Collected here for the first time is Mega Man’s future exploits as X, the Maverick Hunter out to save the reploids from the evil Sigma. Beginning with MEGA MAN X on SNES, all the way through MEGA MAN X6 on PS1 (X7 and X8 were left off the comp due to their current gen console appearances on PS2…since they were each on a DVD separate, there apparently wasn’t enough room to include them in the collection, and the need is apparently not there anyway, as you’ll have the entire series available on the PS2 if you add this disc to your collection). The collection once again acts as a time capsule, watching the character grow and change with each new adventure…or not. With the first three games, the only thing apparent is how amazingly DIFFICULT the games are, all the while retaining the EXACT same animations (and hell, most of the level baddies too, not including bosses) through all three titles. Still, the games are emulated perfectly from the originals, and it’ll feel like home again as you blast and dash your way through bizarrely named enemies like Crystal Snail and Blizzard Buffalo.

The collection this time, however, isn’t as evenly matched as its previous counterpart. The X series is full of ups and downs as far as good content is concerned. While X, X3 and X4 are the standouts of the series (X3 here being a port of the PS1 version, with it’s anime cut scenes and totally different music than it’s more collectible SNES brother) the rest of the games tend to fall by the “wha?” side of things, as they just don’t shape up with the rest of the series (and honestly, still haven’t with the two most recent iterations on PS2). Still, the good more than evens out the bad, as these games offer some seriously difficult boss battles, and the gameplay overall for them is as fantastic and fun as the little blue guy gets.

As an added bonus, the one and only Mega Man kart racer BATTLE AND CHASE is included as an unlockable, as well as a whole slew of item in the gallery after completing certain tasks and finishing a set number of the games. While the extra game isn’t much (I would have preferred MEGA MAN SOCCER) it is something we haven’t seen before. The collection also remains exactly the same this time out on both PS2 and Gamecube, and even includes button customization, for those of you who bitched about MMs fire and jump buttons being switched on your ‘cubes.

All in all, if you’re a fan of the Maverick Hunter, or just need to complete you Mega collection, this is one that should defiantly be on your shelves. While the games’ quality is uneven through the titles, the high points are as high as they can be, and the emulations are spot on. Tight control, great action, and fantastic music…plus hair pulling difficulty, destined for the hardest of the hardcore make this collection a must.

One Gamer’s Opinion:

HANDS ON: 24

Not only does the game sync in nicely within the series (“the following takes place between seasons two and three”) but also has the full cooperation of not just the cast, but the script writers and music composer of the show as well. Kiefer Sutherland reprises his role as Angry Jack once again, screaming his way through another trial of guns and bad shit going down. In the game, you play not only as Jack, but as his partner Chase Evans (where you’ll see how Chase meets Jack’s daughter, Kim), and CTU agent (at the time, remember) Tony Almeda.

The demo itself features three different play modes built within the game, that you’ll apparently switch between as the situations change, all in real time. The first section has you as Jack infiltrating a thug’s hideout to take a witness into custody. As Jack does his one man army bit, taking cover behind dressers and couches, you get a feel of the third-person action shooter this game has the potential to be. I say potential for two reasons: 1) shooting isn’t ALL this game is, though it does happen a good bit, and 2) the shooting elements aren’t fantastic, but they have potential to be. The controls are all fine, though at times the camera doesn’t know how to act if you’re behind cover and you spring out to shoot a guy, and he happens to be directly behind the cover you’re using. Also, in those close quarters, you often don’t shoot at all, but end up in quick melee combat with your foe. Still, for the most part it’s favorable, with Jack gunning down perps like a pro, and even allows for some precision aiming…providing they’re far enough away to make the camera behave.

The second section has you interrogating a witness (a different one), in Jack’s own unique style. He hand cuffs him to a chair (after shooting him, of course) and begins the questioning, which is where the player takes over. By pressing a button you can direct the line of questioning Jack gives the subject, from Threatening to Calming, or just by keeping it steadily in the middle. As the subject responds by a heart rate meter, you must choose which type of question to ask to keep the rate within a blue field. As the subject reaches his breaking point, timing the final button press to the erratically moving heart rate and lining it up within the blue field takes precision, and Jack ends the questions with a subtle gun to the head. Then it’s off to CTU as a tech expert to use Jack’s new information to locate a series of snipers by infra-red scanning of buildings. As you cycle through the levels of each building, you single out subjects on each floor as possible snipers. It’s a cool little mini mode that acts within and with Jack’s information.

The third and final mode provided in the demo is a simple driving level. Well, if you call being chased by the bad guys and shot at simple. Of course, this just another day for Jack as he weaves his SUV in and out of concrete barriers in a sequence that looks like it was taken from TERMINATOR 2. The controls here are basic and don’t really do much more than a standard driving section would. Nothing fancy here, just out run the baddies and take the right turns without flipping over or exploding, and wait for backup to fly in via helicopter.

The game has all the earmarks of the show, which, if you’re a fan like me, will make you giddy. The clock beeps, the split-screen sequences, the zoom in boxes on the faces of key characters, it’s all there. The game is reported to have over 100 individual missions, which, if you do them all, will take you roughly 24 hours to complete. As far as series tie-ins go, this one seems to be taking the right route. I’ll have a full report on this title once it’s released by the end of February.

HANDS ON: BLACK

One outstanding detail of BLACK is its single player campaign. Here, the developers are not splitting up their efforts by concerning themselves with two different game modes and lessening the impact of the single player experience by tacking on a multiplayer game. All their resources are firmly set in bringing one of the most amazingly realistic looking, sounding, and playing shooter experiences to current gen home consoles. And let me tell you, you’d be remiss to pass this one up, as the game looks spectacular. It may not be 360, but damn, is it ever close.

But still, the main name of the game is destruction, and BLACK brings it in spades. Wood splinters, bullets deform metal, and things explode left and right. Everything, and I mean EVERYTHING that can be damaged, WILL be damaged. Can’t quite hit that guy behind the desk? Shoot the ceiling above him and have it collapse on his head. Shoot out the balcony, not the sniper on it. The more creative the kill, the better. Someone hiding behind a car? Blow it up, that’ll show him! The action is fast, frenzied and about as chaotic as it gets here, and it’s a blast, non-stop.

My only complaint so far is that the demo is WAY too short. Just as you approach the team’s entry point against the enemy faction, the demo ends. Still, you got in some good shots, and just like those BURNOUT demos, you’ll boot it back up again instantly, just too see how you can improve your hits, and take them out better. For a first taste, this one has defiantly whet my appetite.

We’ll have to wait until these game’s are released for the full reviews, but in the meantime, we’ll have more to play in the coming weeks ahead. See you then, gamers.

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