Mega Man (Game Gear video game)

Mega Man
Cover art
Developer(s)	Freestyle
Publisher(s)	U.S. Gold
Series	Mega Man
Platform(s)	Game Gear
Release date(s)	NA 1995[1]
Genre(s)	Action Platforming
Mode(s)	Single-player
Rating(s)	ESRB: K-A (Kids to Adults)
Media/distribution	4-megabit ROM cartridge (Physical)

Mega Man is a video game for the Sega Game Gear. It was developed by Freestyle, licensed by Capcom, and published by U.S. Gold only in North America in 1995. It is the only game in the original Mega Man series to be released for the handheld. Despite sharing a title with the NES original, it is not a remake of that game.

Gameplay

Mega Man is an action and platform game in the tradition of other Mega Man games. It is based on elements from the 8-bit Nintendo versions of Mega Man 4 and Mega Man 5.^[2] Differences include a lack of continues (if the game is over, it restarts to the title), the addition of vertical scrolling (due to the Game Gear's screen size), powerups bouncing when they hit the ground, and a hard difficulty mode (though the player has to get at least a password from this mode, since both difficulties don't share the same passwords).

The Robot Masters featured at the beginning are Bright Man, Napalm Man, Star Man, and Stone Man. Dr. Cossack's fortress contains Wave Man's and Toad Man's levels and respective bosses.^[2] Wily's fortress is actually Quick Man's stage, though the player is taken to a condensed Dr. Wily stage after going through the first boss door instead. The ending features Dr. Cossack's fortress being destroyed.

Reception

Mega Man received an 87% from the UK-based magazine Sega Power.^[3] GamePro gave the game a total score of 3.75 out of 5, complimenting its graphics and sound, but noting that the small Game Gear screen increases the difficulty.^[1] 1UP.com's Nadia Oxford ellaborated, "Mega Man often has to fight with his enemies in such close quarters, he might as well hold their hands and try his luck at a friendship. The constant screen-scrolling and sticky controls makes for a very frustrating game, although the Game Gear's low battery life ends the torment in a couple of hours anyway."^[4] GameSpot contributors Christian Nutt and Justin Speer described it as "a decent, if somewhat sluggish, translation of the Mega Man series".^[2]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "ProReview: Mega Man". GamePro (Boulder, CO: Infotainment World, Inc.) (75): p. 104. October 1995. 
2. ^ ^{a b c} Nutt, Christian and Speer, Justin. "The History of Mega Man". GameSpot. http://www.gamespot.com/features/6076983/p-26.html. Retrieved 2010-06-05. 
3. ^ "Reviews: Mega Man". Sega Power (Future Publishing) (67). June 1995. 
4. ^ Oxford, Nadia (May 24, 2007). "Mega Manniversary: Mega Mediocrity". 1UP.com. http://www.1up.com/do/feature?cId=3159805. Retrieved 2010-05-17. 

External links

• Mega Man (Game Gear) at GameFAQs