Nintendo Power Reveals New Details on MMZC’s Mod Cards and Easy Mode
Along with the mysterious teaser for next month’s issue, the June edition of Nintendo Power also features a two-page preview of Mega Man Zero Collection which clarifies some details about the collected version’s new features.
One thing people had wondered about was the availability of eReader cards, which were sold for the Game Boy Advance peripheral in Japan, but never made their way Stateside. According to NP, Zero 3 will indeed feature the cards, now referred to as “Mod Cards.” Utilizing them can enhance your weapons’ strength and alter graphics. “Would you like your home base to be swarming with cats? There’s a mod card for that!” And the effects can be turned on and off as one desires.
Unfortunately, it remains unknown whether this includes the cards which opened the characters’ individual mini-games, or if there may be one to emulate the effect of connecting Zero 3 to a MegaMan Battle Network game.
The game also boasts unlockable bonuses, including wallpaper and character cards. But the most welcome addition for some fans may be the new Easy Scenario mode.
In this mode, the player is granted more health, four Sub-Tanks to restore their energy when times are tough, and immediate access to all of the Cyber-Elves (spikes are still one-hit kills, though). However, there is a catch: to play in this mode means you have to play the games in order.
By the sound of things, Capcom is making sure that this collected version of Zero’s trials will be well worth the money spent, even for those who might already have the original Game Boy Advance releases… particularly for those who might have never finished them.
Tags: Capcom, Mega Man Zero, Mega Man Zero Collection, WHAT AM I FIGHTING FOR??, Zero
Filed under: Mega Man News
Oh no, I have to PLAY THE GAMES IN ORDER If I want to play on easy mode. How scary~
The BN connection will most likely just require a BN game in the GBA slot. Kinda like how SF did.
LaZodiac: Some people might– or more likely, will– find that to be a hassle. Trusting that once a game is beaten, you can return to whichever you want at any time, though.
VileMKII: Except that there are a lot of people out there now who have DS units without GBA slots.
–LBD “Nytetrayn”
That’s true. I’ll have to dig out my old DS to connect, save, and then plug it back into my SWEET DSi XL!! I’m really curious as to how the ‘card reader’ will work without a GBA slot (I thought that is where it connected). And aslo where the cards will be sold- or if they will be selling card guides separately like they did with MMSF2. I have the MMZ Official Complete Works and I think that it is REALLY cool of CAPCOM to give us the JP extras with the collection. I have always been a fan of using the GBA slot to unlock extra content. Maybe they’ll have a little something extra in store for those fans that do have the four MZ titles for the GBA…:)
Wow, that Easy Mode is even worse than Rockman 10′s Sissy Platforms. Anyone who needs that much help is absolutely awful.
Oh, damn. Playing on the new easy mode means I have absolutely no choice but to go through all four games again. Twist my arm, Capcom…
I’m glad they’ve realized how much the narrative means to Zero fans that they’re giving us an option to marathon through all four games back-to-back without having to stress too hard about the collectibles we’d rather get on normal mode where they mean something.
lol, you can always count on Fishman to be BAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWing about something whenever you scroll through the comments.
LaZodiac is totally right. How the hell can they ask you to go through the games in order if you play on easy mode? Why even include it!? No one’s going to use it now. Damn Capcom ruining everything.
Now I can finally have my game swarming with cats! You don’t know how long I’ve been waiting for this.
Hm. That’s not so bad.
Lol, just looking at the title of this article, I already know Fishman will be commenting on this already
still doesnt seem worth the money if the only addition thats actually going to be worth it is the modifiers. wallpapers and character cards? all artwork that can be googled. if theyre gonna make something different, include either graphical updates, musical updates, or even a bonus non canon playable character. like say, X or copy X.
I’d like to play as omega
Pardon me if I mention this: I know gamers who absolutely suck at platformers that would die to play the Zero games on Easy mode. And I can’t complain. For the record, anyone that says that playing Zero 1 while maintaining an A-S rank is easy should be SHOT IN THE HEAD. I died 23 times on Copy X’s second form before I got it down. Zero 1 is extraordinarily difficult. Zero 2 is only slightly less.
For people who haven’t even played this series at all, Easy Mode is a good way to warm them up to it. Otherwise, they won’t play it. PERIOD. I know plenty of people who refuse to play games like Mega Man and Demons Souls just because they hate having a video game kick their asses.
So no, Capcom was actually SMART to include an Easy Mode. Once players feel comfortable and familiar with the games, they can up the difficulty and play again. Once they’re done with Normal, it’s Hard Mode time. This is a great way to introduce people to one of the best series in the franchise.
Plus, having each game back to back sounds fun. The story is really important in the Zero series, and having it presented in its intended order is an automatic plus.
Of course it was smart. No truly great game shoots for “kicking the player’s ass” as their main goal. Do know some of us were being sarcastic.
Some of us? Everyone was being sarcastic. Don’t sweat it though, Tom. It was all in good fun.
Damn. Do I really want to buy all the Zero games ALL OVER AGAIN? A few months after I bought Z1, and thus completed my collection, this popped up. I want it!
Why does everyone think Zero 1 was so hard? I was like 10 when I beat that.
@Doctor Andy
Amen.
The Zero series at first is hard if you don’t know what the heck your doing ,but you get better after every failed attempt at a mission.
@Man who loves Rocka Music
That’s the point of all video games, really. Back in ‘the good ole days’, video games weren’t expected to hold your hand through the first half.
@Fishman
Yeah, i think the best example of that would be battle toads or ninja gaiden. Does it get any harder than that? I think battle toads is probably one of the hardest games in the world. However, i must agree there is nothing wrong with easy mode, because if you want, you can just choose normal or hard anyway.
I know right. I think thats why I grew to love the challenges of each of the Zero games because whenever you get your butt kicked by the bosses or getting through the stages you die and you learn what not to do and try something different weather it be to pogo Triple Rod across on flying enemies to get that damn cyber elf in Neo Arcadia Shrine and learning that Copy X’s second form has a weakness to Ice. If I can remember correctly I died so much in each of the games ,but it was real satisfying to beat each game. For me it was all trial and error. I can now play each game without any sort of difficulty except MMZ2′s hardmode which took me forever to beat. I can’t count my death toll though…
Yeah I’m probably one of those that need to get shot because I can quote on quote maintain and A or S rank in Zero 1 Normal and Hard. This isn’t to mock Mr. Tom of course because I can see why an easy mode would help increase replay value for the people who dislike games kicking their ass ;however, if you like the challenges like I did there is no need for an Easy mode for the veterans of this series. I think the closest to Easy mode I’ve gotten were the ultimate modes and reply files. It was real nice to reap enemies that were notorious for leaving marks all over you in those modes.
I don’t think the games were too hard- unless you are trying to collect everything with an A or S rank. THEN it becomes a challenge. I think that it is very smart of CAPCOM to include an easy mode. While I loved the games- I had friends who would try it and talk about how they loved the idea/concept/graffics but thought that it was too hard so they set it aside. And let’s be honest: the fact that so many players “set-it-aside” is one of the reasons that we don’t get more MM games altogether. CAPCOM seems to only produce games that they feel they have a steady market for, in other words- not a huge risk taking company. If we are lucky, some of those fans that put it down will pick it up again and show CAPCOM that there is a higher demand, which might prompt them to make another game. YAY!!
On another note, I think the easy mode will be cool to just play through for the story. Sometimes the play time spent just collecting can take away from that element. (not that you couldn’t really do that with the normal modes)
BTW How cool would it be to see another MMZ game for the Wii or DS where you could collect all of the weapons, armors, chips, and elves from the previous games? I know that Zero was supposedly killed in MMZ4, but they could always bring him back for another adventure.
I know, high hopes.
Er..Boyle2, I don’t know if you are being sarcastic or not, but I was. It maes SENSE to play games in order. Otherwise you don’t know what the crap you are doing or what is happening, and it lets you see just how each game improved on the last.
As an aside, Ironman 2 was awesome.
No Zero 5. Ever.
I’d much rather these “Mod Cards” allow cross-game weaponry than have some asspulled crap sequel. Zero is dead. EXE ended. Please let a series rest in peace, people. All of these Zero 5 and EXE7 Theories / Fangames make me sick.
@ Fishman
You’re quite the optimist. The real point that I was trying to get across is that the more MM games sell, the more they’ll make. The demand can only really be tested by new releases (no way to monitor second-hand sales). So it makes sense to make a game with a higher quality, such as this, with tons of extras and added replay value. We all have to admit that MM’s name has been mud in gaming magazines for a while now. So the problem CAPCOM faces is: Are we being competitive in the new gaming ideas put forth in the MM series, OR does the fan base of that series make up the bulk of our market (are we successfully attracting new customers)? The answer to this question determines the amount a game formula is replayed, or how do you distinguish MM1 from MM2 etc.? Each MM subseries has the same basic formula with a little ‘tweaking’. What CAPCOM really needs to find is a ‘gimmick’ that can revive the interest in MM altogether. I think that that gimmick might just be more time and money for the game designers to create the MM game that they WANT to create, instead of the game the producers allow them to create by limiting their resources. As cautious as CAPCOM is, the question mentioned earlier plays a huge role in whether or not that actually happens.
To further prove my point, ask yourself: Why does Japan get all of the little extras in MM games, not to mention MM games that haven’t even seen US shores. And if you think the answer is because MM originated in Japan, you’d be wrong. TRUTH: The market for MM is stronger in Japan (period).
LaZodiac: Dude, you totally skipped over my response to that Tom guy. I agree completely.
JewceD: The thing is the issue of whether or not the game turns out as a natural and worthwhile addition to its series is independent of positive commercial (and critical, for that matter) reception. Ruining their best franchises to satisfy idiots who can’t appreciate anything more than a “gimmick” is Capcom’s new mission statement. Why the hell should we care if Mega Man’s name is mud in some pompous jackass gaming magazine/blog/twitter feed? I think almost all the hot properties today are the real mud.
You’d think “wow, that was really successful! now we have more resources at our liberty!” Yeah, on the very surface, you’d think that makes sense. Not how it goes though. Big-budget blockbuster successes are more vulnerable to creative restriction than anything else; you may get those resources, but you sure as hell don’t get any liberty. All the more frustrating because the inherent nature of the majority, stupidity, can still be played to through whatever methods of exploitation or spin. Instead, they take the quickest route, and get mediocre people to make mediocre games that can be accepted into whatever damn construct the modern trend dictates.
boyle2:
Words of a god, you have to get commended for that one. just made my day.:-)
As for the extras I’m gonna beat them all and get the bonus, simple as that.
@boyle2
I think that you may have misunderstood what I was suggesting.. I agree that there are restrictions placed on higher funded projects, but I think that you underestimate the restrictions placed on a lower budgeted project(ever heard the phrase “Starving Artist”). What I meant by a gimmick (which was a poor choice of words on my part) was the idea that we find a way to supply the designers (“artists”) with more resources without the restrictions of the developers (“benefactors”). The ‘gimmick’ is to be applied to the way we make games- not the games directly, though they should have an indirect positive effect.
I DO however disagree with “the majority is stupid” comment. It just serves to show how embittered you are for having some of your general ideas rejected. Which, I’d like to speculate, happened in a chat room much like this. But I’d like to also point out that the few Megaman geeks (including myself) in this chat room do not represent the “majority” of gamers. In fact, we are quickly becoming the “minority” of the gaming industry thanks to negative thinking like that. And the point that I was trying to get across earlier was simply this: How many more MM games do you think they will make when they only expect to sell 1000 copies or less?
JewceD:I have a lot of issues with that comment, but we should probably discuss this in the forums or something. Not a big deal just up to you.
Sorry for the double but… never mind that last comment I probably won’t have time for it.
JewceD: No misunderstanding. Lack of time and money can be restrictive in its own way, but despite this type of “restriction”, you see games like Mega Man 2 and Mega Man Legends come to fruition, with nary a creative compromise. The impact of less raw resources usually means nothing more than staggered, delayed development, all the while it’s true some concepts and games just don’t get picked up or finished. It’s a balancing act though, it depends on so many facets unique to each situation. Now there’s one BIG factor that’s always in common when you’ve got a big-budget title; profit. You bring in that one denominator, that huge emphasis every publisher wants to throw on it, the odds are worse that the game just happens to be good. Talk of benefactors is just pointless right now…if the infrastructure of this industry were ever to change THAT drastically, Mega Man would probably not be the figurehead of that movement.
Otherwise, amusing assumption. I’ve been rejected in some capacity so I must just be bitter for the sake of it? Because a person couldn’t possibly be cognizant of general flaws and fallacies in whatever person or body of people’s actions, way of thought, etc.? Boy, that argument is fundamentally crippled in so many ways, the time I could waste here…I’ll tell you this. I’ve done nothing but rationally approach any opposing view or stance, and it would seem I’m generally right in the end…can’t recall any rejection. Of course that doesn’t really mean anything, but I already knew that. You would have been better off questioning or just stating your disagreement than trying to undermine me with a colorful ad hominem illustration of rejection and resentment. Quite a cowardly tactic, but I would have to assume that wasn’t your intention. Do know though it makes little sense.
So anyway, I know we’re not a majority. Not that the minority we’re in is right all the time either, but definitely better than what is the majority. And it’s because of what the majority likes that we are supposedly such a minority, nothing else. 1,000 copies or less…nothing to really be said, that’s just off-cuff gross exaggeration. Frankly there’s no legitimate problem or threat to good games that outweighs putting up with games that are destined to be bad.
Very nice. This is actually the game I am most looking forward to this year.
I can respect that. I didn’t mean to offend. I think that we just have different opinions and expectations when it comes to the series. In the end, we are two MM fans sitting behind the safety of our PCs with little to no involvement in the actual creative processes of the media we love. It is actually really nice to meet another MM fan that is passionate enough to research and develop his/her own ideas and hopes for the Blue Bomber. Actually, I don’t know any MM fans outside of the virtual world. And as much as I enjoy the series, I allow my personal preferences to dictate what I hope to see in the future. Yes, my points were exaggerated, but only to illustrate the fear that I have for the series. And most of my opinions I base on the history of the releases made in the series regarding titles sold (release location)/platforms/and release quantities. That, along with many news sites similar to this one, is how I have built my concepts of CAPCOM strategies. Though it is not ‘rock-solid’ (pardon the pun), I haven’t really been surprised by any of the releases in the past five years.