Mega Man Anniversary Collection [PS2]

It's been 17 years since the blue bomber known as Mega Man first graced the Nintendo Entertainment System here in the United States. Technology has come a long way in the ensuing years, but even after all this time, fun side-scrolling platform games still hold their appeal.

The Mega Man Anniversary Collection packs 10 games onto one disc -- Mega Man 1 through 8, plus two arcade games previously unreleased stateside. The first six games were on the NES, Mega Man 7 appeared on the Super NES, while Mega Man 8 released on the PlayStation. The visual progression is obvious; Capcom has not tweaked the graphics, so players can see how the character's evolved over the years.

Capcom has packed its anniversary collection with enough goodies to please the most hardcore of Mega Man fans. Every time you beat one of the games, a hidden unlock becomes available. Unlocks include footage from the short-lived Mega Man cartoon show, artwork from the games, and remixed music tracks. Unlocking everything will take a while, and they help keep the player's interest -- slogging through game after game can get repetitive.

Mega Man was a smash hit when it debuted, due in no small part to the non-linear level selection. There's no "required" way to do things, so if you find a level too difficult, simply try another. Defeating a boss earns players the ability to use the boss' special weapon. These special weapons are stronger than the default gun, but also serve a dual purpose -- every boss is particularly weak against a certain weapon. Find the right gun to use against the right boss and victory's assured.

The fatal flaw in the series has never been creativity -- each iteration has colorful levels, outrageous bosses, and plenty of areas to explore. Rather it was the limited control. Trying to shoot at an angle is simply not possible. In today's gaming scene, the lack of multi-directional firing is very noticeable, and the issue is present throughout the Mega Man series. It ends up feeling like an artificial way to raise the difficulty level in a series that is already challenging.

All of the Mega Man games are full of touchy jumps, devilish enemies, and hard bosses. You'll need practice, and lots of it. Even getting through the first stage of the original is bound to cause fits of frustration for beginners and veterans alike. So if you're familiar with the series, rest assured: each game is just as hard as you remember.

However, despite the flaws, Mega Man still shines for one simple reason -- the games are undeniable, classic fun. Running through levels, shooting enemies, and dodging bullets is a visceral dance that relies solely on reaction time. Every time Mega Man bites the dust, you'll be tempted to give it one more try. Forget mental challenges and crazy puzzles, these are games of pure skill.

Because the games are perfect reproductions, all the secrets are still intact. If you have any passwords scribbled on the back of an old homework assignment, they'll work just fine. Capcom hasn't forgotten younger gamers, though, as the anniversary collection does feature an optional built-in hint system. This way you'll never find yourself stuck in an area wondering how to proceed.

Unfortunately, the Game Boy versions are being released in a separate collection, and the Mega Man X titles are mysteriously absent. But the classic titles are more than enough to satisfy. Mix in the plethora of bonus content and you'll find a disc that was obviously crafted with love and care.

Picking up this anniversary collection should be a no-brainer for all Mega Man fans out there. And even if you weren't an old-school addict, you can still dig in for some harmless fun... just be prepared for the frustrations and insane difficulty that come with many retro classics.