Mega Man 9: Unlocking Proto Man

That means that instantly, Proto Man's mode is a tougher run through the game, as you'll now need to grab the M tank provided in the Wily stage during your final run through to the end, you won't have any free E tanks to buy and muscle your way through bosses, and with no treats to purchase, you'll need to hit every jump and save every pellet of life.

Speaking of life, Proto Man is gimped in this category as well, taking double damage on everything (and also knocking back double distance when hit), now making boss collision and energy enemies serious problems, as they can take up to half of Proto's bar in one hit. To counter this, Proto Man has the charge shot, which - in standard Mega Man fashion - is worth three regular shots, and he can also jump and block fired bullets, deflecting regular shots, and nullifying attacks like flames and other elemental offense. As a few notes on the reflect and charge shots, the charge shot will be nullified if hit while charging, and the reflect won't work when using Jewel Man's shield.

In addition to those functional changes, the game also has a few little changes based on using Proto Man. All 1UP icons in the game are now Proto heads, and like the gun recharge pellets, will strobe whenever Proto Man is charging (another faked NES Easter egg). All of the stages also take into account Proto Man's sprite, so the Shadow Mega Man enemies are now Shadow Proto Man, the ink attacks in Spalsh Woman's level will turn Proto Man all-black, and Proto will have a Proto Coil and Proto Jet, rather than RC and Rush Jet.

We're nearing our final encounter with Wily now, but it's going to be one heck of a fight, as the lack of E tanks, added damage from enemies, and tiny changes (Proto's run animation is different from Mega's, so hitting that perfect "last pixel" jump is a bit of a trial and error process at first) will make things much, much harder. Still, anyone that dropped $10 on Mega Man 9, and is having as much fun with it as we are would be foolish in ignoring Proto Man Mode for another $2. For the price of a burger and coke off the dollar menu, you're getting a new character, more fan service, in-level changes, slide, charge shot, jump deflect, and a "hard mode" of sorts all in one. It's well worth it.

Proto Man will be available for download the week of October 6th for WiiWare, PSN, and Xbox 360.

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