Mighty No. 9

It's Mighty No. 9 - if you weren't there 10 years ago to know why you shouldn't get this game, just know it's not what it should have been. Not even close. There are actual Mega Man games on Steam now, and you should buy those. All of them. And the Gunvolt series. And a bunch of other games - before you think about playing this one. Why I'm leaving a negative review a decade after the fact is that they never bothered to update the game. It was last updated just a few months after release. As was famously said at the time, "It's better than nothing".

this game is not that bad not a mega man level game but more than decent 2d platformer with great soundtrack and fun mechanics i enjoyed my time with it

Genuinely fun megamanlike, get it for 90% off when it goes on sale Not as bad as people make it out to be. If you've played every mega man, you will get some enjoyment out of this.

[h1]Movement so good I cried like an anime fan on prom night[/h1] Mighty Number Nine. Ho boy. A classic internet punching bag. Don't get me wrong, it's definitely for good reason. Everyone I talk to treats it like garbage. How many of those people actually played it? Zero. So how does this game truly fare in 2026? I'm shocked to say it, I actually think it's fine. Disclaimer: This review is NOT factoring in anything related to the Kickstarter or Keiji Inafune's actions. I'm aware both resulted in significant losses of goodwill (which is justified!) But I review on the content of the game itself, not the outside. [h2]AcXelerating Through Stages[/h2] The movement is what I prefaced this review with, as it's something I was genuinely impressed by. The AcXelerate techniques (dash, crouch dash, quick fall) feel quick and snappy. Airdash spam in the air feels great. I was kind of shocked at how responsive in fluid the dashing in this game was. Best way I can describe it is when you get into a flow state, the movement feels good. Getting the Nice Play, Quick Clear, etc. bonuses is rewarding. The flow state of this game is serious business, y'all. I do miss wall kicks though, but that's just me being an MMX lover. Speaking of the stages, I think for the most part, they range from OK to solid. Big ups to Countershade's stage, however. This is by far the most interesting stage in the game, rivaling even some of Mega Man and Mega Man X's greats. It's such an intuitive idea that highlighted Shade's strengths while presenting something I had never seen before in a Mega Man-like. I also think having the Mighty Numbers appear in the stages to clear paths or make a section easy is a cool idea. It helps them feel more involved, which is a point I'll give as Robot Masters and Mavericks tend to die and never be seen again. The stages have a notable drawback: instant death mechanics. Sorry, I don't love these. Some of the sections with these are UNFORGIVING as well, requiring tight movements with airdashes or hovers. [h2]Presentation: C-Rank[/h2] Most of my gripes with this game lie in how memorable I think it is. The character designs... meh. I liked Shade and Brand... and... that's it really. It's a shame, too, as I was shocked at the stacked english voice cast. Yuri Lowenthal? Fred Tatasciore? Steve Blum? Matt Mercer? It's like all of my GOATs showed up in one spot. It makes me wish so so much that these characters were utilized better. The story feels numb and not too interesting. I didn't find the plot twist to be very interesting, as the build-up to it was so... lame. The music in this game... I just can't like it. It's unexciting and unremarkable. I can't remember a single track. I think music is always a constant in Mega Man games, as even the worst games (X7...) have a redeeming quality in its music. Somehow, Mighty No. 9 completely misses the mark here. [h2]Beck and Call[/h2] I already touched on Beck's movement, so I'll focus on his abilities. The ability boosts are an interesting mechanic, but I found that the red one is useless (as pellets are vastly outperformed by certain Mighty Numbers' weapons). The green and yellow helped that flow state, and the blue was a heal. No issues, really. The Mighty Numbers' weapons felt unique, and I was pleasantly surprised with Brand's weapon. Turning me into Zero? Sign me up any day, any week. Call... sucks. I hated her forced level. I don't think a stealth-preferred level works for this kind of game. Call being so vastly different without Beck's absorption and weapons came off as a change of pace in the wrong direction. I found myself wishing I was playing as Beck instead. [h2]Closing Remarks[/h2] I'm shocked. Don't get me wrong, I don't think this game is perfect. Heck, by my own metrics, I don't even think it's "good". It's simply alright. I'm shocked I came out of this game not wanting to call it a pile of garbage. It's genuinely an OK game. I understand people who don't want to try it because of all the woes with its launch and post-launch. But if you never played this game, are a Mega Man fan, and want to see what it's about, I honestly think you should just do it. This game goes on sale a lot, so what's stopping you?

This game isn't as bad as a lot of people make it out to be, but it is NOT a good game. It's an, overall, extremely average Mega Man-like game that lacks the sheer mastery in level design that actual Classic Mega Man has. The soundtrack is good, but it doesn't stick around in my head for long. The art style is vibrant and the character designs have the same vibe as Battle Network/Star Force's designs, but the actual personalities of the characters, and the general story leaves... a lot to be desired. Like, a lot. I only really recommend this game if you're just DYING to see what the "hype" was all about, and if you're just... that impatient waiting for Dual Override to come out.

Mighty No. 9 attempts to revitalize the classic side-scrolling action-platformer genre by positioning itself as a modern spiritual successor to the beloved Mega Man franchise. The core concept centers on a robotic hero navigating hazard-filled stages, utilizing a distinct mechanical hook where players must air-dash into weakened enemies to absorb their energy and boost combat performance. Visually, the title transitions the traditional 2D side-scrolling template into a 3D environment, offering explosive character transformations and fast-paced gunplay meant to reward quick reflexes. This foundation initially promises a highly nostalgic, momentum-driven gameplay experience designed to appeal directly to hardcore retro platforming enthusiasts. However, uninspired visual design and fundamentally frustrating mechanics heavily compromise the title's execution, turning a highly anticipated project into a lackluster experience. The presentation relies on dull, washed-out 3D character models and flat textures that lack the charm of its original 2D concept art, while poor visual feedback and underwhelming particle effects detract from the impact of combat. Mechanically, the reliance on the dash-absorption loop frequently clashes with meticulous platforming, resulting in awkward pacing, punishing instant-death traps, and repetitive level design. Ultimately, the software fails to capture the polished magic of its historical inspirations, leaving players with a compromised, budget-feeling product that stands as a notable disappointment in the crowdfunding landscape.

to be completely honest, it isn't that bad? just kind of a 2d platformer, some design choices are utterly baffling but i decided to get the game for £2 and doing my own experiments and having my own experience was fun. probably don't buy this at full price tho. the mixed reviews aren't just because of pizza, anime fans, and things being better than nothing, the game is seriously flawed, but is still decent fun.

it's okay, it plays fine, it looks like ♥♥♥♥, but... why would you play this when megaman exists? just play megaman. don't buy it, it'll leave you crying like an anime fan on prom night or whatever the ad said.

Power evolves fast Every battle builds new strength Heroes press ahead