Mega Man Zero Collection Review
What could be more convenient than to have a whole series of games combined into one handy DS game card? Mega Man Zero Collection puts all four of the Zero games in one easy package, complete with an artwork gallery and a new easy mode that takes you through all four games. Otherwise the games are just like their original GBA releases, with all the features and difficulties intact. Mega Man fans and classic side-scroller fans couldn’t ask for more.
Set approximately one hundred years after the events of the Mega Man X series, the Zero games follows the titular character’s efforts to put an end to the conflict between a band of fugitive Reploids and the tyrannical government of Neo Arcadia. Each game follows a basic formula of Zero fighting on behalf of the resistance Reploids, but new foes and challenges arise in each installment, fleshing out the truth behind Cyber Elves, the enigmatic Dr. Weil, and Zero himself. The plot isn’t about to win any awards, but as a vehicle for the action it’s direct and clear. Plus, being able to see the events of all four Zero games in one setting is a convenient way of keeping the plot together and seeing how one game leads to the next.
No one said this was going to be easy; be prepared for some proper side-scrolling difficulty.
Mega Man is all about side-scrolling action, and the Zero games do not disappoint on that front. The flow of the game is instantly recognizable to anyone that has played a MM game before, but Zero adds his own twists and turns to distinguish himself from the blue bomber. Zero is packing a standard buster shot, but more importantly he wields the powerful Z-sword, as well as a small arsenal of other weapons (each game alters his weapon options slightly). The result is a somewhat more fast-paced game that allows you to dash through levels, slicing enemy robots in half and blasting apart distant foes. Don’t think these abilities make the game any easier than other MM titles; early levels in each game can simply crush you with difficulty, pushing you back again and again. Like other MM games, persistence is key; the abilities and power boosts you receive throughout the game are godsends–each time you earn one is a moment of joy.
In the Zero games, these ability boosts generally come in the form of cyber elves. These mechanized beings can augment your abilities, everything from a bigger health bar to reducing the number of enemies in a stage. Each elf can only be used once, though, so strategy and planning ahead is crucial. There are several other means of boosting Zero’s power–each game handles his abilities slightly differently–which offers a massive amount of customization and replay value. Hunting down rare or elusive cyber elves is also a great reason to explore each level carefully. All four games are mission based, and each mission is ranked based upon your performance–speed, how many enemies you defeated, how much damage you took, etc. However, using cyber elves or other boosts can lower your rank, causing you to miss out on special skills or more challenging boss fights. This gives you a chance to alter the difficulty as you see fit, and is a clever means of giving the player control over the game. You can load up on cyber elves to easy the difficulty, or play without and experience the greatest challenge the games can throw at you.
Expect some elaborate boss fights throughout Zero's adventure.
The most notable addition in the Collection is an easy mode that allows you to play through each game as if they were one long game. You’re given virtually all power-ups and boosts straight from the beginning, allowing inexperienced players to progress through the game and see everything available. It’s a convenient system for beginners, but most gamers will likely be turned off by how ridiculously easy this mode is–there’s virtually no challenge when on easy mode, which takes away a lot of the charm and personality of the games. Regardless of whether you’re on easy mode or normal, though, Zero Collection is a great value, giving you four games in one.
Side-scrollers aren’t known for complex controls, and the Zero games are no exception. The simple controls never get in the way of the gameplay and are great for introducing new players. One advantage that the Collection has over the original GBA games, though, is the ability to alter the button scheme. There are a few pre-set options for altering the controls slightly, generally just remapping a button or two. Still, it’s nice to have the option.
What Mega Man game would be complete without floating platforms of frustration?
Though the graphics have seen no upgrade from their GBA origins, the 2D sprites and colorful backgrounds still look great. It’s refreshing to see this kind of 2D design, and even the first Zero game, released eight years ago, hardly looks dated. Granted, several sprites are repeated throughout the four games, but the bosses never fail to impress, and with a pounding Mega Man soundtrack, you’ve got a recipe for a good looking game. The music provides a great rhythm for the side-scrolling action, and a solid beat for blasting apart robot minions.
You couldn’t ask for a better value, having four full games in one package. Each game will already last you a handful of hours, and with the varied range of replay incentives in each title–from earning high ranks to collecting all possible cyber elves and power ups–there’s plenty of game time in this DS game.
Mega Man Zero Collection offers all of the fantastic ups and downs of four Mega Man games at a great value. Each game builds upon the ideas of the previous games, altering some features slightly and introducing new concepts to keep the gameplay both familiar and fresh as you journey through the exploits of Zero. Mega Man fans can’t miss out on a jam-packed collection.
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