#1 – Reintroduce Pixel Artwork Visuals
We personally completely love how Mega Man 11 regarded: it is clear, it is vibrant, and it is daring. However we might be mendacity if we stated we did not miss the “traditional” aesthetic of older Mega Man video games that Mega Man 9 and 10 went with. There’s simply one thing immediately charming about it, proper?
Video games like Castlevania III, Tremendous Mario World, and The Legend of Zelda: A Hyperlink to the Previous maintain up simply high quality to today; arguably even higher than their 3D counterparts, and the Mega Man franchise is not any completely different, so we might like to see a return to an 8- or 16-bit artwork type. In 2022, nevertheless, simply how receptive are audiences going to be towards a brand new Mega Man that embraces pixel artwork? Particularly after Capcom took the sequence in a considerably completely different path with the eleventh iteration.
Our answer? Implement an ‘HD-2D’-style aesthetic. Preserve the core identification of the unique NES titles, however increase it with real-time lighting, depth, and improved textures. We reckon that will look completely killer.
#2 – Carry Again Chiptune
This one form of goes hand-in-hand with our first level and we’re probably not positive you’ll be able to have one with out the opposite. Nonetheless, whereas we had been followers of among the tunes featured in Mega Man 11, they merely pale compared to the enduring scores discovered within the earlier NES titles; heck, even Mega Man 9 and 10 had music that utterly trumps what was discovered within the newest title.
There’s nothing unsuitable with shifting away from chiptune music and making an attempt one thing a bit extra formidable, however with Mega Man, there’s one thing really magical a few easy, simple 8-bit theme that immediately will get caught in your head.
Mega Man 2’s ‘Dr Wily’s Fortress’ theme, Mega Man 3’s ‘Magnet Man’ theme, Mega Man 9’s ‘Galaxy Man’ theme (above)… They’re borderline perfection. Carry chiptune again, we are saying.
#3 – Change Up the Gear System
Mega Man 11’s gear system was undoubtedly its greatest change in comparison with earlier titles. It bestowed the power to both decelerate time or energy up your weapon on the drop of a hat. Whereas it was a enjoyable little gimmick that labored properly throughout the confines of the sport, its inclusion all through the entirety of the expertise arguably made some areas barely too straightforward, giving gamers a crutch to fall again on at any time when issues obtained a bit furry.
Our answer? Pull again on its implementation barely. There are a couple of methods Capcom may do that: our most well-liked possibility can be to maintain them obtainable always, however maybe restrict their use to 2 or 3 times per stage, forcing gamers to be a bit extra selective when deciding to make use of them.
Different choices embrace having them seem within the levels as pickups, or introducing them as an possibility if gamers occur to die a sure variety of occasions, like in trendy Mario titles.
There may be, after all, additionally the choice to ditch the gear system fully, however we’re unsure we’re followers of that concept. Whereas there isn’t any doubt that the levels in Mega Man 11 had been basically constructed round their use, ditching them utterly can be the unsuitable strategy right here. We like the gear system; it simply wants a little bit of refinement.
#4 – Enhance the Story
Mega Man 11 definitely tried to introduce some semblance of plot and technically succeeded in doing so. That stated, we nonetheless would not go as far as to name it “good” and it definitely wasn’t a patch on something you’d see within the spin-off sequence Mega Man X.
Now, we’re not saying the core Mega Man franchise must introduce threats of world domination or a number of protagonists with questionable morals, however if you’re this far right into a franchise, it’s essential to give followers extra of a purpose to stay round.
We might be fairly blissful if Mega Man 12 merely launched extra environmental cues pointing to a wider storyline, and even implement some cutscenes to introduce the Robotic Masters. Simply one thing to present this universe a bit extra life please, Capcom.
#5 – Talking of Mega Man X…
At this second in time, Capcom does not appear significantly fascinated about reviving the Mega Man X model, so why not implement a few of its core gameplay options into the mainline sequence? Primarily, we’re pondering of the wall-jumping function, which might add an additional sense of verticality to levels.
Different options embrace the sprint (although that is principally already obtainable within the type of a slide) and — dare we are saying it — a sword. Yeah, we’re not anticipating Zero to return leaping into motion in Mega Man 12 or something, however it could be cool if Mega Man obtained a timed capability to principally go superpowered and wield some form of lightsaber for a couple of moments!
#6 – Carry Again Rush’s Adaptor Capability
Rush, Mega Man’s trustworthy robotic canine companion, is an absolute delight and has appeared in just about each recreation since his introduction again in Mega Man 3. His core talents, Coil and Jet, are nice little additions that blend up the gameplay, however we might adore it if the subsequent instalment introduced again Mega Man 6’s ‘Adaptor’ capability.
This successfully fused Rush with Mega Man, giving Mega Man an superior purple aesthetic and turning him into both Energy Mega Man or Jet Mega Man. Energy Mega Man was in a position to cost up punch assaults and annihilate enemy shields, whereas Jet Mega Man principally allowed him to fly. What extra may you need? [Power Jet Mega Man? – Ed]
We might merely like to see these talents make a return in Mega Man 12.
Just like the sound of any of these concepts? Acquired some higher ones of your personal? Tell us within the ballot beneath and be at liberty to have fun 35 years of Mega Man within the feedback. You can even have fun that we made it by means of all the article with out as soon as calling him the ‘Blue Bom—*editor bursts into the room, grabs the keyboard, and smashes it right into a thousand items*
