Mega Man II is one of the best games on the NES, and a game which inspired many clones of it to come in its wake. Like many games of its time, it is very hard; however, Mega Man II is also a fair, skill-based game which will become easier as you improve. After completing each level, you are awarded with a new weapon, some of which function very different than your normal weapon or can even provide devices which can serve as platforms and make the platforming portions of levels easier. For this reason, it is often advantageous to complete some levels before others, and even today there is debate on the most optimal order to complete the levels. The final levels of the game require that you have completed all of the other levels, and will need the usage of these platforms. The music in Mega Man II is one of the reasons I return to the game every so often, as they are some of the best 8-bit chiptunes to grace the Nintendo. In short, Mega Man II is a challenging, but satisfying experience with many levels, all of which are varied and memorable music.
The Good:
- Very precise twitch controls and game mechanics.
- The levels in the game are all different and unique, each with a distinctly different final boss and new weapon which they provide the player.
- Incredible music which will have you coming back to the game.
- The game is hard, but fair.
The Bad:
- While every level is possible with no extra weapons, there are some levels you really shouldn't start the game on.