Summary
Sorry, folks. This is definitely one of those, ‘I can’t really think of a succinct way to phrase it’ headlines. So let me cut straight to the chase: a couple of weeks ago, Nintendo or Capcom or whoever has agency in this world added the entireMega Manseries for the original Game Boy to Nintendo Switch Online. The first four games are fun, short remixes of Mega Man on the NES, featuring slightly altered, pea green levels from the main series. However, the fifth game - oh, GB Mega Man 5! - is an entirely original game in that virtually nobody played and everybody should. Like, right now.
Why? Because I feel like nearly nobody has actually played this game. If you have, that’s great! You’re as good as me, which is a pretty low bar. The thing is, it feels like Capcom only released five or six copies of the game because buying a legit cartridge is expensiveto this day. I just checked eBay, and loose copies were going for $250. There was also one solitary copy listed at $30, although I’m gonna guess it’s either a bootleg cartridge or a grandparent who didn’t do their research while cleaning out an attic. Either way, it’s not an easy game to procure. True, GB MM5 (which, again, is very different from Mega Man 5 on the NES) was later re-released on the 3DS eShop. But that was 20yearslater. And as you nerds well know, that 3DS eShop is long gone.
This means, as of right now, Nintendo Switch Online seems to be the only place to easily play this game. Actually, it’s the only place to easily playanyof the GB Mega Man games. Sure, you could pirate them, but at the very least they’re now more convenient and - more or less - free. That’s all to say that if you haven’t specifically sought out this specific game in the series, chances are you haven’t played it. Unlike most Mega Man games, there haven’t been five or six re-releases of it over the years. For some reason, Game Boy Mega Man and Mega Man Legends get no love.
But here’s the important thing: The game isgood. I mean, it’s still Mega Man, so if you aren’t already on board with the formula, you won’t have a good time. But by being wholly, completely original, it becomes - obviously - a wholly, completely original entry in the series. And it doesn’t mind getting weird. This time the bosses are called Stardroids, based on planets in the solar system. You still get their powers! But they got a cool theme this time around! And you know Rush, the robot dog? Well, make room for Mega Man’s cat robot, Tango. Dr. Light may be the only man who can keep robots from tearing humans’ arms off, but sometimes you gotta make some automatons for yourself. It’s an artanda science.
Now, I will say that GB Mega Man 5 on Switch has a big advantage (and a minor disadvantage) compared to the original cartridge. The big advantage is the rewind feature and save states. This is obvious. As with any Mega Man game, GB Mega Man 5 is hard. And, being a Game Boy game, there’s less screen space for the blue bomber to move around. The new, original levels are all good, but it’sa little too easy to get cornered or trapped by enemies. With the Switch’s rewind and save state features, getting through the game is a lot more pleasant. Trust me on this, because even with save states, I nearly threw my 3DS out the window.
The minor disadvantage is that GB Mega Man 5 was a Super Game Boy compatible and, baby, I don’t think we’re gonna see that again. I’d love to be wrong! I’d very, very, verymuch appreciate Super Game Boy compatibility or, at least, the ability to change the colors. The game still looks good, and playing with the Switch’s built-in Game Boy Color palette is fine, but losing some of those extra features is a bummer.
A Mega Man game is a lot more fun when every level doesn’t have the exact color scheme. Not a big deal, but it was a solvable problem in 1994. Again, for the love of God, just let us choose our own Game Boy palettes. We had this technology at least five years before The Matrix came out. We can have it again!
I get that I’m pitching you on a 20 year old Game Boy gamewhen there are Erdtrees with shadows and whatnot. Maybe you were lucky enough to get a copy in 1994. Maybe you’ve already played it on one of a thousand emulators. But if you haven’t played GB Mega Man 5, you’re missing out on one of my favorites (I was going to say ‘the best,’ but let’s stick with ‘my favorite’) entries in the series. It’s delicious 8-bit platforming - not a throwback, not an homage, but real, back-in-the-day gameplay.It’s right there on your Switch. Fight, Mega Man! For everlasting peace! Or at least a decent distraction!
