Mega Man 11

[Xero]

No female robot masters around this time. 

Maybe X9 will have a female maverick (Optic sunflower was female? & Berkana doesn't count)

[NovaMan XP]

I wish they went and made another female robot master for this game but it seems there were no plans for one again.. At the very least maybe Roll will be playable in this game.

Also, Japan's getting a much more expensive (costs about $120) Collector's edition that comes with a few more things plus a 1-up.

[Xero]

Looks neat.  I think I'll buy it physical for the swtich, digital for the PS4 (I have a 1TB drive so why the ##### not).  Hopefully there will be other ways to get the Mega Man Amiibo by itself.

[TheRedPriest]

I hope the US gets the amiibo stand alone.  But at least since Japan is, we know there will be box art for it this time and not just a white card (though I'm grateful to have gotten it on card at all).

Also, if we never get another female robot master I can die a little less bitter.

[Panda]

In the Game Informer interview they said that they designed heaps of potential robot masters (at least one of which was female) but they cut them down to eight based off which designs and elements fit well together, and no females made the cut this time.

[TheRedPriest]

I remember reading that article.

[Mikero]

if we never get another female robot master I can die a little less bitter.

I don't see the problem with female robot masters.

[TheRedPriest]

The whole gimmick is "Theme" Man.  They're all male.  It's a significant difference to me and I don't like it.

[Xero]

I don't see the harm of having a female robot master once in awhile.

Maybe in the next X game we'll have a rock/mineral based maverick.

[NovaMan XP]

Looks like some people were trying to guess the Robot Master names that were blurred out, and it seems like the names could be the following:

[Spoiler]- Acid Man / Glue Man / Gas Man
- Blast Man / Edge Man / Sharp Man
- Torch Man / Blast Man
- Impact Man / Builder Man
- Bounce Man / Cosmic Man
- Tundra Man / Quartz Man / Icicle Man[/spoiler]

[Mikero]

If there's any creedence to these, the most simplistic names are the most likely ones. Megaman doesn't get complicated with this stuff.

I highly doubt "Glue Man". I highly doubt fan guesses in general, but there's nothing about that design that is evocative of "glue". Of the guesses there, Acid Man is likely the closest. Everything about his design speaks to toxicity; Green fluid with bubbles accented by purple with a sharp point on the head, it's the common colour scheme and shapes for this type of character. If he's something other than acid/radioactivity/toxic then it's a waste of the design.

As for "Gas Man", well he's clearly got a fluid in those tubes rather than a gas. If they're thinking of "gas" as fuel.. then it's typically illustrated more yellow-ish than green, and we've already had the controversial Oil Man, but I could see them bending it that way.

The whole gimmick is "Theme" Man.  They're all male.  It's a significant difference to me and I don't like it.

They're all robots. Actually more important they're all drawings of robots. I really don't see the difference between "Theme" Man and "Theme" Woman. If it changed anything about the established universe or gameplay I could see the problem. Making some of them "female" only opens up the art direction, instead of stifling it which is clearly happening at this point since we seem to have Astro Man Jr. and Edgelord Form Gemini Man coming in MM11.

[TheRedPriest]

The whole gimmick is "Theme" Man.  They're all male.  It's a significant difference to me and I don't like it.

They're all robots. Actually more important they're all drawings of robots. I really don't see the difference between "Theme" Man and "Theme" Woman. If it changed anything about the established universe or gameplay I could see the problem. Making some of them "female" only opens up the art direction, instead of stifling it which is clearly happening at this point since we seem to have Astro Man Jr. and Edgelord Form Gemini Man coming in MM11.

We'll agree to disagree.  Vehemently.

[Panda]

It's Robot Masters, not Robot Mistresses!

(Actually, I wouldn't mind playing a game like that...  )

[NovaMan XP]

It seems like the Switch version in Europe is digital only. No word on the other platforms yet.

[Xero]

That sucks. 

Anyways I've already preordered the switch version.  I really hope there is a playable demo so we can gauge if the game is going to be bad or not.  But from what I've seen, I don't think it will be bad.

[Mikero]

We'll agree to disagree.  Vehemently.

Maybe you will.

[TheRedPriest]

I do everything vehemently.

And it's sad to see Europe getting the extra screwage again, as they usually get the short end of the shaft (but at least they got stand alone Bayonetta 1 retail for Wii U and a retail Fatal Frame 5 for Wii U), but at least Switch is region free so they can import.

It's still more Capcom horse ##### though.

[Panda]

Looks like a the amiibo might be NA exclusive as well?

Disappointed...

[Xero]

I fail to understand why Capcom does things like this.  Do they think it might not sell well in Europe?  It makes no sense.  Although I know not much from a marketing standpoint, I really don't understand why they limit promotions to certain regions and the only thing I can guess is that it is cost related.

[TheRedPriest]

Yes, Europe gets screwed on Mega Man 11.  Japan gets the Amiibo and the US does, but it looks like it won't release in Europe at all for some reason.  Also the game itself is digital only in Europe.  I don't see how you can be a gamer in Europe, to be honest.  And while importing sucks, at least it's an option for the retail game and amiibo.

Capcom is ##### in most of their decisions.  They never did a retail for Mega Man 9 or 10 back in the day.  They moved Ace Attorney to digital only outside of Japan.  All of these would have sold more than enough to make a profit, but it wouldn't be "enough" profit to make it "worth their while".  That mindset is the core problem for most of their awful decisions.

[LCrazy11]

DAMN YOU CAPCOM! I'M STILL TECHNICALLY IN EUROPE BUT THAT WILL CHANGE SOON BUT ANYWAY I STILL WANT A PHYSICAL COPY

[Xero]

Calm down.  You can still import the game.  But still it's lame.

Posted on:  6 June 2018, 15:47:54

On a different note.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6Tb9-YgObw

Developer interview.  It's in Japanese, but from the gist of it, it looks like they are trying to emulate the classic games as close as possible from Mega Man's movements.

Good to know they are following the source material VERY CLOSELY.  But still, that walking animation needs to be fixed.  It still irks me.

[TheRedPriest]

Needs to go back to 2D to really get there though.

[Xero]

Sprites or Hand drawn art like Wario Ware Shake it?

[Mikero]

Sprites. Personally, hand-drawn is still not the same the tightness, it only works well (in my opinion) when the whole game is designed around it like Cuphead. Shantae: Half-Genie Hero did a really good job converting to hand-drawn from the sprites though (but I still prefer the animation of Shantae And The Pirate's Curse more).

If you're going to try to emulate Mega Man's 2D movements 1:1 in 3D, you have to be cool with dropping frames (I mean "frames" in terms of animation, not framerate). So far, this was best done in Smash Bros., since they animated pose-to-pose very quickly.

Anyway, Capcom clearly thinks "Megaman doesn't do well in Europe historically" but doesn't realize that's 100% due to their own #####erage with the European market.

[Xero]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_uafKElLVo&t=9s

Block Man Stage gameplay.

Looks really good here.  Only complains are walking & ladder climbing animation, but they are more nitpicks than anything.  I'm really liking what I'm seeing. 

[Mikero]

Definitely warming up to the look overall, especially since they're clearly tweaking and tightening the animations as they go. That run cycle is still a bit off though.

I see what you mean about the climbing, Xero. I kinda like it and kind of don't. It's just a bit... It seems like there's less frames there than for everything else, but I kind of like that it's a little stuttery.

That mini-boss thing was really well animated with a good character design. Actually I think I really like everything's animation outside of MM himself, gotta hope they keep tinkering.

Love: The design of green wheeler dude.
Don't love: Mega Man screaming when he dies.

Oh and that stage started to look a bit reminiscent of the MMX opening stage at one point, that was nice. Stage backgrounds are real nice looking.

[Xero]

Also Block Man's stage sounds pretty good.  Chill like MM8's soundtrack.

Posted on: 13 June 2018, 13:41:46

Looking at this game more and more.  I'm getting Mega Man 8 vibes, but better in nearly every way. 

Even the bosses have silly pun dialog.

October 2nd can't come soon enough.

[TheRedPriest]

I've also thought it had a very "Mega Man 8 but much better" vibe to it.  Not that I dislike Mega Man 8, but it was the weakest of the main series games.  Now Rockman & Forte, that might just drop down into dislike territory, as it's "Mega Man 8 but much worse".

[Xero]

Played Mega Man 8 recently.  I liked it, but it's not the best.  I hate having to backtrack for bolts because I don't have the right weapon.  It's like X3 all over again.

[TheRedPriest]

But X3 was MUCH better than MM8.

[Xero]

I mean in terms of backtracking.

Posted on: 15 June 2018, 00:05:42

Mega Man 11 apparently one various "Best Of E3" Nominations.

This is #####ing awesome. 

[TheRedPriest]

...did you mean won?

[Xero]

i don't know if they won any, but the fact they were nominated at all shows good promise. 

Still being cautiously optimistic.   

[Mikero]

He meant because you said they "one various 'Best Of E3' Nominations"...

[Xero]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ep8_ytSJmiY

Fuse Man Stage Gameplay.

I like how you can see what is going to happen if you pay attention to the level layout.  Games need to do this more often rather than having to go through blindly like the Zero series.

[Mikero]

This person stinks at Mega Man.

Something I've been thinking about the sound design in this game that's kinda cool; The approach to the SFX and music parallels the visual approach of the game. It's reminiscent of classic Mega Man tunes but it's undeniably polished in a very modern way, just like how the game has this effect-heavy 2.5D look. I don't know if any of the music really grabs me yet but it's clear they are really trying in all aspects of the game to make sure they don't ##### this one up.

Still not sold the bosses talking during the fight, but cheesy lines like "prepare to diode" don't help.

Hearing the other people playing in the background is funny. One guy seems to be getting his clock cleaned by this game.

I like how you can see what is going to happen if you pay attention to the level layout.  Games need to do this more often rather than having to go through blindly like the Zero series.

I have just diagnosed you with sequelitis.

[Xero]

This person stinks at Mega Man.

Something I've been thinking about the sound design in this game that's kinda cool; The approach to the SFX and music parallels the visual approach of the game. It's reminiscent of classic Mega Man tunes but it's undeniably polished in a very modern way, just like how the game has this effect-heavy 2.5D look. I don't know if any of the music really grabs me yet but it's clear they are really trying in all aspects of the game to make sure they don't ##### this one up.

Still not sold the bosses talking during the fight, but cheesy lines like "prepare to diode" don't help.

Hearing the other people playing in the background is funny. One guy seems to be getting his clock cleaned by this game.

I like how you can see what is going to happen if you pay attention to the level layout.  Games need to do this more often rather than having to go through blindly like the Zero series.

I have just diagnosed you with sequelitis.

I actually just watched that this morning.  RIDING ON CARS!!!

Posted on: 20 June 2018, 13:31:29

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXJov_SVIag
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMTHtbcCSKo

Episode 2 & 3 of Mega Man 11 development are up.

Episode 2 focuses on Mega Man's design, while Episode 3 focuses on stage design.

Posted on: 21 June 2018, 11:05:09

New info:

Blast Man:  The Edgy robot master whose lair is an abandoned amusement park/movie studio (Didn't Clown Man do this already?)  His stage gimmick is dealing with multiple explosives throughout the stage.  Also included is a roller coaster mini-boss (I'm guessing every stage is going to have a mini-boss or something). 

His weapon is Chain Blast, which allows Mega Man to make multiple bombs float and stick to enemies, they can be chained together to stronger explosions and the Power gear makes those explosions even larger.

Also Time Attack is returning and a new mode called Balloon Mode.  You have to destroy every red balloon while avoiding every blue balloon. 

Sounds neat.

[NovaMan XP]

If I'm not mistaken, Blast Man is the first instance of a brand new Robot Master who already has a Battle Network counterpart. There was a BlastMan.EXE in BN6.

I don't really care much for time attack mode, but the balloon mode could be fun I guess.

[Xero]

The next should be Torch Man but in name only.  (The dub of NT Warrior renamed Fire Man to Torch Man)

[NovaMan XP]

I was going to say we already got Torch Man from that crappy Mega Man 3 DOS game, but I remembered that game also had an Oil Man, Blade Man, and Shark Man, so they may very well make a real Torch Man someday.

[TheRedPriest]

The Mega Man sized/styled Robot Masters still look really off putting to me scaled up to be bigger than Mega Man.

[Xero]

I like Blast Man's design.  And it appears his stage is pretty cool too, but the idea is semi-recycled from Clown Man, though I have to say it looks better.  I'll have to see it in action I guess.

Posted on:  3 July 2018, 23:47:01

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=20&v=LV5pbsjVKe4

Blast Chain in action.  It's basically a superior version of Danger Wrap.

Posted on:  4 July 2018, 01:40:33

Oh #####ing hell!  Not these enemies again. 

[Mikero]

I hate fighting them, but at the same time I'm glad they're there if you know what I mean. The challenge is what this series is about.

[Xero]

They will be easier though due to slide and charge

[LCrazy11]

but what if for no reason you cannot slide between the legs of the suit?

[NovaMan XP]

You probably can slide under it when it tries to jump on you. If it still jumps at you anyway.

[Xero]

So far the returning enemies are as follows

MM1:  Pickelman, Sniper Joe
MM2:  Metall (Can be for any MM game), Sniper Armor, Batton
MM4:  Wall Turret
MM5:  Lyric, Tatepakkan
MM7:  Baccone (May be a new variant)

Also alot of new enemies too. 

[Mikero]

What other stage enemies would you all like to see return?

Have to assume Sniper Joe will be back, so I put my votes in for Matasaburo/Fan Fiend, Batton, and MM2's Monking.

[Xero]

I would think Shield Attacker, or a variant of will be back.  It's been in since 4.