.

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Eurogamer

Capcom has crafted a love letter to its own past, and its own fans, that is both effective and generous in satisfying its peculiar niche audience.

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DarkZero

How am I supposed to warn people who choose to play that they may end up with a urge to smash their controller with a sledgehammer due to the intense anger this game may cause? And crucially, how am I supposed to tell them that it is all truly worth it in the end? I really do not know!

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Da Gameboyz

At the end of the day there is really nothing here to convince a newcomer that the 8-bit era was great, but for those who remember any of it, Mega Man 9 is the experience of the year and is hopefully only the first of many more to come.

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Armchair Empire

I may die a dozen times in as many minutes, but the simplicity of the controls and game mechanics and the great level design make for an experience that can be equally rewarding and damning.

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Gamervision

Hardcore enthusiasts who are looking for a serious challenge will not be disappointed in the least.

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games(TM)

The unrelenting, incredibly hard levels are in complete contrast with everything else on the market. [Dec 2008, p.127]

Official Xbox Magazine

From its quirky mechanical enemies to its strident strains of deliciously lo-fi music, this run-and-gun platformer honors the 8-bit era.

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PTGamers

A title to please fans, retrogamers and players in search of a real challenge, but most new generation gamers will find it difficult to bond with this game.

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GamingExcellence

All this said Mega Man 9 has a lot going for it. It isn’t terrifically expensive but you can have hours of fun with it, trying to master the stages and the Robot Masters.

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Xbox World 360 Magazine UK

Too hard to be fun, too mean not to frustrate, but challenging enough to be rewarding. [Christmas 2008, p.92]

Game Revolution

Really, though, there’s nothing wrong with the game itself, and it will appeal greatly to the legions of longtime fans. The franchise has always been difficult, and dying a lot has always been a part of getting through the games. Yet ultimately, Mega Man 9 is so difficult that it gives newcomers very little reason to pick it up.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 7.2 (out of 10) based on 12 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Michael H gave it a9:
Introduced me to one the the most extraordanary series of all time. Mega Man is timeless.

Roger gave it a4:
I'm sorry, but this game is completely sub-par. If this is really what the original Mega Man was so applauded for, the original apparently stunk too. I'll excuse people who liked the original though, they didn't know better at the time. But in this day and age, it is ridiculous for such a poorly designed, tiny game to be so popular. This trades in advanced AI for cannons that you have to wait, count to 2, jump shoot, wait, count to 2, jump shoot. That isn't challenge, thats just boring drivel. This game completely abandons all of the advances in games, and I don't mean the pretty graphics or sound. I mean the invention of open worlds where multiple paths can succeed, the invention of strategy and tactics in games, that actually make you think and test your skills. And before you say this game requires skill, no it doesn't. Figuring out that jumping at this point to kill this enemy is not skill, I do the same thing when I try and figure out the way to open my new box of Oreos (with the seal on top) or when I first tried to open a packet of ketchup from the wrong side. Once you know how, you know how. And timing your button presses and jumps right does not constitute fun in my book. That counts as pointless repetition and joyless mimickry. If there was a way to return XBox Live titles, I would have returned this game by now.

John F. gave it a9:
If you are up to the challenge, it's a very fun game! Mega Man fans and retro gamers need to pick this one up.

Brian gave it a9:
Excellent game. True to the original mega-man. If you are a fan of the old school mega man games, purchasing this is an absolute must.

Mitch S. gave it a9:
Exceeds expectations in good and bad ways. Graphics are 8-bit awesomeness with sound to match. Difficulty is much tougher than the tough mode of Mega Man 2 on the NES, some of the obstacles are real head-scratchers. It's very much aimed at a specific kind of gamer, and you already know if this is you. There is nothing here to convince a newcomer that the NES was great, but for those who remember it, this is the experience of the year-- and will hopefully be one of many more to come.

Matt A. gave it an8:
HARD! But fun. Only for those who really like the classic mega man games. It makes you work for it. But it's classic level and gameplay design. Fun.

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