In celebration of the 25th Anniversary of Mega Man, Capcom released Street Fighter X Mega Man, a new free Mega Man game available for PC download. The game was a collaborative effort between the game publisher and its fans. Street Fighter X Mega Man was created and developed by Singapore native Seow Zong Hui with support from Capcom.
The game stars Mega Man and features eight Street Fighter-themed levels and bosses inspired by the long running and classic fighting game series. The boss characters utilize their individual special moves and skills against Mega Man. So is the game worth a free download? Well the simple answer is yes. But don't take our word for it. Here is our review round up for Street Fighter X Mega Man:
Game Informer says, "Nothing should stop you from downloading Street Fighter X Mega Man and giving it a shot. After all, it's free. Street Fighter X Mega Man pales in comparison to the rest of the classic entries, but it's still a wonderful test of the waters for newcomers and a charming experiment for lifelong fans. I hope to see more Capcom-endorsed fan projects in the near future." The reviewer gives the free game an 8-out-of-10 score.
Edge Online doesn't give the game as good of a review as Game Informer. The reviewer says, "Although it appears to be the ideal release to celebrate this double anniversary, it quickly becomes apparent that Street Fighter X Mega Man was not originally developed for the purpose. Embracing and supporting a community project like this is still a commendable move, and one that Mega Man's passionate fans may see as encouraging. But only his most die-hard followers will be willing to overlook such unwelcome, avoidable flaws." The game receives a 5-out-of-10 from the Edge Online's reviewer.
IGN writes that since Capcom has made the game an official release that is available on its website, the game must be judged tougher than a ROM hack or a fan project. The reviewer says, "But as a final product meant to be played by ardent Mega Man freaks. The end result is a fine game that Mega Man fans will enjoy once or twice, but one without that special something that would allow it to rise to the greatness Mega Man so regularly reached in its heyday." IGN gives the game a 7-out-of-10.
In my time with the game, I absolutely loved the 8 bit graphics and animated Street Fighter characters sprites. The music is top-notch and a throwback to days spent huddled around a 19-inch tube-TV set with an NES controller in my hands. I suggest playing the game with an Xbox 360 controller instead of the keyboard. Game Informer mentioned this tidbit in its review and it does makes the game more enjoyable. I give the game a 7.5-out-of-10.
Check the game's trailer below and tell us what you think about the game in the comment section.