Mega Man 9 Deemed an “Essential Multiplatform Download” by Game Informer

Thanks to the current generation of consoles and handhelds (not to mention iPhones and other devices), downloadable gaming has seen a definite boom, with many classic and niche titles hopping on board to take advantage of the benefits this cost-effective method of video game distribution can provide. And while some are exclusive to certain platforms, others are available to play almost anywhere.
As such, Game Informer has compiled a list of what they believe are the “16 Essential Multiplatform Downloadable Games.” And as one might expect (sort of a given, if you’re reading it here… to say nothing of if you looked at the headline), the Blue Bomber has made his way into the unnumbered rankings with Mega Man 9, which has been available since September 2008 and has reached WiiWare, Xbox LIVE Arcade, the PlayStation Network, and even mobile devices. Here’s what they had to say:

Plenty of classic games have seen revivals on downloadable platforms, but few have been as faithful to the source material as Mega Man 9. Capcom’s blue bomber in his classic form had been absent from the gaming scene for well over a decade when Mega Man 9 arrived – a brand new installment of the series complete with 8-bit graphics and accompanying sound and music. The developers even included a mode to emulate NES processing power, making onscreen sprites flicker when too many showed up. The devotion to nostalgia alongside brutal difficulty balancing makes Mega Man 9 a favorite among old school gamers. The game was so well received that the series received another sequel a couple of years later.

The list contains two other Capcom titles, Bionic Commando Rearmed, Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix, and a number of other favorites from other companies, and you can read all about them here.

However, one question lingers: no Mega Man 10? They do mention the sequel, but don’t seem to really recommend it, for some reason. Perhaps the standard playable Proto Man and the downloadable Bass and Mega Man Killers weren’t enticing enough for them? Heck, we would even go for a collective listing of “Mega Man 9 & 10.”

…not that we’re trying to play favorites or anything (as much as Sheep Man and Nitro Man deserve a little love); we love Mega Man 9, too, but it just seems a little strange to have one without the other on a list of “essentials.”

Then again, perhaps the two were simply considered too similar to warrant 10‘s inclusion. What do you think?

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