Wait, what? The best thing about Mega Man 9 is Mega Man 9? That's correct. To elaborate, the idea of Mega Man 9 may actually outweigh the title itself. While the game is nowhere near as diverse as World of Warcraft or Grand Theft Auto IV, it serves its own purpose: showing that the titles of our past hold values deeper than sentimentality. Sure, the games are closely tied to warm memories of peanut butter and jelly lunches and summer vacations, but there's much more going on here than waxing nostalgia.
As the message boards fan the flames of the casual vs. hardcore debate, titles like Mega Man 9 seem to rest peacefully on a happy middle-ground. Oh sure, there's plenty of haters, but some will never be happy and always find something to complain about. It may boil your blood to hear a Mega Man title dismissed as "crap" just because it looks different from today's games, but these prejudices are truly moot. Such trivialities are irrelevant to the blue bomber, as he continues to do what he does best: run, jump, and shoot. The haters complain, but the blue bomber abides. This type of game plucks the best aspects from both sides. It features the pick-up-and-play nature of a casual title while retaining the incredible challenge, addictability, and satisfaction of the hardcore. The basic graphics help a new-comer focus on what's going on, as opposed to being distracted and confused by the intricate presentations expected from most new releases. The two-button controls keep things simple yet provide all the depth you'll ever need. Indeed, a former child gamer who recently got back into the scene with the Wii is more likely to fill the time between Wii Sports Tennis sessions with a little Mega Man 9 than The Conduit.
So here's to Mega Man 9: may you be the beginning of a rediscovery of that which was thought to be forgotten.
