Mighty No. 9 Reviews
Mighty No. 9 began life as one of the most anticipated concepts in recent memory. While there is fun to be had – especially where boss fights are concerned – there is an overall lack of fresh ideas to bring it all to life. Frustratingly the game also has underwhelming graphics and perhaps the coldest and most awkward story I've ever played. Instead of the love letter to fans of Capcom's blue bomber the game was meant to be, the cynically average final product is a sad example of potential well and truly squandered.
Mighty No. 9 went through a tough development and was rightfully scrutinized but it's a challenging game with great controls. The graphics could be better and the framerate doesn't stay at 60 but those problems don't ultimately hurt the game. What hurts Mighty No. 9 is that it's not Mega Man. So if you want Mega Man, you're better off playing Mega Man. If you want a game in the spirit of Mega Man, Mighty No. 9 will satisfy you.
There aren't enough delays to save this game
If you've got a hankering for old-school platformers (albeit ones bastardised by a few modern conventions) Mighty No. 9 is a game for you. If you were going to pick it up on a whim because you fancied a taste of Capcom's golden age, you're better off looking elsewhere. Hardcore gamers eat your heart out, but don't expect to sleepwalk through this one.
9 fits that bill, and you're probably better off with Shovel Knight or Freedom Planet's oldschool-yet-new sensibilities. Every time I try to think about what the motivator for playing this game would be, I immediately dismiss it. I repeat: I have no idea who this is for.
Comcept and Keiji Inafune didn't knock it out of the park with Mighty No. 9, but they damn sure took a good swing at it. If people can pull their heads out of a certain part of their body and judge the game for as it is, I'm sure this game could, in the long run, be successful enough for a sequel and if that day comes, let us hope and pray that Comcept has learned many valuable lessons from this endeavor and do Mighty No. 9-2 the right way.
Mighty No. 9 has a strong gameplay core that isn't better or worse than Mega Man—it's just different. The further the game deviates from that core, however, the worse it becomes.
Mighty No. 9 is a forgettable attempt at cashing in on people's nostalgia and love of Mega Man.
After several years, delays, and missteps, the Kickstarter-funded Mighty No. 9 is here, and believe me when I say that the supposed spiritual successor to Mega Man is a Mega Bust.
Mighty No. 9 has all of the annoying traits that buried the Mega Man franchise, but none of the personality or charm that made it so beloved in the first place.
The biggest takeaway I have from Mighty No. 9 is that it was such a letdown.
Mighty No. 9 is not a terrible game, nor is it even a bad one - it's just plain mediocre. From its downright disappointing visuals to its flat music and bland-at-best level design, everything about Mighty No. 9 screams of mediocrity. And let's be clear - if this were a fan game made by a small group of devoted Mega Man fans it'd be deemed more impressive. Yet this is a budget retail title developed by one of Mega Man's lead designers, which also had involvement from Inti Creates, a proven studio with hits like Mega Man 9 and Azure Striker Gunvolt among its credits. We're not sure where things went wrong, but Mighty No. 9's finished product is just a "mega" disappointment.
Ultimately, Mighty No. 9 is just not worth the price. It has a satisfying set of mechanics, but that is all it has going for it. The visuals are atrocious, the music unmemorable, the story painful, and the level design mediocre.
It raised nearly $4 million on Kickstarter, yet Mighty No. 9 offers little but nostalgia.
Mighty No. 9 is an extremely niche product. The efforts of the developers do not reflect the millionaire crowdfunding campaign that gave birth to the game, but the final result is still more than decent and can be really fun for those who love this videogame genre.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Mighty No. 9 created very high expectations and could have reached a perfect formula for success but as it is, it failed to capture Mega Man's essence and doesn't build up on what its inspiration did best.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
The final line of dialogue in the story posits that only time will tell if "this Mighty No. 9 is a blessing or a curse." The statement probably wasn't meant to be as fitting or applicable to the finished game as it ultimately is, but maybe it was a rare moment of introspection.
This game will not be heralded as a classic in the same vein as Mega Man. However, the original Mega Man isn't the best either. Fans debate back and forth between Mega Man 2 and 3 as their favorites (MM3 for this writer's money). Another example is the first Assassin's Creed. Great concept, failed delivery. The point is, despite its flaws, Mighty No. 9 is a good step toward reviving the Mega Man style in all but name. Hopefully the team will learn from their mistakes and make the next game the classic fans want it to be.
Mighty No. 9 is a trying experience, good when it works but exhausting when it doesn't.
Mighty No. 9 appears to be caught in two minds about whether it wants to make a Mega Man-style game for novices or veterans, and that indecision unfortunately prevents it from being anything close to mighty. Combine the release's well-meaning but misguided attempts at accessibility with sub-par graphics, puzzles, and an insane difficulty spike towards the end, and you end up with a title that's not very mega at all.