Mega Man 64

"An action game no more. It’s an awesome action RPG!"

Game info: Name: Mega Man 64. Licensed by Nintendo. Produced by Capcom, 1997, 2000. Size: 256 Megabits. Game genre: action RPG.

Graphics: 8.5/10
The overall graphics in this game are not as detailed as the Zelda series or Castlevania(Legacy of Darkness), and they are not as diverse as in Super Mario 64 or Banjo Kazooie. Nonetheless, the graphics in Mega Man 64 is interesting enough to elicit enjoyment. The setting is on an island, where there is a police station, a bank, a city hall, a mall, etc. (The mall looks like my imaginary Edmonton mall.) The enemy dominated areas include tunnels and futuristic rooms that are comparable to some Zelda 64 dungeons.

Megaman can interact with various types of modern people, their contours distinct and detailed, like in Zelda 64 games. The realistically animated facial expressions of Megaman can be hilarious at times, and his ‘girlfriend' Roll has such distinct and cute facial features that some boys may like her at first glance. There is also Miss Tron, who has a hairstyle resembling Dragon Ball Z characters. The special weapons give Megaman's left-arm a variety of different looks. For example, when equipping the Powered Buster, Megaman's whole left arm becomes a high-powered cannon!

The robotic bosses present some of the most amazing graphics in this game and in the N64 league. Versatile movements, vivid mechanical parts, and awesome overall structures make some of the bosses the best looking bosses of all times. One example would be the gigantic fire breathing dogs, which rush and pounce at Megaman with such energy and precision that if it were not for the sensitive play controls, Megaman would have been crushed to death. During battles, their metallic legs and body shimmer and shine. On the other hand, there are also cute bosses such the cartoon-faced baby robot.

Music and Sound effects: 9.3/10
One great feature in Mega Man 64 is the recorded dialogues that some characters produce during important cut-scenes. These dialogues are spoken with appropriate tones and feelings, and greatly enhance the realism of the game. Just imagine the long-haired blonde Roll saying “Megaman! Megaman, are you alright?” with fluctuating tones. Once when Megaman is looking for an artifact underground, Roll speaks to him about a past story they both shared. Watching the cut-scenes is like watching Mega Man cartoons on TV. There is even a cast list at the end of the game~!

In this game, music is played at only several locations, such as the mall, towns, and boss rooms. Some music tunes can be catchy, while others are rich in tune quality. At other places, there are only sound effects without music, such as birds singing and chirping in the fields, or the eerie vacuum air sound in the underground. These increase the originality of the game.

Story: 9.2/10
After their ship is damaged, Megaman, Roll, grandpa, and Data the monkey are trapped on an island called Kattlenox, surrounded by “endless waters”. They are required to find energy shards (known as refractors) to repair their machine. During this quest, Mega Man meets different people with different needs. Once he involves in a particular side-quest, he may gain some great special weapons in the end. There are many side-quests with interesting themes, such as shooting down a bank robber's car while the police car chases close behind. However, the story does not end here. It seems that there is another evil force trying to destroy this Kattlenox island, and it is up to Mega Man and Roll to solve this mystery. The story is excellent, and the realistic cut-scenes keep me from getting bored.

Play control: 9.4/10
The play control is one of the greatest ever! In this 3D adventure, Megaman can run in all directions, or walk slowly while tiptoeing. He can quickly roll to the side to avoid enemy attacks. He can open doors or talk to people using the down-C button, or use his special weapons using the left-C button. The special weapons can be a mine, an energy sword, an enormous drill, a fire-ball cannon, or a homing missile blaster, each requiring a slightly different play control method. One can see through Megaman's world by looking out of Megaman's eyes, or rotating the view clock-wise or counter-clock-wise. The latter rotational move is especially useful during boss battles when Megaman run and turn at the same time, such as when he runs to the right while rotating counter-clock-wise. This enables him to run in a circle while firing at the circle centre! Also, there are buster parts that can enhance Megaman buster's attack, energy, range, and rapidness. Body part upgrades boost Megaman's jumping ability, or speeds up his sliding technique. Summing up, the play control is accurate and sensitive, though re-jumping may be slow at times. Another downside about the play control is that you cannot charge up the mega buster…

Game play and fun: 9.6/10
The game play for Mega Man 64 is fun, fun, fun! The real-time voice dialogues and the diverse facial expressions make the game even more intriguing. Megaman's tasks include digging for treasures that lie in underground walls and holes, blasting enemies with upgraded buster powers, and helping a crippled girl to walk. The superb ending involves everyone Megaman has interacted with (no details mentioned). Also, the boss fights contribute immensely to the game play. As Megaman dodges attacks, jumps, and fires at his enemy, the player really feels he or she is part of the game. During this battling period, the player may feel that this Mega Man game is totally cool and become ecstatic. There are numerous side-quests Mega Man can complete to aid other characters in this game. Satisfaction eventually comes after helping others. This can be applied to real life as well- an educational way of viewing Mega Man 64! As one can see, I totally loved this game, especially during some cut-scenes and boss battles. ~Generalx.

Overall Score: 9.3/10
Final score in my opinion: 10/10

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 01/03/05