![]() |
 |
|
|
|
|
In an alternate universe, somewhere out in the middle of nobody-knows-where, there's an alternate version of Mega Man running around, searching for buried treasure wherever it can be found. That's the case with the Mega Man Legends series. Starring the funky MegaMan Volnutt, he and his posse of Roll Caskett, her grandfather Barrell, and an eternal dancing monkey, he soon finds himself in a war with some nasty pirates of the sky. Mega Man Legends was the first foray of the series into 3D, and although the environments weren't incredibly detailed, it was still a charming experience. There's also voice acting for the first time... which would be great if MegaMan was at least somewhat manly. I guess MegaBoy would be more like it. This was later ported to the Nintendo 64 as Mega Man 64, with pretty much all of the bells and whistles intact, though with lower-quality voice audio due to space limitations on a game cartridge. The PC also had its own polished version and then the PSP in Japan only. Looks like Capcom loves to boast this little gem.
Check out our Mega Man Legends review for a more in-depth look!
|
|
|
|
Before Mega Man and Roll ever set foot on Kattelox Island in Mega Man Legends, the Bonne family was getting into trouble while building their flying craft, the Gesellschaft (which Mega Man later destroys). They had to borrow an extremely large sum of money from Loath, a not-so-trustworthy character. Now he has returned for the debt, but the Bonnes don't have the money! Loath holds both Teisel Bonne and Bon Bonne captive. Tron must now earn enough money to pay off the debt... by any means necessary! Thus begins the Misadventures of Tron Bonne. This game is actually a collection of mini-missions, all with the same goal of earning Zenny, Capcom's universal currency. You'll also be spending time passing items between Servbots to gain additional Skills. There are 40 Servbots, so... get ready to trade. The Misadventures of Tron Bonne is a cute prequel that gives just a little more insight into the nature of the series' general antagonists.
|
|
|
|
Now here's another odd entry, straight from the shores of Taiwan. Made by Strawberry Software Inc., the same developer as Rockman Gold Empire, this one's an edutainment title starring our favourite alternate universe Mega Man. We find out beloved hero out in space, along with Roll, Data, and Teisel Bonne. Mega Man must play mini-games and answer quizzical queries for reasons unknown. He certainly doesn't come back from the Moon here. The characters look like a second-grader's art project; Mega Man is apparently made of paper towel tubes. It's extremely rare, and very few sources know enough about this product to give a solid description, so we're just going to back away from the game slowly.
|
|
|
|
While never exactly a sales bonanza, Mega Man Legends performed well enough to warrant a sequel, though Mega Man Legends 2 has a feel all of its own. After leaving Kattelox Island, Professor Barrell Caskett and an old companion, Werner Von Bluecher, plan to visit the Forbidden Island, where it is thought to contain the Mother Lode, the great treasure all Diggers seek. An unfortunate crash landing occurs, and Mega Man Volnutt and Roll must head out to see if they are okay. Once there, they discover that only by finding four keys will they be able to unlock the secrets of that island. It is also here where both MegaMan and Roll can discover more about their past. (Okay, the plot summary is admittedly bare bones; there is far more complexity than I let on.) The game was first playable as a demo included with The Misadventures of Tron Bonne. Mega Man Legends 2 improves in both graphics and 3D action gameplay, although Mega Man's voice continued to be criticized for its excessive femininity. Sales were not far from impressive; their PC and PSP ports failed to ignite much additional interest. Mega Man Legends 2 is also noted for leaving the player confused and concerned with its cliffhanger ending, to which the conclusion has not yet been revealed...
|
|
|
|
I suppose we need to talk about this one. If ever there was a horde of fans angrier than those who were crushed by the cancellation of Mega Man Legends 3, I haven't seen it. It was initially announced in September 2010 for the 3DS; fans rejoiced as it was the first Legends game in a decade. There was a website set up where fans could submit ideas and artistry that could make its way into the game, as well as keep up with the latest news on the game's development. Capcom was even planning to release a prototype version to the 3DS eShop to gauge interest and also to serve as an introductory look at the game. However, July 18, 2011 rolled around as a day fans will never forget: the day Capcom announced that the game was cancelled. No specific reason was given, and the gaming community has been left in the dust wondering exactly what happened to cause its cancellation. The famed Facebook group "100,000 Strong for Bringing Back Mega Man Legends 3" was created shortly after the announcement with the intention of showing Capcom how high a level of interest there is. Although they did reach their goal of recruiting 100,000 members, Mega Man Legends 3's development has not, and likely will not, resume. Looks like Mega Man's going to be stuck on the planet Elysium for even longer.
|
|
![]() |
