The Triangle

Issue date: 2/17/06 Section: Entertainment
Originally published: 2/17/06 at 12:29 AM EST
Last update: 2/17/06 at 4:55 AM EST

Media Credit: gamespot.com

Everyone of our age is trapped in an everlasting state of nostalgia, because we are the last generation of people to say, "Yeah, I remember when Nintendo first came out," or "Yeah man, I totally still own the original Gameboy - got it when I was six." Because of that, only we are able to look back and talk about how our favorite heroes from the video game world have evolved, developed and grown up with us. This writer's personal favorite hero is Mega Man. Known to many as the Blue Bomber, he recently celebrated the revamping of Mega Man X in Mega Man Maverick Hunter X.

One could argue that Maverick Hunter X is simply a rehash of the original X game and that anyone interested should simply go dig up their SNES cartridge and pop it in. However, is this the case? To those who dislike the Blue Bomber, it is, but to those who enjoy the classic side-scrolling shooter-style of the original Mega Man games, it is not. The main game is in fact the same as the original with respect to the maps and bosses. However, for a slight variation, location of power-ups have been moved. The game play itself has also been made a bit more difficult, as the players have been given the option to start the game on "normal" difficulty and the classically relentless Capcom "hard" difficulty. Be warned, however: Capcom is known to make their "hard" difficulty quite frustrating and less forgiving than those in most other games. The game is also backed up by the amazing graphics of the PSP, as Capcom has scrapped the sprite sheet of the original entirely. Instead, the 2-D shooter gameplay is displayed using 3-D models.

Don't be afraid that Capcom copped out on the 3-D modeling; The characters are actually quite well-made despite some slight differences to the original boss designs. Our once silent villains and heroes are now backed by a cast of voices, adding a bit to the storyline. Any little quirks that made only one appearance in the original are still there, though recreated. For example, this includes the "Life Bat" known to those as entwined with the game as I.

The control and feel of the game is almost identical to the original, since the button setup of the PSP is basically the same as an SNES controller with a thumbstick. This does not mean that there is nothing new to the game other than graphics. After beating the game once, players will be able to watch a thirty-minute anime-styled movie delving into the actions of the series' main boss and enemy, Sigma. Beating the game unlocks a second game that makes it well worth the purchase. In this second game, the player takes the role of Vile, hated enemy of the protagonist heroes X and Zero. When given the option to play as Vile, the player may choose "normal" or "hard" as a difficulty. It doesn't matter which you choose because Vile's difficulty is greater than X's regardless. Though Vile is equipped with more than just an X Buster, his array of weapons is far more diverse than X's arsenal.

The best criticism of this game is that it is generally for the nostalgic group of gamers mentioned earlier. Personally, I find it to be a very fun and amazing way to remember what games used to be like as Mega Man nears his upcoming 20th anniversary. Those looking forward to the upcoming Mega Man: Powered Up! will appreciate the playable demo in Maverick Hunter X that will remind players of the good old days in a new, cutesy form. In the end, Mega Man Maverick Hunter X is worth a look.

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Maverick Hunter X
5/5 Triangles
Playstation Portable
Publisher:Capcom
Developer:Capcom

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