Megaman 8 saw the Megaman series leap from the Nintendo series on to the original Playstation and Saturn systems. The graphics improvement was amazing! The cut-scenes have 70s quality anime scenarios.

In this one, MegaMan starts as a helper for Dr. Thomas Light - but when they disver Dr. Wily is up to no good, MegaMan leaps to help! You don't choose an enemy to start - you simply start out in your world. You can punch and shoot, and have a voice, too! "Hah!"

You run into characters with scrolling text messages for you. The environment is sometimes destructible, so you can knock down trees and blow up other items. When you jump in water, ripples form. Gears spin and backgrounds move.

The enemies in general are easier to deal with and more thought-involved vs the old style learn-their-fast-patterns-then-slay-them.

Once you get through the initial level, you can choose from a variety of directions. You also gather up bolts in order to have a shop make you new items. You can increase your weapons and skills as you go. The enemies are sort of esoteric - Tengu Man? The crow-headed demon? Grenade man? Frost man is more typical, as is Clown man. Clown man gets a happy level full of smiles and balloons.

Still, great fun for those still enjoying the MegaMan series!

MegaMan Anniversary Collection