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    Megaman Zero; (yeah, it's old I know!)
    Topic Started: May 28 2005, 06:01 PM (608 Views)
    caleb_brehaut
    Goomba
    [size=14]Megaman Zero[/size]
    Posted Image
    Format - Gameboy Advance
    Genre - 2D Action Platformer
    Designer - Capcom
    Publisher - Capcom
    Number of Players - 1
    Release Dates - 26/04/02 (JP)
    - 09/09/02 (US)
    - 27/09/02 (EU)

    I am aware that this game has been on the market for some time now (2002) but I felt that it is underappreciated and after playing the game again, I though I should review it, possibly to convince those who have not yet sampled it to do so or possibly to merely put my thoughts on the internet to be picked at and scorned by total strangers (just kidding!). P.s. be kind its my first review!

    The game follows the escapades of the real star of the Megaman X games. Finally someone at Capcom has listened and got rid of that little prat in the blue jumpsuit and given us the long haired, red armoured, sword slashing warrior that we all really wanted to play as! Thank goodness, I had got to the stage where i was making Megaman dive into spikes and pits in frustration! So lets dive in and see what the game is finally like…

    [size=7]The Plot[/size]
    The game begins after the events of the Megaman X series which is based around Reploids who are essentially cyborgs. The Reploid War, begun by the Sigma virus that drove reploids berserk, lasted for centuries. Finally X defeated Sigma and ended the war. A city, Neo Arcadia was established as a primary base for building a world where everyone, reploids and humans could live happily.

    However the government, who feared that reploids would go berserk again, accused and arrested reploids for any reason or sometimes none at all. Those fortunate enough to escape took refuge in a destroyed city where they mined enough energy to stay alive. Ciel, a human scientist evacuated with them. However the government now seeks to destroy them and all the reploids will die if something is not done soon. Ciel then remembers the legend of Zero, who is said to be in suspended animation near Neo Arcadia.

    Ciel and a group from the rebellion travel to the Zero’s resting place but are confronted the government soldiers who chase them inside. Many of the rebels die trying to hold off the forces and particularly Golem robots, which their weapons have no effect on. They finally reach Zero’s chamber but his body has a shield around it. The last of the rebels are then killed, leaving only Ciel and her Cyber Elf, whom she sacrifices to break the shield and resurrect Zero. Ciel begs Zero to help her escape and this is where the player takes over…

    As you can see the story while nothing drastically special, does give the excuse for another game. It is much better than the previous Megaman X games which basically consisted of ‘Sigma’s back! Go and save the world for him, AGAIN X!’ and so on. It is feasible that the player may wish to play on to find out what happens next but like most Capcom games the plot does seem tacked on and really it lets the action speak for itself.
    Plot Score - 67%; an improvement on the usual droll but still far from perfect

    [size=7]The Characters[/size]
    Zero
    Posted Image
    This is the sole character that you will play as in the game and the title role to the story. Zero was abandoned in a remote energy mine and is woken up by Ciel after 100 years. Zero experiences some loss of memory data and therefore at the start remembers few of his skills and only remembers X by name and little else.

    Ciel
    Posted Image
    She is a human who escaped with the reploids and leads the resistance. She is an excellent scientist and was working on an alternative form of energy before the rebellion begun.

    (Megaman) X
    Posted Image
    The hero of the original series returns. At the beginning it is revealed that X has taken over the government and that he is reason for the culling of the Reploids. It appears that he merely wishes to protect the humans but later it is revealed that all is not quite well in his mind and all is not quite what it seems…

    Four Generals
    Posted ImagePosted ImagePosted ImagePosted Image
    These are X’s generals and all are modelled on him. They are specialists in various different elements and will test Zero to his limits but once he regains his skills they will be no match for him. You will face each of these at least twice in the game. They also have an ‘assistant’ each who will attempt to deal with you at the beginning of the game.

    Resistance Companions
    These are rebels who will attempt to help you but in the end you will merely have to rescue them from danger by freeing them from a hidden base or escorting them back from a crash site (the resistance would be much better without them).

    These are very basic character bios just designed to give a basic overview of the characters in the game. Anymore and I would just ruin the (excuse for a) plot for you.

    [size=7]The Controls[/size]
    A Button – Jump, Conform menu selection, Jump up wall (if D-Pad held into wall)
    B Button – Primary Weapon attack, Cancel menu selection, Charge Attack (if held)
    D-Pad – Move Zero, Move menu cursor, Dash (if double tapped)
    Start – Display Sub Screen
    Select – Not Used
    L Button – Dash
    R Button – Use Sub Weapon/+B Use Sub Weapon/Change Primary Weapon (depends on option settings)

    Controls Score – 77%; I think that the Select Button is wasted and that sometimes the controls can be clumsy (especially since as default you have to hold R and press B to use the Z-Sabre).

    [size=7]Screen Shots[/size]
    Posted Image
    ^This is the standard screen. On the left is the health bar and below are the primary and sub waepons

    [size=7]The Format[/size]
    This game follows the more traditional format of the previous Megaman games in stark comparison to the newer (and quite poor) format of the Battle Network games. The game is conducted in the usual scrolling, 2D, platform format. It is pretty standard in terms of the previous Megaman X games (and lets face it, you probably have played Megaman X or one of its sequels if you are thinking or have purchased this game); you walk, you shoot/slash at enemies, find enemies and fight a boss at the end of the level.

    Since this is the same format as that of the previous games, you would expect it would be tired by now. But there are sufficient changes to make it seem fresh. Of course there is little better than being able to blow things up and they have found it; having the choice between blowing things up or cutting things up! However the format while it does seem fresh enough at the beginning by the end it does seem old and worn out and you won’t really want to play any longer than 30 minutes playing. However to attempt to combat this Capcom have included a wide variety of missions (which to me do not seem that varied) from protecting rebels to fighting entire armies!

    The format changes are not many (and looking back on it not that significant). Cyber Elves replace X’s body upgrades, chips, hearts and subtanks. Zero does gain new weapons from bosses like X rather he gains new weapons through out the game and chips replace the elemental nature of X’s weapons. Zero can also ‘upgrade’ his weapons by using them. For example the Buster starts out single shot but can be upgraded to charge up a more powerful shot.

    Format Score – 73% the format is too similar to previous games and can grow tedious towards the end of the game but ultimately it is quite fun especially at the start.

    [size=7]Cyber Elves[/size]
    Cyber Elves are (and I quote) ‘programs created to help Zero in dire straits’. These essentially replace X’s upgrades and hearts. Nurse Cyber Elves can heal you, give you extra health, give your health bar a second layer or transform into a sub tank. Animal Cyber Elves upgrade Zeroes physical attributes or save you from peril (for example by erecting shields or saving you from falls). Hacker Cyber Elves edit the level around you by removing spikes or stunning enemies. Certain elves require raised using the power crystals found in levels and cannot be used until they are given a certain amount.

    I think that these Cyber Elves added a certain amount to the game as they allow the player to use Zeroes upgrades as they see fit and can decide what’s most important to them. However at times they can cause much irritation. If one is missed in an important level it may not be possible to catch it again meaning if an important one is left behind then you can’t get it to use it. Also having to raise Cyber Elves can be a chore as you may have to go into a random area and battle enemies just to get the crystals. Also using a Cyber Elf the amount of points you get in the following levels, thereby lowing your rank (ranking system explained later).

    [size=7]Weapons[/size]
    Posted Image
    Buster – Zero starts with this weapon. This is the standard weapon used by both x and Zero in the other Megaman X games. This simply fires a single shot per button press. Its upgraded once Zero gets the Z-Sabre to allow one level of charging and through use gets another level.
    Weapon Score – 8/10 – Simple to use but not that powerful.

    Posted Image
    Z-Sabre - Zero gains this weapon during the first boss fight. This is the most powerful weapon and is of course why people buy this game. This is the same weapon as in the Megaman X games although now can be accessed simply by pressing the R and B buttons together. This starts out as a single slash and once upgraded can do a triple combo slash, rolling slash and charged up attack.
    Weapon Score – 11/10! – Brilliant!

    Sorry no Image!
    Triple Rod – Zero gains this weapon after completing a certain number of missions. It is essentially a spear and can stretch when powered up. It is very slow and easy to miss with – stay well clear!
    Weapon Score – 2/10 – Awful, never use!

    Posted Image
    Shield Boomerang – Zero gains this weapon near the end of the end. It is a shield that can deflect enemy blasts and when charged is thrown like a boomerang (funnily enough!) that can kill enemies. Once powered up it can be used to kill enemies at greater distance.
    Weapon Score – 9/10 – Very Useful if used correctly, deflect those bullets!

    Weapons can also be upgraded with chips to give them elemental properties that can be used to inflict extra damage on certain enemies. The chips available are ice, lightning and fire chips.

    [size=7]Ranking[/size]
    The ranking system in Megaman Zero ranges from A – F. This determines how good a player you are and little else actually. A Cyber Elf can be gained from an A rank but that’s it. A wasted opportunity as additional secrets/moves could have been unlocked by a high ranking (like in the sequel) but just a single cyber elf, oh well. However you reduce your rank by using Cyber Elves and therefore its very difficult to retain the highest rank and complete the game. A game that penalises you for using upgrades – very novel!

    That is essentially the game in a nutshell and therefore I shall now begin to properly review it.

    [size=7]Graphics[/size]
    As can be seen from the above screen shots the graphics are very detailed, with Zero being constructed in great detail as well as the backgrounds being detailed. The enemies are also lovingly constructed and some of the bosses can take up half the screen and the levels of detail can be clearly seen. The game models are very smooth and I have never seen their pixilation. This is one of the rare games that has been drawn solely by hand and it surely pays off.

    However the real beauty of Megaman Zero lies in its animation. Every movement is fluent and Zero’s movements are believable. Every slash is a work of art and you can clearly see what enemies are doing. The animators even thought to put in multiple death animations for bosses, if you finish the boss with a Sabre they will be vertically cleaved in half and then begin to explode, while if a buster is used they will recoil and begin to malfunction before exploding.

    Overall I would say that Megaman Zero is still one of the best looking games on the system and these screen shots really do not do it justice. It needs to be seen to be fully appreciated.

    Graphics Score – 96%; Great detail and animation

    [size=7]Sound[/size]
    The music is this game is pretty standard in terms of the Megaman X series. If you liked it then you’ll like it now, if you didn’t then you won’t. The music seems generally to suit the style of the levels and the task that Zero has to accomplish (i.e. if the mission requires quick completion, the music is fast, while the slower missions have slower music). It also seems mostly to suit the background of the mission as for example the music in the city levels seems technological.

    The sound effects are suitably heavy, with the classic ‘phoorr’ sound each and every time a slash is performed, a clicking noise each time a bullet is fired and Zero shouting each time the shield boomerang is released. As far as I can tell the triple rod noise is the same as the Z-Sabre noise. The exploding noise is quite light each time an enemy is destroyed and the boss explosion is not that great either but even so the sounds are suitable for the game and do seem to fit in with the game.

    While there are no actual voices in the game, there are voice related noise such as cries of pain and fear and shouts of anger. I think that these improve the game as they sound quite realistic and allow the player to sense more emotion from the characters.

    Sound Score – 75%; Music doesn’t bother me (although I don’t exactly like it) but may bother others and certain sound effects do not seem to fit.

    [size=7]Gameplay[/size]
    This game plays much like the Megaman X games and so if you have played them then you will know what the gameplay is like. If you liked it then chances are you will like this one more and if you don’t like the Megaman X games then what is wrong with you!/ then there is little to recommend this game. If you have not played the Megaman X games then it is basically the cream of the scrolling 2D platformers. If you have never played a platformer before then this is a good place to start!

    The game is essentially consists of shooting and slashing and therefore there is not much variation. However as we all know this is enough fun in itself and comments on how long before you tire of it belong in the below section so essentially it is pick up and play fun. You can simply pick up the game play a mission (which may only take 5 minutes or so) and then simply save and switch off.

    However this is not a game for novices or youngsters (sorry to ageist but find me a gamer younger than 10 that can kick my *censored* at any game!). The game is very difficult and to those who do not much experience with the previous games should seek elsewhere. Despite my earlier comments on the suitability of this for a gamer’s first platformer, it may be best if you are not known for your gaming skill to start somewhere else! The learning curve is also quite steep with the first two missions being easy enough but the difficultly increases steeply after that pitting you against difficult bosses with little amount of upgrades. However once you get into the game and begin to conquer the steep learning curve then there is few better platformers and in my opinion none on the GBA. Also once you complete the game you can play hard mode which is quite a bit more difficult and if you wish to obtain the top ranking then you have to complete the game without upgrades and this is absolutely lethal (I’m still trying!).

    Gameplay Score – 89%; Great fun and one of the best examples of the genre but some may find it too difficult!

    [size=7]Value[/size]
    This game in my opinion is great value for money as it is challenging enough for you to come back and play it again and again. It will take you a long time to be good enough to keep the A grade throughout hard mode and while most may find this too tedious, hardcore gamers will not be satisfied until they have done so. Some people may feel that the game is overly hard and may be unsatisfied but if they persevere they will come back time and time again. Also the Cyber Elves can be hard to find and so you may have to play the game through several times to get them all. The Cyber elves that require raising require Energy Crystals to do so and you may have to replay missions which while may be tedious, it makes the game much easier.

    Considering how long this game has been out and the fact that the sequels have been released, this game should be quite cheap by now and therefore if you haven’t got it, get it! Also the sequels are slightly different but the ‘improvements’ do not improve the game noticeably (in fact at some points they make it worse!) and therefore if you are not sure that you would like the series then it would be wise to get this game due to the reduction in price.

    This is also a suitable amount of missions to keep you going for quite some time. The missions are not always the same and therefore while you might succeed in the first one you may not succeed in the next one and so forth. Also there may be times when the missions get too hard and you'll throw your GBA down in frustration but you'll be back, let me tell you that!

    Value Score – 95%; will keep you coming back for more again and again.

    [size=7]Comparison[/size]
    Megaman Zero 2
    The sequel are essentially the same game with parts tagged on. The ranking system is improved and it used more. This however does make the game harder and I believe the levels themselves are also harder to just complete. Buy this if you want an extra challenge after this game but I wouldn’t advise before.

    Megaman Battle Network
    This follows the adventures of the original Megaman (not X) but essentially they are the same character just different storylines and supporting characters. This is conducted in 3D and Megaman is merely a computer program and you spend too much time wandering around as his human owner and too little time fighting. Also the fights are conducted in strange way, you select ‘cards’ for special attacks and fight over a 3-D grid. Once you use your special attacks you only have a buster to fight with (which is weak) and chips are picked at random so you could end up with very weak attacks. I advise you steer clear…

    [size=7]Strengths and Weaknesses[/size]
    Strengths

    • Great fun
    • Simple Format
    • Pick and Playability (is that a word?)
    • Great (hand drawn) graphics
    • Challenging
    • Long life span
    • Zero!
    Weaknesses

    • Sound is at times dodgy
    • Can be too Challenging!
    • Format may become tedious
    • Tacked on plot
    [size=7]Final Summary[/size]
    This game has great graphics, gameplay and value but only decent sound. However this is not drastically important as you can always turn it down or off completely if need be. The only problem some may find is that the game is too difficult but this only adds to the appeal I think (I like a challenge!). The control issues are a minor niggle and some of the issues can be fixed by tampering with the options. Some may also find it too similar to the Megaman X series but as I standalone game I think it’s excellent!

    [size=14]Final Score - 93[/size] :D
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    ^Sig by (the almighty) Zaneblade
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    caleb_brehaut
    Goomba
    Still more pics to be added, but judge me on what i've got! :D
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    ^Sig by (the almighty) Zaneblade
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    Stu_J
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    Kirby
    :woot: FANTASTIC REVIEW!!, a great start to your reviewin careeer, perfect length not too long and certainly not short, the langauge and writing style are informative and jus formal enuff for the reader, the categories are top notch gr8 idea with the comparisoon one, its touches like this tht reli MAKE or break reviews. everything was put across perfectly, and i think this is gonna be a big contendor for ROTM, tht is unless i write another one :P only messin m8, but reli spot on!
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    Zane
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    Wiiplus.net
    man if that dont win!
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    .................................................. [Wiiplus.net] [Nintendo Wii]
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    UltraMegaGigaBowser
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    Minnesota High School Hockey
    Ahhhh.... A compititer for Review of the Month...I'm gonna Win!!!j/k j/k... THAT WAS A GREAT REVIEW!!! CHECK OUT MINE(SM64 DS) AND TELL ME HOW YOU LIKE IT!!! :D
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    caleb_brehaut
    Goomba
    Thanks 4 the kind words everyone. I really appreciate them ^_^ ! Oh and Stu you don't have to manufacture false complements 4 me :P , if you write a another review we all know ur gonna win! :lol:
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