Back in the days of the Super NES, Capcom decided that they wanted to update their ageing Mega Man franchise for a new generation of gamers. In their quest to update the character of Mega Man, they inadvertently created an entirely new character who came to be known as Zero. Zero was originally meant to be the main character in the game known as Mega Man X, but someone decided that he was too different to the original Mega Man. As a result, Zero became a supporting character in favour of a more ‘traditional’ character known as Mega Man X (or X for short). Fortunately, Capcom would correct this injustice by eventually giving Zero a starring role in his own series of games, which have now reached the DS as a compilation.
Mega Man Zero Collection contains four Game Boy Advance games, predictably titled Mega Man Zero, Mega Man Zero 2, Mega Man Zero 3, and Mega Man Zero 4. The first game takes place 100 years after the events of the aforementioned Mega Man X game. X is now in charge of a city called Neo Arcadia, where humans and reploids (robots) live together in harmony. All of a sudden, the Neo Arcadian government starts deactivating reploids against their will, with no clear reason why. Zero, who is in suspended animation in an ancient laboratory, is discovered and awakened by a human scientist named Ciel. It turns out that Ciel is helping a resistance group of reploids who are fighting for their right to live. Zero agrees to help them, and thus begins a story that spans across all four games.
I have to say, I don't like his chances here...
The games in this collection all follow the same basic formula. Each one is a 2D platformer, divided into stages where you kill enemies, collect items, and face a boss at some point during the stage. As well as running and jumping, Zero has the ability to dash, cling to walls, and use a primary or secondary weapon which can be assigned in the pause menu. Weapons will level up if you use them enough, adding extra power and/or extra combos and attacks. Some of these weapons provide other unique abilities, such as the Chain Rod (Zero 2) which can be used as a grappling hook, or the Zero Knuckle (Zero 4) which can steal weapons from enemies.
Each game features special items called Cyber Elves, which are used to upgrade Zero’s abilities. Some of them provide permanent upgrades, while others provide abilities that only last for a limited time or until the end of the stage. Some Cyber Elves aren’t fully grown and must be fed a certain amount of E-Crystals before they can be used. Later games in the series provide other ways of upgrading Zero, but Cyber Elves are the only upgrade system present in all four games.
These games have a different structure to classic Mega Man games. You can still choose from more than one stage at a time, but they aren’t all unlocked from the beginning. Also, each boss doesn’t give you a weapon which is strong against a certain other boss and so on. The only advantage you get over a boss in this game is the upgrades and Cyber Elves you choose to equip. In a way, this is a good thing because it means there is no ideal order to complete the stages in, and you can take any path through the game without being disadvantaged. It also means that the boss fights are much harder, because you can’t get a free kill just for having the correct weapon equipped.
Can't say I like his chances here either
The most noticeable thing about this game is that it’s HARD. Like other Mega Man games, the Zero Collection is a super-challenging, old-school kind of platform game. It’s the kind of game that requires quick thinking, quicker reflexes, and plenty of trial and error. Enemies will respawn if you backtrack, and bosses have patterns that need to be memorised. It can get frustrating, but they’ve managed to strike a great balance between frustration and fun. You may have been beaten by that same boss 10 times in a row, but it’s damn-near impossible to resist coming back for an 11th go.
If you don’t like this kind of unforgiving gameplay, the developers have included a special ‘Easy Scenario’. This is a mode where you can play through all four games sequentially, but you start off with all the upgrades. This is a really good addition because it means that less skilled or less patient gamers can still experience the story, while those gamers who want to play the original, un-edited versions still have that option. Along with the easy mode, a ‘gallery’ where you can unlock extra content from all four games has been added. It’s not a significant addition, but it’s there for those who want it.
For the people who already own the games on GBA, is there any reason to upgrade? That depends on what you’re looking for. The DS collection allows you to map controls to the Y and X buttons, so if you prefer that classic SNES configuration where B is to jump and Y is to attack, you can now use that configuration for these games. However, while the controls have been upgraded, the graphics have not. The aspect ratio has not been changed to take advantage of the DS’s larger screen, which means that each game is surrounded by a black border. This does not affect the gameplay, but it does mean that the GBA versions of the games, when played on a DS or DS Lite, will look identical to the DS versions. But of course, if you missed out on any of the games in the series, thought they were too hard, or just want to play them on a DSi, then this game is worth getting because it solves all those problems.
Overall, Mega Man Zero Collection is one of the best platform/action games on the DS. It’s loaded with fun, challenging, old-school gameplay, yet it caters to gamers of all skill levels. If you’re a fan of Mega Man or you just like 2D platform games in general, this is an essential purchase.
By Mark Vellios
Graphics: A-
The characters and enemies look very good, but the environments are where this game truly shines.
Sound: A-
Excellent soundtrack and really good sound effects.
Gameplay: A-
Fun, addictive, and sometimes frustrating. Easy Scenario means that anyone can play.
Overall: A-
Mega Man Zero Collection provides some of the best platforming action on the DS.
