Mega Man 5

Mega Man 5
Genre(s): Platformer Action Platform(s): Nintendo Entertainment System PlayStation Release Date: JP: December 4, 1992 NA: December 15, 1992 EU: November 18, 1993 PlayStation JP: November 25, 1999 Developer(s): Capcom Publisher(s): Capcom (Japan) Nintendo (North America and Europe) Predecessor: Mega Man 4 Successor: Mega Man 6

Mega Man 5 is an action-platform video game developed by Capcom for the Nintendo Entertainment System. It is the fifth game in the original Mega Man series and was released in Japan on December 4, 1992. It saw a release during the same month in North America and in 1993 in Europe.

Plot

Mega Man 5 takes place during the 21st century, about two months after the events of Mega Man 4, when the mad scientist Dr. Wily once again attempted to take over the world. Proto Man, secret brother and once ally to the world's greatest hero Mega Man, leads an army of robots in a series of destructive attacks on the world. To cripple the world's defenders, he kidnaps his own creator, the genius scientist Dr. Light. Mega Man wonders why Proto Man is doing this, but with little choice left, he sets out to stop him, assisted by Beat, a robot bird gifted to him by Dr. Cossack. Mega Man prevails over a new group of eight powerful "Robot Masters" working under Proto Man: Star Man, Gravity Man, Gyro Man, Stone Man, Crystal Man, Charge Man, Napalm Man, and Wave Man. Mega Man then makes his way to Proto Man's fortress and confronts his fellow creation, who nearly destroys the protagonist in the process. However, a second Proto Man arrives just in time, revealing the first as an imposter: Dark Man, one of Dr. Wily's newest robots. Mega Man vanquishes the impostor, then pursues Wily to his newest hideout, defeats him, and saves Dr. Light. However, the fortress begins collapsing, and while Mega Man is distracted from holding up the ceiling from crushing himself and Dr. Light, Wily manages yet another retreat. Just after Wily escapes, a familiar whistle is heard, and part of the ceiling is blasted away, allowing Mega Man and Dr. Light to also escape. As the two watch the castle collapse from a distance, their mystery savior is revealed to be the real Proto Man, who quietly slips off unnoticed.

Why It Rocks

1. The graphics are of high quality and are a bit improved from the last games on the NES, with great visual effects and backgrounds. This game is also one of the best-looking Mega Man games on the NES, and they also look great for 1992 standards.
2. The controls are very tight and responsive; if you play extremely well, you will not fall to your death, king of like Mega Man 8.
3. The gameplay is very fun, just like the other Mega Man games on the NES.
4. The level design is pretty creative compared to the pre. dec ces ors like the Gravity Man stage where you are in space and the ground will change either up or down, which was innovative for the time the game was released, which was 1992.
5. While not as good as the other games on the NES like Mega Man 2, the soundtrack is still pretty good and has even some great themes like the Napalm Man theme, the Crystal Man theme, the Gravity Man theme, or the Wily's Stages theme.
6. The game introduces Beat to the series, which helps Mega Man when he attacks enemies or protects Mega Man. His design is also nice and cute.
7. The game introduces the system of the letter plates; even if it's not used often, it's a nice concept, and if you get them all, you will unlock Beat.
8. The Mega Buster is an improvement over the one from Mega Man 4 because it's got a better look and a better hitbox, and due to that, it's the one keeping up for the future games in the franchise (at the time).
9. The Europe cover art edits the Mega Man face to look like his original design, like Mega Man 4, which looks better than the North America cover art version.
10. The game difficulty is more balanced than its predecessors, including Mega Man 4, which makes the game great for new players to the Mega Man franchise.
11. The plot, while simple, is pretty good, just like in the other Mega Man games: Proto Man is an ally to Mega Man but leads an army of robots in a series of destructive attacks on the world, and he captures his own creator, Dr. Light.

Bad Qualities

1. The game is a bit too short; the game can be beaten in less than an hour.
2. Napalm Man is a pretty questionable name for a robot master. Due to the war theme of the level, Mega Man 5 was banned in this country (even if the reason why the game is banned is very stupid).
3. The Proto Man fortress is very difficult and have awful boss fight and level.
4. The Charge Kick and Power Stone are bad weapons, especially the Power Stone as it's almost impossible to hit a ennemis with it and there no redemming qualities for that weapon whatsoever.

Reception

Mega Man 5 receives positive reviews from both critics, players, and fans who praise the level design or graphics.

Trivia

1. Due to the Napalm Man name, the game was banned in Vietnam, as said in BQ #2.

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