Control:  
The control scheme could be worse – but it could also certainly be a lot better too. Movement is entirely digital, even when using the analog stick. So lets say you are running straight, then you want to make a ninety-degree turn to the right. You can’t just press your thumb right, as you would be able to in many other games. If you were to hold right or left, Mega Man does not actually move at all, but rather, begins spinning without actually moving. In essence, pressing right or left only enables you to change the direction Mega Man is facing. With the usage of the R and Z buttons, you can run sideways. With this, it is “kinda, sorta” possible to circle enemies, but not as easy and effortless as I’d like it to be. Using the B button fires, and A jumps or causes you to dive to the side (when pressing your control stick to the side while tapping A). C-down is used to interact with the environment and begin conversations with people you encounter, and C-right lets you look around to gaze at the bland scenery.

Gameplay:  
Mega Man tries to mix Adventure, Action, and RPG elements into one slick package. The Minnesota Vikings try to win a Superbowl, year after year. Trying doesn’t necessarily translate into success, however. You can find and buy items, interact with characters around you, and explore almost anything. This in itself is all right, but there’s too many other gameplay problems.





For example, in one level, I see a female character being chased by a dog. So we continue on later, and I find the girl has climbed up a sign and the dog is at the bottom of it, barking away at her. So I use the C-Down button to try interacting with her, and with the dog. The dog just barks some, and the girl tells me to leave her alone and go away. “Ok then,” I think to myself, and proceed to walk around the city for an extended period of time. I try going every possible way in the city, but door after door is locked. So I’m stuck. Then, out of sheer randomocity (yes, I know randomocity isn’t a word, and yes, I don’t care), I see a manhole a good 100 feet from the girl. So I use the c-down button to interact with it, thinking maybe I can go underground… No, I can’t go underground from it, but lo-and-behold, Mega Man says something to himself like, “I wonder if that girl over there needs some help?” So upon seeing this, I go over to the girl yet again. This time, I am able to help her, by telling the dog to scram. Essentially, I wasted 45 minutes because I didn’t explore this manhole, though it had nothing to do with what I needed to do in the game itself. Simply terrible.





There’s a fair amount of weaponry in the game, and you’ll encounter a large amount of baddies to blast away. The action is fast and furious, but also becomes repetitious rather fast. Of course, there’s the ever so frequent boss encounter, of which most have weaknesses you must find and exploit. Some are rather difficult, while other bosses require doing no more than alternating between straffing left and right with the Z and R buttons, while firing. Lastly, the story is surprisingly thorough for a Mega Man game, and there is a rather large amount of side quests you must complete, though nowhere in vein with the amount of side quests found in other titles such as Zelda.

Multiplayer:
N/A

Sound:
The music as a whole is uninspired, but at the same time, it isn’t terribly negating to the whole gaming experience either. I just wouldn’t ever consider humming the tunes. Sounds effects are also rather dull. In a game like this I have come to expect big beefy explosions and impressive sounds coming out of weaponry, however, I’m disappointed by what I hear in Mega Man. There’s a large amount of speech in the game, which is a plus. Unfortunately though, the speech is hit and miss – some characters have sounds that perfectly fit their role, while others are rather horrendous. Why not find some better voice acting if you’re going to use speech in a game?

OVERALL:
I’d like to think of Mega Man 64 like leftovers. If you enjoyed the original meal, there’s a good chance you’ll find the leftovers to be tasty as well. However, in the case of Mega Man 64, it’s leftovers that have been stored in a fridge for a few years now. Buy the game if you like 2-3 year old leftovers, otherwise, rent it if you’re a fan of the Mega Man franchise and see if it strikes your fancy.

 

The Lowdown on  Mega Man 64 Aesthetics: Below Average Control: Below Average Gameplay: Average Multiplayer: Sound: Below Average Innovation: 2/6 Lasting Appeal: 2/6 Overall: Below Average! "Has Some Detrimental Problems"