Mega Man 2
Blue bomber perfected
Mega Man 2 refined everything from its predecessor, delivering tight platforming, memorable boss battles, and one of gaming's greatest soundtracks.
Overview
Mega Man 2 was made on borrowed time—Capcom nearly cancelled the series after modest initial sales. The development team worked nights and weekends to prove the concept. They succeeded beyond imagination, creating the definitive NES action platformer and ensuring the Blue Bomber’s future.
Fast facts
- Developer: Capcom.
- Release: 1988 (Japan), 1989 (West).
- Director: Akira Kitamura.
- Composer: Takashi Tateishi.
Improvements over original
| Aspect | Enhancement |
|---|---|
| Robot Masters | 8 (up from 6) |
| Passwords | Save progress |
| E-Tanks | Store health |
| Difficulty | Normal mode added |
Robot Masters
| Boss | Weapon acquired |
|---|---|
| Metal Man | Metal Blade |
| Air Man | Air Shooter |
| Bubble Man | Bubble Lead |
| Quick Man | Quick Boomerang |
| Crash Man | Crash Bomber |
| Flash Man | Time Stopper |
| Heat Man | Atomic Fire |
| Wood Man | Leaf Shield |
Weakness chain
Strategic boss order:
- Each boss weak to specific weapon
- Optimal order exists
- Experimentation rewarded
- Community knowledge shared
Metal Blade dominance
| Feature | Quality |
|---|---|
| Eight directions | Full coverage |
| Low energy cost | Spam freely |
| High damage | Effective everywhere |
| Balance issue | Overpowered (but fun) |
The soundtrack
Takashi Tateishi’s compositions:
- Dr. Wily Stage 1 (iconic)
- Title theme
- Each Robot Master stage
- Possibly greatest NES soundtrack
Level design
| Stage | Challenge |
|---|---|
| Air Man | Disappearing blocks, wind |
| Quick Man | Instant death lasers |
| Heat Man | Vanishing blocks over lava |
| Wily stages | Escalating difficulty |
Wily Castle
Four challenging stages:
- Boss rush
- Multi-form Wily fights
- Tests all acquired weapons
- Satisfying conclusion
Sales success
| Achievement | Result |
|---|---|
| Japan sales | Strong |
| Western sales | Massive hit |
| Series future | Guaranteed |
| Legacy | Best-selling classic Mega Man |
Legacy
Mega Man 2 established:
- 8 Robot Master standard
- Series formula
- Capcom NES excellence
- Speedrunning favourite