My earliest video game memories are tied to the Blue Bomber. Barely four years old and playing through Mega Man 2 and 3 on the NES, I somehow made my way through their challenging levels. I won’t say that at that age I could comprehend the precision engineering behind their action-platforming, but I always knew there was something about those games that just felt fantastic. Fast forward 30 years, and I found myself sitting in Capcom’s offices feeling the same sensation. Mega Man: Dual Override understands that it's part of a series built firmly on its tight gameplay foundations, and from my brief time going hands-on with it, it’s looking like a worthy return for Dr Light’s most loyal creation.

As much as things change, they stay the same. Greeting me on the start game screen of Dual Override was the traditional grid of robot masters, all shrouded in mystery for this demo, apart from one: Twinkle Girl. Choosing the order you take on bosses is a key part of any Mega Man strategy, but while that decision was taken away from me for this small slice, another new dilemma was presented in its place. Before entering a stage, you’ll be offered one of three Chip Sets. These are:

Things didn’t start out too badly — each robot master’s area is made up of three stages, with the first of Twinkle Girl’s not giving me too many problems. A classic mix of precision platforming, dodging enemy projectiles, and firing upon Mets (the hard-hatted enemies who pop up and become vulnerable when you get close) makes up much of the industrial-looking level, and it really felt like reactivating a long-dormant part of my brain.

Source link