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Megaman - Network Transmission Analyzed
psyco484 writes "A new Megaman title, Megaman Network Transmission, is being released in the US this month for Gamecube. Gamespy has further details on this cel-shaded side-scroller. Is there still room for side-scrollers, in this age of incredible 3D worlds with incredibly realistic world physics?" Actually, this 3D graphics/2D gameplay Arika-developed title is already out in Japan, and the ever-resourceful Toastyfrog has a helpful review of it - but is this where you want to see the Megaman series going?
Is there still room for side-scrollers, in this age of incredible 3D worlds with incredibly realistic world physics?
Not if they seem to be as badly done as this one. But looking at the praise that 'Viewtiful Joe' seems to get from those that have seen it, I think that the genre is not dead yet. As everywhere else developers still need to innovate, but provided they do I don't need incredible realistic world physics. Let me run faster and jump higher than I can do in the even more realistic world I live in. Otherwise I wouldn't need to play games.
Hank! White!
cel-shaded side-scroller
Try saying that ten times fast.
I hope this doesn't turn out to be as frustrating as other recent Mega Man side-scrollers. (IE: X4, X5 and X6. Bleh.) It seems that Capcom has not really learned that "needs inhuman timing" does not automatically equal "fun and challenging". Still, there's hope. This virtual Mega Man universe is one of their most interesting ideas in recently years. The GBA Battle Network games are some of the best I've played on that platform.
...for a traditional side-scrolling megaman game.
The megaman x series on SNES was one of my favorite series ever, allthough the playstation incarnations were severely lacking imho. I welcome any chance for capcom to get it right again.
Anyone else get the secret StreetFighter moves in the old megaman x games? Now that was cool. I nearly shit my pants the first time I made megaman do a 'Hadoken'.
"but is this where you want to see the Megaman series going?"
It appears to me that there have been 2D megaman games all along. They've never stopped making 2D megaman games, they have always made 2D megaman games. The franchise is not *headed* in this direction, it has been there since the 80s. Not to mention, of course, that 3D megaman games have existed simultaneously with 2D games, on many systems.
The real question is whether or not Capcom will take the game in the direction I call "not sucking so much anymore."
Is there still room for side-scrollers, in this age of incredible 3D worlds with incredibly realistic world physics?
Last I checked, the top criterion for a game was whether it's fun.
You want realism? Go outside.
I always loved side scrollers. My wife refuses to play 3D games because they disorient her.
Look at the new Metoid for the Gameboy! That was an awesome game!
Look at the Castlevania series. The only ones that have sucked are the 3D ones! They should have just stuck with 2D scrollers all the way!
Once, I read that video game companies do make side scollers and such for the newest systems because gamers would say something along the lines of "Hey, my old system could do something like this." But, I'm with you guys. A game should be FUN, no matter what format(Side scroller, FPS, etc) it's in.
What, me Tweet?
I've played every Mega Man title released (either rented way back when, or on ROM) and the reviewer couldn't have given me more incentive to buy it when he said it was better than Mega Man X6. Of course, he didn't mean it that way, but that's fine with me!
My not-so-guilty pleasure...
The best game ive played recently is Metroid Fusion, not even a console title! it takes teh original 2d concept and adds to it in numerous subtle ways. i sure hope thers a comeback soon, esp with Viewtifu Joe releasing soon.
I want 2D games back.
Ok, two points to make.
Point one: I for one miss side scrollers, not because of anything side scrollers can provide exclusively, but I beleive that game designers truly mastered the 2D Sidescrolling genre, but I beleive that as far as 3D games go, we have a lot of catching up to do.
Point 2: What are these games with incredibly realistic physics you're referring to? I think the recent Enter the Matrix is prime evidence against that statement. I mean they had two physics models to choose from, and they still couldn't cut it!
Besides, who here can really say they prefer Megaman Battlenetwork over classic 2D Sidescrolling action? I for one welcome back this genre.
Ikaruga proves that you don't have to have fancy schmancy 3D stuff to make a great game. It just has to be fun.
--Steven
After all, the only thing I really wanted for my Playstation 1 was Rockman III (Japanese for Megaman III), and Sony deprived me of it. I bought the import version and tried to play it in my mod chipped Playstation and it didn't work because Sony had screwed it up to defeat the mod chip, so I couldn't play it (even though I could've had it if I were Japanese). Thus Sony gained my eternal, undying hatred and drove me stark, staring insane.
Although I own Megaman 8 for Playstation, I didn't like it as much as the classic Megaman games. Unfortunately, all the classic Megaman games I ever played belonged to my evil brother, and as I no longer live with him, I can't play them any more.
So here's hoping that this game really is not that much different than previous editions of Megaman.
All the creatures will die, And all the things will be broken. That's the law of samurai. (Jubai, 1605)
But Megaman Network Transmission...the screen shots on Gamespy (http://gamespy.com/previews/june03/megamanntgcn/
It looks like a cartoon...or like some 12 year old kid did it all in Flash...The movie preview that you can watch for free from the official Megaman site (http://www.capcom.com/megaman/megaman.html) still doesn't do it justice...
I can see that the cel-shading does make a large difference...but i would think that they could have made it a lot better....
If I pay 200$ for a Gamecube (which is supposedly supposed to have awesome/realistic graphics) I would expect to see really awesome graphics...but if i paid money for this game and the graphics were not exceptionally better than these screen shots and the trailer then i would be really dissappointed with this game...how can you think it is any fun if it looks so stupid....
jC - sweet sweet squirrel on sheet metal
Whatever, you have no idea what you're talking about... Did you even look at the screenshots? Or the movie for god's sake? It looks so good.. makes me want to cream myself...mmmm cream...Megaman is gonna come regulate on yo' ass... representin'..
mmm cream, like what is inside an infant, oh god and infant....mmm break one in half....
Some game franchises just don't translate well to 3D. A few months ago I found video and screenshots of the upcoming MegaMan 7 for PS2. In my mind, making MegaMan a 3D adventure destroys the gameplay. My take on it can be found here:
Why, Capcom?"Jesus saves, but everyone else in a 10 foot radius takes full damage from the fireball."