Mega Man II (Game Boy)

Last updated
Mega Man II
Megamaniibox.jpg
North American cover art
Developer(s) Thinking Rabbit
Publisher(s) Capcom
Nintendo (EU)
Producer(s) Tokuro Fujiwara
Artist(s) Keiji Inafune
Composer(s) Kenji Yamazaki [1]
Series Mega Man
Platform(s) Game Boy
Release
Genre(s) Action, platform
Mode(s) Single-player

Mega Man II [lower-alpha 1] is an action-platform video game by Capcom for the Game Boy. It is the second game in the handheld version of the Mega Man series after Mega Man: Dr. Wily's Revenge . It is noteworthy for having been developed by a different company than the rest of the Mega Man titles on the Game Boy.

Contents

The game follows Mega Man as he pursues his arch-enemy Dr. Wily, whose most recent ploy for world domination involves the theft of an experimental time machine. Mega Man confronts both Wily and a number of enemies from his past, including a new and mysterious robot named Quint. Just like other Game Boy games in the series, Mega Man II marries the features of two consecutive Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) titles, in this case, Mega Man 2 and Mega Man 3 . In 2013, Mega Man II was made available on the Virtual Console of Japan's Nintendo eShop for the Nintendo 3DS. It was later released in the North American and PAL region eShops the following year.

Plot

The storyline of Mega Man II involves the hero Mega Man battling his arch-nemesis Dr. Wily as the latter once again attempts to take over the world. This time around the evil genius has stolen an experimental "Time Skimmer" from the world's Chronos Institute and used it to travel 37.426 years into the future. [2] [5] Meanwhile, Mega Man is sent to investigate an underground passageway containing enemy Robot Masters from his previous adventures. Mega Man destroys them again and makes his way to Wily's fortress, which contains four more Robot Masters from his past. Once they are destroyed, Mega Man advances and comes upon Quint, a future version of himself. Wily had captured Quint in the future, remodeled him, and brought him back to the present. [6] After Mega Man beats him, Quint relinquishes his "Sakugarne" jackhammer weapon to the hero. Mega Man follows Wily to a space station and defeats him.

Gameplay

Mega Man in a boss fight with Clash Man. The game continues the Game Boy series trend of recycling elements from the two consecutive NES titles: Mega Man 2 and Mega Man 3. Mega man ii gameplay.jpg
Mega Man in a boss fight with Clash Man. The game continues the Game Boy series trend of recycling elements from the two consecutive NES titles: Mega Man 2 and Mega Man 3 .

As with other games in the series, Mega Man II is a standard side-scrolling platformer that lets the player take control of the hero Mega Man as he traverses stages and defeats various enemies and bosses. The player is able to run, jump, and shoot as in the previous game, but is now able to slide along the ground as well. [5] The outset of the game allows the player to choose among four stages to be completed in any order. Beating the Robot Master boss at the end of the stage allows the player access to its unique weapon for the remainder of the game. [7] These weapons have limited ammunition that can be refilled by picking up items dropped by enemies. Spare energy tanks can be obtained and selected to completely refill the player's health. [5]

Defeating some Robot Masters will grant Mega Man access to three adaptors for his canine companion Rush to be used in different environments. The Rush Coil allows Mega Man a very high jump; the Rush Marine turns the dog into a submarine for easy underwater mobility, and the Rush Jet lets Mega Man cross large distances. [5] [7] Like Dr. Wily's Revenge, Mega Man II takes many elements from the NES Mega Man games. The first four stages and their bosses (Wood Man, Air Man, Clash [ sic ] Man, and Metal Man) come from Mega Man 2 . [7] After traveling to Wily's fortress, four new stages become available via a teleportation room. The bosses for these stages (Top Man, Hard Man, Magnet Man, and Needle Man) are taken from Mega Man 3 . [7]

Development and release

Capcom outsourced the development of Mega Man II to a different company than the one that had worked on Mega Man: Dr. Wily's Revenge. [2] [8] Series artist Keiji Inafune admitted that the design quality of Mega Man II feeling different from the other games was the result of the developer having very little knowledge of the series. For the next game in the Game Boy line, they decided to return to the developer of Mega Man: Dr. Wily’s Revenge. [2]

Mega Man II has been re-released as part of the Nintendo Player's Choice line of budget titles in North America. [9] The game was made available on the Japanese Nintendo Power cartridge service on March 13, 2001. [10] Capcom announced a compilation release of the five Game Boy Mega Man games for a release in 2004 on the Game Boy Advance, but it was cancelled. [11] On July 18, 2013, it was confirmed that Mega Man II was planned to release on the 3DS Virtual Console, [12] which released in Japan on September 25, 2013, [13] in North America on May 8, 2014. [14] and in the PAL region on August 7, 2014. [15]

Reception

Mega Man II received average reviews. Jeremy Parish of 1UP.com opined Mega Man II as "Not Worth It!", summarizing it as "a random assortment of enemies and stages from Mega Man 2 and Mega Man 3 from NES, downsampled and downscaled for Game Boy". [22] Nintendo Power ranked the game 2nd in their top 10 Game Boy games of 1992. [23]

The Archie Comics series incorporated elements of the game, though a full adaptation was not produced before the series went on hiatus. Quint notably appeared twice in issue 20, displaying elements of his own character as well as that of Rockman Shadow, the primary antagonist of Rockman & Forte: Challenger from the Future. He subsequently made appearances in issue 55, in which Dr. Light saw in a vision his conflict with the present-day Mega Man followed by Mega Man's transformation into Quint in the future.

Notes

  1. ↑ Japanese: ロックマンワールド2, Hepburn: Rokkuman Wārudo Tsū, lit. 'Rockman World 2'

Related Research Articles

Mega Man is a Japanese science fiction video game franchise created by Capcom, starring a series of characters each known by the name or moniker "Mega Man". The original game was released for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1987, and spawned a franchise that expanded to over 50 games on multiple systems. As of October 2023, the series has sold 41 million units worldwide.

<i>Mega Man 2</i> 1988 video game

Mega Man 2 is an action game developed and published by Capcom for the Nintendo Entertainment System. It was released in Japan in 1988 and in North America and PAL regions the following years. Mega Man 2 continues Mega Man's battle against the evil Dr. Wily and his rogue robots. It introduced graphical and gameplay changes, many of which became series staples.

<i>Mega Man 3</i> 1990 video game

Mega Man 3 is an action-platform video game developed and published by Capcom for the Nintendo Entertainment System. It is the third game of the original Mega Man series and was originally released in Japan on September 28, 1990. The game was released in North America later in 1990 and in European regions by Nintendo in 1992. Taking place after the events of Mega Man 2, the plot follows the titular hero as he helps his creator, Dr. Light, and a supposedly former enemy, Dr. Wily, collect parts for a peace-keeping robot by defeating several Robot Masters that have gone haywire.

<i>Mega Man 4</i> 1991 video game

Mega Man 4 is an action-platform game developed by Capcom for the Nintendo Entertainment System. It is the fourth game in the original Mega Man series and was originally released in Japan in 1991. The game was localized in North America the following January, and in Europe in 1993.

<i>Mega Man 5</i> 1992 video game

Mega Man 5 is an action-platform video game developed by Capcom for the Nintendo Entertainment System. It is the fifth game in the original Mega Man series and was released in Japan on December 4, 1992. It saw a release during the same month in North America and in 1993 in Europe.

<i>Mega Man & Bass</i> 1998 video game

Mega Man & Bass is an action-platform video game developed and published by Capcom. It is a spin-off game in the original Mega Man series and was originally released in Japan for the Super Famicom on April 24, 1998. It was later ported to the Game Boy Advance (GBA) handheld in 2002, and localized in English and released the following year.

<i>Mega Man 8</i> 1996 video game

Mega Man 8 is a platform game developed and released by Capcom in 1996. It was directed by Hayato Kaji and produced by Keiji Inafune, both of whom had previously worked on the series as artists. It is the eighth installment in the original Mega Man series, and was initially released in Japan on the PlayStation in 1996. The following year, Mega Man 8 saw a release on the Sega Saturn and was localized for both consoles in North America and the PlayStation alone in PAL regions. Mega Man 8 is the first game in the series made available on 32-bit consoles. The plot follows series protagonist Mega Man as he is called to investigate an energy reading coming from a recent meteor crash on an island. Mega Man discovers that his nemesis Dr. Wily has run off with the energy source, and sets off to stop Wily's evil plans to use the energy, and to discover the purpose of a mysterious alien robot found at the crash site.

<i>Mega Man</i> (1987 video game) 1987 video game

Mega Man, known as Rockman in Japan, is a platform game developed and published by Capcom in 1987 for the Nintendo Entertainment System. It was directed by Akira Kitamura, with Nobuyuki Matsushima as lead programmer, and is the first game of the Mega Man franchise and the original video game series. Mega Man was produced by a small team specifically for the home console market, a first for Capcom, which previously focused on arcade video games.

<i>Mega Man V</i> (Game Boy) 1994 action-platform video game published by Capcom

Mega Man V is a video game published by Capcom for the Game Boy handheld game console. It is the fifth game in the Game Boy version of the original Mega Man series. The game follows the adventures of the protagonist Mega Man as he must defend the Earth from a group of powerful robots from outer space called the Stardroids. Mega Man V is unique among the Game Boy Mega Man games as it features original bosses rather than recycling those from the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) Mega Man games.

<i>Mega Man X</i> (video game) 1993 video game

Mega Man X is a platform game developed and published by Capcom for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. It was the first Mega Man game for the 16-bit console and the first game in the Mega Man X series, a spin-off to the original Mega Man series that began on the Super NES's predecessor, the Nintendo Entertainment System. Mega Man X was released in Japan on December 17, 1993 and was released in both North America and Europe the following year. Taking place a century after the original Mega Man series, Mega Man X is set in a futuristic world populated by both humans and "Reploids", robots capable of thinking, feeling, and growing like their human creators. Because of these complex attributes, many Reploids are prone to destructive, renegade activity and are thereafter referred to as "Mavericks". The plot of the game follows the protagonist X, an android member of a military task force called the "Maverick Hunters". With the help of his partner Zero, X must thwart the plans of Sigma, a powerful Maverick leader wishing to bring about human extinction.

<i>Mega Man IV</i> (Game Boy) 1993 action-platform video game published by Capcom

Mega Man IV is an action-platform video game by Capcom for the Nintendo Game Boy. It is the fourth installment in the handheld version of the Mega Man series. The game continues the quest of the protagonist Mega Man in the struggle with his long-time nemesis Dr. Wily, who sends out a disruptive radio signal to cause a rampage, citywide destruction from dormant robots. Mega Man IV features the traditional action platforming gameplay of the prior games while introducing one new feature, the ability to purchase items with power-ups found throughout each stage. As with previous Game Boy releases, the game incorporates gameplay elements and bosses from two sequential Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) games: Mega Man 4 and Mega Man 5. The game has received a warm critical reception. In 2013, Mega Man IV was made available on the Virtual Console of Japan's Nintendo eShop for the Nintendo 3DS. It was later released in the North American and PAL region eShops the following year.

<i>Mega Man III</i> (Game Boy) 1992 action-platform video game published by Capcom

Mega Man III is an action-platform video game by Capcom for the Nintendo Game Boy. It is the third game in the handheld version of the Mega Man series. The game follows the title character Mega Man as he fights the evil Dr. Wily, whose latest attempt to conquer the world involves sucking energy from the Earth's core to power a new machine. Along with foes from his past, Mega Man must contend with the next robot in Wily's line of "Mega Man Killers", Punk. Like its two consecutive predecessors on the Game Boy, the game combines elements from two previously released Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) titles: Mega Man 3 and Mega Man 4. In 2013, Mega Man III was made available on the Virtual Console of Japan's Nintendo eShop for the Nintendo 3DS. It was later released in the North American and PAL region eShops the following year.

<i>Mega Man: Dr. Wilys Revenge</i> 1991 action-platform video game published by Capcom and Nintendo

Mega Man: Dr. Wily's Revenge, also known as Mega Man in Dr. Wily's Revenge or in Japan as Rockman World is an action-platform video game by Capcom for the Nintendo Game Boy. It is the first game in the handheld series of the Mega Man franchise. It was released in Japan on July 26, 1991, and was localized in North America that December and in Europe the following year. The game continues the adventures of the android hero Mega Man as he once again confronts the evil Dr. Wily, who has dispatched his revived "Robot Masters" and a new "Mega Man Killer" named Enker.

<i>Rockman & Forte Mirai kara no Chōsensha</i> 1999 action-platform video game published by Bandai

Rockman & Forte Mirai kara no Chōsensha is a video game published by Bandai and licensed by Capcom for the WonderSwan handheld system. The game was only released in Japan and is a part of the original Rockman series.

<i>Mega Man 9</i> 2008 video game

Mega Man 9 is a 2008 action-platform video game developed by Capcom and Inti Creates. It is the ninth numbered game in the original Mega Man series, and the first home console game in the series since Mega Man & Bass (1998). Mega Man 9 was the first game in the series not to have a physical release, and was initially released only on the downloadable gaming services WiiWare, PlayStation Network (PSN), and Xbox Live Arcade (XBLA). In June 2017, it was announced that Mega Man 9 and 10 would have a physical and digital release with their inclusion in Mega Man Legacy Collection 2 for PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One, as well as the Nintendo Switch in May 2018.

<i>Mega Man 6</i> 1993 video game

Mega Man 6, known in Japan as Rockman 6: The Greatest Battle in History!!, is an action-platform video game developed by Capcom for the Nintendo Entertainment System. It is the sixth installment in the original Mega Man series. It was originally released in Japan by Capcom in 1993, and in North America by Nintendo in 1994. It was included in the Mega Man Anniversary Collection released in 2004. Its first release in Europe and PAL region was June 11, 2013, for the 3DS Virtual Console, nearly twenty years after the game's initial release.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mega Man (character)</span> Video game character

Mega Man, known as Rockman in Japan, is the title character and the protagonist of the Mega Man series by Capcom. He was created by Akira Kitamura for the first Mega Man game released in 1987, with artist Keiji Inafune providing detailed character artwork based on Kitamura's pixel art design.

<i>Mega Man 10</i> 2010 video game

Mega Man 10 is an action-platform video game developed by Inti Creates and Capcom. It is the tenth main entry of the original Mega Man series. The game was released as a downloadable title for the console gaming services WiiWare, PlayStation Network (PSN), and Xbox Live Arcade (XBLA) during March 2010. The game was also given a physical release along with four other Capcom titles from different franchises in the Capcom Essentials Pack for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. It was later released again for a physical and digital release as part of Mega Man Legacy Collection 2 alongside Mega Man 7, Mega Man 8 and Mega Man 9 for the PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One, as well as the Nintendo Switch in May 2018.

<i>Mega Man 7</i> 1995 video game

Mega Man 7 is an action platform video game developed and published by Capcom for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. It is the seventh game in the original Mega Man series. The game was released in Japan on March 24, 1995 and was localized later in the year in North America and Europe.

References

  1. ↑ "Game Music" (in Japanese). Yamazaki, Kenji. Archived from the original on February 8, 2013. Retrieved September 28, 2011.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Mega Man: Official Complete Works. Udon Entertainment. January 6, 2010. pp. 66–7. ISBN   978-1-897376-79-9.
  3. ↑ "Game Boy (original) Games" (PDF). Nintendo. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 15, 2011. Retrieved September 24, 2011.
  4. ↑ Overton, Wil (April 1995). "Viva Le Mega Man". Super Play . Future Publishing (30): 30–1. ISSN   0966-6192.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Capcom, ed. (February 1991). Mega Man II Instruction Booklet. Santa Clara, CA: Capcom Entertainment, Inc. pp. 5–12. DMG-W2-USA. Archived from the original on 2011-03-20. Retrieved 2011-03-16.
  6. ↑ Capcom (March 11, 2003). Mega Man & Bass (Game Boy Advance). Capcom. CD Data: Dr. Wily has captured Mega Man when he came from the future, and has remodeled him.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "Mega Man II". Nintendo Power . No. 34. Redmond, Washington: Nintendo of America. March 1992. pp. 48–53. ISSN   1041-9551.
  8. ↑ Kohler, Chris (October 19, 2011). "Broke in Tokyo: Retro Game Shopping on a Weak Dollar". Wired . Archived from the original on October 22, 2011. Retrieved October 19, 2011.
  9. ↑ Nutt, Christian & Speer, Justin. "The History of Mega Man". GameSpot . Archived from the original on December 12, 2009. Retrieved April 17, 2010.
  10. ↑ ゲームボーイ用のアクション系ソフト：4 (in Japanese). Nintendo. Archived from the original on February 3, 2003. Retrieved June 3, 2010.
  11. ↑ IGN staff (February 4, 2004). "Mega Man Mania Change". IGN. Archived from the original on June 13, 2011. Retrieved June 1, 2010.
  12. ↑ "Classic Game Boy Mega Man Titles Coming To 3DS Virtual Console". 18 July 2013. Archived from the original on 2013-07-21. Retrieved 2013-07-20.
  13. ↑ "ロックマンワールド2 | ニンテンドー3DS" [Rockman World 2 | Nintendo 3DS] (in Japanese). Nintendo. Archived from the original on December 4, 2019. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
  14. ↑ "Mega May". Nintendo. Archived from the original on July 5, 2014. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
  15. ↑ "Mega Man™ 2". Nintendo of Europe . Retrieved December 4, 2019.
  16. ↑ "Mega Man II for Game Boy". GameRankings . Archived from the original on September 10, 2015.
  17. ↑ Staff (March 1992). "Electronic Gaming Review Crew". Electronic Gaming Monthly . No. 32. Sendai Publishing. p. 32. ISSN   1058-918X.
  18. ↑ Staff (December 27, 1991). クロスレビュー [Cross Review]. Famitsu (in Japanese). No. 158. Tokuma Shoten. p. 43. Archived from the original on March 24, 2019. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
  19. ↑ Reed, Phillip (May 12, 2014). "Mega Man II Review". Nintendo Life. Gamer Network . Retrieved March 29, 2022.
  20. ↑ "A Non-Stop Battle with Familiar Faces!". Nintendo Power . No. 32. Nintendo. March 1992. p. 48.
  21. ↑ Miller, Zachary (May 12, 2014). "Mega Man 2 (Game Boy) Review Mini". Nintendo World Report. NINWR. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
  22. ↑ Parish, Jeremy (May 10, 2007). "The Mega Man Series Roundup". 1UP.com. Archived from the original on June 29, 2011. Retrieved April 10, 2010.
  23. ↑ "Top 10 of 1992". Nintendo Power. Vol. 44. January 1993. p. 122. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.