The Mega Man series (created by Capcom) has been solely defined for its fast paced platforming and run-and-gun style of gameplay. Most of the Mega Man games have more or less stuck to this formula, which is good or bad depending on whom you ask. Mega Man Legends, released in 1998, was a rapid departure from the series norm but was one of Capcom’s best efforts to date.

This story takes place in a flooded world with only islands housing the remaining civilization. Mega Man Volnutt, a different incarnation of the Mega Man character, makes his living excavating dangerous ruins for energy sources. When he crash lands on Kattelox Island, Mega Man finds himself mixed up with dangerous pirates and on his biggest treasure hunt yet.

Stories have always been vaguely present in Mega Man games, usually with an opening reinforcing story setup, occasional dialogue, and background information in the instruction booklet. Needless to say, Mega Man stories didn’t have a lot of motivation other than “Dr. Wily is evil” or “Sigma is back again” depending on which series you’re familiar with. To be fair, most gamers don’t care because Mega Man is mostly about gameplay. Mega Man Legends broke this mold by having a fleshed out story that unfolds over cut scenes, expansive dialogue, and occasional voice acting. This added emphasis on narrative is a welcomed addition.

The gameplay is where this entry makes its mark. At its core it’s still a Mega Man game. You travel across different levels exploring, battling enemies, defeating bosses, finding secrets and collecting power ups. Instead of a 2D side scrolling platformer however you’re introduced to fully 3D action adventure. You now are able to lock on to your enemies during combat, a necessary step in the transition to 3D. These are by far the game’s biggest physical changes but it works beautifully.

Instead of the “8 levels in any order rule” you find yourself exploring different regions of Kattlelox Island that you slowly open up as you progress through the plot. You’ll mainly explore vast open terrain on the island or maze-like ruins hidden underground. Exploration is a little more non-linear this time around, letting you go through multiple paths rather than just in one direction. Instead of stealing a weapon from a defeated boss, you now create them from raw materials you find on your travels (providing you have the right components).

Defeated enemies will drop shards-currency in the game- which can be used to purchase upgrades for both armor and weapons. The city housed on Kattelox provides a hub for buying these upgrades and more districts will open up the more you explore. The city also offers several side quests, which serve as a charming distraction from the main game. This system, though a first for a Mega Man game, has enough variety in it to engage players with a little more depth than usual. Once you’ve poured enough money into your arsenal, your special weapons will get over-powered easily. Because of this you can only equip one special weapon at a time. We can’t have everything too easy now, can we?

This game does have its share of flaws. Despite having a more fleshed out story, it may come off as too childish for some gamers due to its upbeat nature. The dialogue can be cheesy and some of the voice acting is questionable, especially when matching the mouth to the words spoken. The controls will take some time to get used to and the camera angles can sometimes work against you, forcing you to readjust them. Most of these problems however are due to the limitations of 3D PlayStation games at the time. Once you get past that, you’ve got a classic on your hands.

With this game getting so much right you would think this was the start of a long and beautiful new series. This is not so. With only a sequel (Mega Man Legends 2) and a prequel/side story (The Misadventures of Tron Bonne) to speak of, the legacy of Mega Man Volnutt sadly has come to an end. There was a chance for another sequel in 2010 (Mega Man Legends 3) for the 3DS and despite overwhelming fan interest Capcom shut the project down. Mega Man Legends 3’s cancellation is just another notch in a long list of ways Capcom keeps letting their fans down while shooting themselves in the foot.
But despite Capcom’s questionable business practices, this game is still worth playing. Though Mega Man Legends is just one game in a massive franchise it stands out for being fun, unique, and the answer to a beloved but aging formula. The Mega Man series as a whole seems to have a bleak future these days but they still have a long list of entry’s that represents their astonishing legacy. Mega Man Legends is among the best that contributes to that.
Grade: A-