Mega Man 2
Mega Man 2 | ||
---|---|---|
Composer(s) Takashi Tateishi | | |
Series | Mega Man | |
Platform(s) | ||
Release | ||
Single-player |
Mega Man 2[a] (stylized as Mega Man II) is a 1988 action-platform game developed and published by Capcom for the Nintendo Entertainment System. It was released in Japan in 1988 and in North America and PAL regions the following years. Mega Man 2 continues Mega Man's battle against the evil Dr. Wily and his rogue Robot Masters. It introduced graphical and gameplay changes, many of which became series staples.
Although sales for the original Mega Man were unimpressive, Capcom allowed the team to create a sequel. They worked concurrently on other Capcom projects, using their free time to develop the game, using unused content from the first game. Takashi Tateishi composed the soundtrack, with Yoshihiro Sakaguchi serving as a sound programmer.
Mega Man 2 is the second best-selling Mega Man game, with more than 1.51 million copies sold (it was previously the best selling Mega Man game until Mega Man 11 outsold it). Critics praised its audio, visuals, and gameplay as an improvement over the first game. Many publications rank Mega Man 2 as the best game in the series and one of the greatest video games of all time. The game's soundtrack has also been considered one of the greatest video game soundtracks of all time. It has been included in several game compilations such as Mega Man Legacy Collection, rereleased for mobile devices, and become a part of console emulation services. A sequel, Mega Man 3, was released in 1990.
Plot
After his initial defeat[b], series antagonist Dr. Wily creates his own set of Robot Masters in an attempt to counter Mega Man: Metal Man, Air Man, Bubble Man, Quick Man, Crash Man, Flash Man, Heat Man, and Wood Man. He also constructs a new fortress and army of robotic henchmen. Mega Man is then sent by his creator, Dr. Light, to defeat Dr. Wily and his Robot Masters.[7] Mega Man defeats the eight new Robot Masters and then challenges Wily himself.[8] During the final fight, Dr. Wily flees into the caves beneath his fortress. When Mega Man follows, Dr. Wily attempts to trick Mega Man into believing he was impersonated by an alien. Mega Man defeats the alien, revealing it to be a holographic projection device with Dr. Wily at the controls of the now malfunctioning device. After the scientist begs for mercy, Mega Man spares Wily and returns home.
Gameplay

Like
After defeating the eight Robot Masters, the player proceeds to Dr. Wily's fortress, which consists of six levels that are played linearly.[7] As in the first game, the player is required to fight each Robot Master a second time in Dr. Wily's fortress. However, these battles take place in a single room rather than a series of linearly connected rooms. The room contains teleportation devices that lead to each Robot Master. The devices can be entered in any order, but are not labeled. Once the bosses are defeated again, the player must fight Dr. Wily.
Mega Man 2 features a few gameplay changes from the original Mega Man.[8] A new item, the Energy Tank, allows a player to refill Mega Man's health at any time.[9] Also introduced is a password system.[7] A password is displayed after defeating each Robot Master, allowing the player to return to that particular point in the game after restarting the system.[9] The password stores the particular list of completed Robot Masters, as well as the number of accumulated Energy Tanks. Unlike the first game, Mega Man 2 does not feature a score counter, and the player is unable to return to Robot Master levels once completed.
Development
So we, of our own accord, got together, spent our own time, we worked really, really hard, you know, just 20-hour days to complete this, because we were making something we wanted to make. Probably in all my years of actually being in a video game company, that was the best time of my working at Capcom, because we were actually working toward a goal, we were laying it all on the line, we were doing what we wanted to do. And it really showed in the game, because it’s a game, once again, that we put all our time and effort and love, so to speak, into it, designing it.
The first Mega Man game—released in 1987—was not successful enough to justify the immediate development of a sequel.
Due to the limited amount of cartridge space available for the first game, elements such as planned enemy characters were omitted from the final product. The unused content was later transferred to Mega Man 2.[18] The team was limited by the graphical capabilities of the Nintendo Entertainment System, and designed characters as pixel art to maintain consistency between the designs and final product; some design elements, however, were lost in the transition.[16] The gameplay system from the original game was kept for Mega Man 2, but the team included more traps for the player to navigate. The game's three support items were added to aid the player because of complaints from consumers and Capcom's marketing department regarding the original game's high difficulty.[2] Inafune's supervisor was "especially unsure" about the usefulness of the Energy Tanks.[2]
The first game did not have any influence from fans, but for the second game, Kitamura wanted to get ideas from players and put them in.[19] The developers allowed input from the public by including boss designs created by fans.[20] Capcom received 8,370 boss submissions for the game, although even the designs for the final eight Robot Masters were "tweaked".[2][21]
Inafune intended his artwork for Mega Man 2 to be more "anime-ish" than in the first game.[2] A second difficulty setting was added for the North American and European releases. The original version was labeled "difficult", and a "normal" setting was created that made the "arm cannon" and boss weapons more powerful.[22] Veteran video game cover illustrator Marc Ericksen painted the North American box art, which included Mega Man firing a pistol instead of his trademark Mega Buster. Ericksen explained that he was unfamiliar with the game and was directed by Capcom America to give Mega Man a pistol.[23]
Soundtrack
The soundtrack for Mega Man 2 was composed by Takashi Tateishi (credited as Ogeretsu Kun), with Mega Man composer
Tateishi's initial compositions for the game were of varying moods, with some of them being considered "too cute" by Kitamura, requesting them to be changed to fit in with the rest of the soundtrack. A single fragment of this declined concept remains in the game as Crash Man's stage theme. Tateishi has indicated that "no one has" the earlier, softer score. Stylistically the score was influenced by Mezzoforte and Yellow Magic Orchestra.[26]
The widely praised piece used for the first two Wily stages was heavily compromised due to data limitations, with Tateishi being forced to use the first eight measures of the song multiple times throughout it. Tateishi intended to compose a song exclusive to the second stage, but also abandoned this idea for the same reasons.[27]
As with the previous game, the sound programming was handled by Yoshihiro Sakaguchi, credited as Yuukichan's Papa.[28]
Reception
Publication | Score |
---|---|
Famitsu | 28/40[29] ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
IGN | 9.5/10[31] |
Mean Machines | 95%[3] |
Total! | 83%[32] |
Though the first Mega Man game had relatively low sales, Mega Man 2 was a huge success. Since its 1988 release, Mega Man 2 has sold over 1.51 million copies worldwide. The game is the second highest selling in the Mega Man series.[33]
Mega Man 2 was critically praised.
The game's soundtrack has been well received by critics. Joey Becht of
Mega Man 2 is a favorite among Mega Man fans, with many calling it the best in the series.[31][43][44] Critics have also referred to the game as the series' best.[45] Oxford considered it one of the most memorable game in the series, and Burton and Electronic Gaming Monthly both called the game the best in the series.[15][35][46] IGN's Levi Buchanan listed three of the game's bosses among the "Top 10 Mega Man Robot Masters".[47] Several publications consider the game a critical success and have listed it high on "top game" lists. At the end of 1989, it was the top ranked game on Nintendo Power's Top 30 list.[48] In 1997 Electronic Gaming Monthly named it the 73rd best console video game of all time, saying it was the most appealing and challenging game in the series.[46] In August 2008, Nintendo Power listed Mega Man 2 as the third best Nintendo Entertainment System video game. The editorial staff praised the polished improvements over the previous game.[41] GameSpot named Mega Man 2 as one of "The Greatest Games of All Time".[49] It ranked number 33 in Nintendo Power's "Top 200 Nintendo Games Ever" list and number 60 in Official Nintendo Magazine's "100 Best Nintendo Games" list.[50][51] Miller considered it one of the greatest games of all time.[36] In 2007, IGN's three editorial offices—United States, United Kingdom, and Australia—compiled a list of top 100 games. They listed Mega Man 2 as number 67, citing the action and strategic elements along with the impact it had on the series.[22] Mega Man 2 was placed 4th on IGN's list of the Top 100 NES Games.[52] Game Informer placed the game 32nd on their top 100 video games of all time in 2001.[53]
Legacy
Kitamura chose to leave Capcom and joined the company Takeru, where he worked on the game Cocoron instead of Mega Man 3.[54]
Keiji Inafune claims the success of Mega Man 2 is what made the Mega Man series a hit that continues to spawn sequels.
Rereleases and adaptations

In 1990,
Mega Man 2 was novelized in the Worlds of Power series published by Scholastic in 1990. The novel mostly follows the game, even offering game hints at the end of some chapters.[72] Besides the added dialogue, the one major variation in the novel is that Dr. Light fears Mega Man's chances against Dr. Wily's more powerful new robots and while attempting to duplicate him, accidentally turns him into a human being, a difficulty Mega Man must endure throughout the story.[72] The book's cover also lacks the gun depicted on the North American box art of the game, due to a "no weapons" policy that Worlds of Power writers had to abide by.[73]
The game was also adapted into the third story arc for the Archie Comics Mega Man comic, "The Return of Dr. Wily." In the arc, the Robot Masters are intended to either defeat Mega Man or infect him with a virus bit by bit as he absorbs their Special Weapons. All the Robot Masters are defeated but Mega Man ends up under Dr. Wily's control until the Mega Man Powered Up Robot Masters come to his rescue. Dr. Wily escapes and sets his course for the Lanfront Ruins in South America, foreshadowing an adaptation of Super Adventure Rockman.
Influence on nerd rock scene

The Mega Man 2 soundtrack is one of the most widely remixed soundtracks in gaming, and a great many covers were produced in the 2000s by various artists.
Capcom endorsed some of these groups, officially licensing Mega Ran's 2007 cover album and bringing him to
See also
Notes
References
- ^ "NES Games" (PDF). Nintendo of America. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 11, 2014. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f g MM25: Mega Man & Mega Man X Official Complete Works. Udon Entertainment. August 2013. pp. 34–39.
- ^ ISSN 0960-4952.
- ^ a b MM25: Mega Man & Mega Man X Official Complete Works. Udon Entertainment. August 2013. pp. 132–133.
- ^ Vasconcellos, Eduardo (June 26, 2007). "Mega Man II Review". IGN. Retrieved June 8, 2017.
- ^ a b Buchanan, Levi (March 26, 2009). "Mega Man II on App Store". IGN. Retrieved June 8, 2017.
- ^ ISSN 1041-9551.
- ^ ISSN 1742-3155.
- ^ a b c d Mega Man 2 Instruction Booklet. Capcom U.S.A., Inc. June 1989. pp. 6–9. NES-XR-USA.
- ^ ISSN 1747-7859.
- ^ ISSN 1041-9551.
- ISBN 978-0992926021.
- ISBN 978-0992926021.
- ^ IGN Staff. "Top 100 Game Creators of All Time: Keiji Inafune". IGN. Archived from the original on March 6, 2009. Retrieved July 27, 2009.
- ^ 1UP.com. Ziff Davis. Archived from the originalon October 13, 2007. Retrieved May 4, 2010.
- ^ GamesRadar. Future plc. Archived from the originalon June 16, 2011. Retrieved May 8, 2010.
- ^ Inafune, Keiji (1997). "Rockman 10th Anniversary Celebration Plans". CFC Style Fan-Book (in Japanese). 3. Capcom: 24.
- ^ Interviewee: Keiji Inafune (November 20, 2003). "Mega Man". Game Makers. Season 2. Episode 19. G4. Archived from the original on September 17, 2011. Retrieved July 13, 2009.
- ISBN 978-0992926021.
- CBS Interactive. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
- ^ MM25: Mega Man & Mega Man X Official Complete Works. Udon Entertainment. August 2013. pp. 240–241.
- ^ a b c d e IGN Staff (2007). "IGN Top 100 Games 2007: 67 Mega Man 2". IGN. Archived from the original on April 10, 2017. Retrieved July 3, 2009.
- ^ Ericksen, Marc. "MegaMan 2, What's with the pistol??!!". Retrieved June 16, 2013.
- ^ Taher, Mohammed. "A Conversation with Manami Matsumae". Koopa Soundworks. Archived from the original on February 11, 2018. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
- ^ "Takashi Tateishi Interview: A Career After Mega Man 2". VGMO -Video Game Music Online-. November 25, 2010.
- ^ a b "Takashi Tateishi". Brave Wave Productions. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
- ^ a b Alistair (January 7, 2019). "Mega Man 2's Composer Reveals How Wily Stage 1 And Other Themes Came To Be". Siliconera. Retrieved September 9, 2009.
- ^ Greening, Chris. "Interview with the Mega Man 1 & 2 Sound Team: Reunited 20 Years On". Square Enix Music Online. Retrieved February 19, 2011.
- ^ Famitsu staff (January 6, 1989). クロスレビュー [Cross Review]. Weekly Famitsu (in Japanese). No. 65. Enterbrain. p. 19.
- Famicom Tsūshin. September 15, 1989. p. 53.
- ^ a b c d e Thomas, Lucas M. (September 16, 2008). "Mega Man 2 Review". IGN. Archived from the original on May 15, 2012. Retrieved July 4, 2009.
- ISSN 0964-9352.
- ^ "Capcom, Platinum Titles". Capcom. June 30, 2024. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
- ^ ISSN 1058-918X.
- ^ ISSN 1742-3155.
- ^ ISSN 1067-6392.
- GamesRadar. December 4, 2024. Retrieved May 25, 2025.
- ^ a b Becht, Joey (October 31, 2008). "Top 10 Mega Man Musical Moments". IGN. Archived from the original on September 10, 2009. Retrieved July 3, 2009.
- ISSN 1067-6392.
- ScrewAttack's Top 10. GameTrailers. Retrieved November 11, 2008.
- ^ ISSN 1041-9551.
- Gamasutra. UBM plc. Archived from the originalon May 3, 2009. Retrieved July 4, 2009.
- ^ Gamasutra. UBM plc. Retrieved July 4, 2009.
- ^ 1UP.com. Ziff Davis. Archived from the originalon February 25, 2009. Retrieved July 4, 2009.
- ^ "The Top 10 Video Games Before 2000". TechGYD.COM. July 2, 2020. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
- ^ a b "100 Best Games of All Time". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 100. Ziff Davis. November 1997. p. 114. Note: Contrary to the title, the intro to the article explicitly states that the list covers console video games only, meaning PC games and arcade games were not eligible.
- ^ Buchanan, Levi (July 1, 2008). "Top 10 Mega Man Robot Masters". IGN. Retrieved July 3, 2009.
- ISSN 1041-9551.
- CBS Interactive. Archived from the originalon September 17, 2006. Retrieved June 11, 2006.
- ISSN 1041-9551.
- ^ East, Tom (February 23, 2009). "100 Best Nintendo Games: Part 3". Official Nintendo Magazine. Future plc. Archived from the original on August 31, 2009. Retrieved November 29, 2009.
- ^ IGN Staff (2011). "Top 100 NES Games - #4 Mega Man 2". IGN. Retrieved February 4, 2013.
- ^ Cork, Jeff. "Game Informer's Top 100 Games Of All Time (Circa Issue 100)". Game Informer. Archived from the original on November 19, 2009. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
- ^ Pane, Salvatore. "How Mega Man Survived Its Creator Leaving Capcom". Kotaku. Retrieved August 15, 2018.
- ^ GamesRadar. Future plc. Archived from the originalon June 15, 2011. Retrieved May 8, 2010.
- ^ Spencer (August 15, 2008). "Mega Man energy tanks ready for real life consumption". Siliconera. Retrieved August 15, 2008.
- ^ Dutton, Fred (September 18, 2010). "Mega Man Universe based on Mega Man 2 News". Eurogamer. Retrieved January 21, 2011.
- ^ Ashcraft, Brian (March 31, 2011). "Mega Man Universe Is Totally Canceled". Kotaku. Gawker Media. Archived from the original on April 4, 2011. Retrieved March 10, 2012.
- ^ Tiger Electronics, ed. (1990). Electronic Mega Man 2 LCD Game. Tiger Electronics. Model 7-811.
- GamesRadar. Future plc. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
- CBS Interactive. Retrieved August 20, 2007.
- 1UP.com. Ziff Davis. Archived from the originalon May 30, 2012. Retrieved August 20, 2007.
- ^ "JAKKS Pacific Offers TV Games GameKey For Classic Capcom Games". Toy News International. March 9, 2005. Retrieved January 7, 2011.
- ^ Stern, Zack (April 13, 2007). "Street Fighter, Mega Man on mobile phones". Joystiq. AOL. Retrieved August 15, 2007.
- ^ Nintendo staff. "Mega Man™ 2". Nintendo. Retrieved December 18, 2011.
- ^ Capcom staff. "Capcom News". Capcom. Archived from the original on August 22, 2008. Retrieved October 12, 2008.
- CBS Interactive. Archived from the originalon December 14, 2019. Retrieved July 1, 2009.
- ^ Spencer (September 9, 2009). "Mega Man 2 Brings Robot Fish To PS3, PSP". Siliconera. Retrieved September 9, 2009.
- ^ Theobald, Phil (September 17, 2005). "Mega Man on PSP -- Keiji Inafune and Tatsuya Kitabayashi Interview". GameSpy. IGN. Retrieved July 27, 2009.
- ^ Jackson, Mike (June 20, 2010). "SNES, NES classics set for 3DS return". Computer and Video Games. Future plc. Retrieved June 21, 2010.
- ^ Ishaan (August 3, 2012). "Mega Man 2 Blasts To 3DS Virtual Console In Japan Next Week". Siliconera. Retrieved August 5, 2012.
- ^ ISBN 0-590-43772-0.
- 1UP.com. Ziff Davis. Archived from the originalon May 30, 2012. Retrieved August 9, 2007.
- ^ "The Megadrive megamix – how classic videogame soundtracks went from background noise to cratedigger gold". the Guardian. August 27, 2015. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
- ^ Brewster, Will (September 15, 2022). "The 20 Greatest Video Game Soundtracks of All Time - Part One". Mixdown Magazine. Archived from the original on November 11, 2022. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
- ^ "NESkimos - Complete Collection (2002-2012)". 2012.
- ^ Hassiotis, Christopher. "Five Killer Bands Inspired By Video Games". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
- ^ Thill, Scott. "Straight Outta Capcom! Random Honors Mega Man". Wired.
- ^ Good, Owen S. (October 6, 2019). "Mega Man Universe's soundtrack turns up, along with Robot Master art". Polygon. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
- ^ "Magfest Releases the Full Musical Lineup for its January 2013 Event". Anime News Network. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
- ^ "Musical Guests". Super Magfest. May 10, 2019. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
- ^ Yllobre, Carlos A. (February 15, 2019). "El compositor de Mega Man 2 comparte detalles sobre la creación de la música para el título". Nintenderos (in European Spanish). Retrieved December 8, 2022.
- ^ "35 Years Ago, an Underestimated Platformer Changed the Course of Video Game History". Inverse. February 20, 2024.
- ^ "Giants – Brave Wave". Brave Wave Productions.