System: NES

Company: Capcom

Released: January 1992

Catagory: Action/Adventure

The fourth installment in the Mega Man series was another GREAT game and added new tricks and surprises while keeping the flavor of the first three MM games. This game is probably the "unsung" game in the Mega Man series. Many people talk about how great the games MM2 and MM3 were(which is TRUE) but they overlook what was yet another fantastic addition to the Mega Man series. The cybernetic suitcase, Fliptop makes his first appearance in this game. He meets you in certain stages and gives you an item such as a 1up or an energy tank. Also, Mega Man now has the Mega Buster which charges up when you hold the B button. A BIG plus indeed.

Storyline: A year after defeating the "peacekeeping" robot Gamma, peace is once again disturbed by a new menace, Dr.Cossack. He has sent a letter to Dr.Light explaining how he doesn't get any credit for his robotic creations while Dr.Light receives all the praise. Thus, Dr.Cossack mentions that he has sent his 8 titanium heavyweights to destroy Mega Man(who is considered the best robot ever made) which will in turn give Dr.Cossack the honor of being the "best robot creater" in the world. Mega Man must defeat the eight robots and find out who really is behind this plot.

Graphics: Like its predecessors, Mega Man 4 features EXCELLENT graphics with plenty of color, detail, and animation. Also, the graphics and platforms is Mega Man 4 are BIG which makes Mega Man feel "small" unlike previous MM games. The animation is VERY smooth. The Pharoah Man stage features nice animations with the quicksand and the stars while the Toad Man stage features rain that downpours more as Mega Man progresses. Hey, who said being a hero was easy? All in all, the graphics of Mega Man 4 are as good as or even better than the first three MM games.

Music: The soundtrack of Mega Man 4 is very good with some VERY catchy songs. Dr.Cossack's castle contains two excellent themes that fit the stages perfectly! Every stage has great music in MM4. The feel is there too. The Dive Man stage has a lively beat while the Dust Man stage music is nice and soft. The themes are different than the first three Mega Man games which is cool. EVERY Mega Man game has music unlike the other MM games which is a BIG plus. I mean that no music in MM4 sounds the least bit reminiscent of another MM game. Overall, Mega Man 4 has excellent music.

Play Control: The play control in Mega Man 4 is very much like in MM3.(a good thing) The only difference is the Mega Buster. Like in the first three MM games, the controls for the weapons you receive from Robot Masters are terrific!! Some of my favorite weapons from ANY Mega Man game are in MM4. The Pharoah Shot is awesome because you can hold the B button to charge it up above your head and fry any enemies above you with it! The best thing about it is that it uses NO weapon energy unless you fire. Other great weapons include the devastating Rain Flush, the powerful Dust Crusher, and more. Mega Man 4 has solid play control.

Challenge: Mega Man 4(in my opinion) is more difficult than the first three MM games. The spikes in Pharoah Man's stage and the last part of the Bright Man stage are just two tough spots to get past in MM4. It's not too hard(although very tough) and not too easy which is another quality of Mega Man games. If you're looking for a good challenge, then Mega Man 4 is for you.

Funfactor/Lasting Value: Mega Man 4 is a VERY fun game with a lot of lasting value due to the challenge and a few places with multiple routes!! The game play is great and the graphics and music will keep players coming back. There are a TON of stages in Mega Man 4 which is another BIG reason why people still enjoy playing this game. My opinion is that Mega Man 4 is FUN!!

Ending: The ending in Mega Man 4 is GREAT! After you defeat the final boss, he begs you for mercy. However, he escapes through a door and the castle begins to collapse. There's no time for a capture and Mega Man just barely gets out of the castle when it explodes! The background is nice and the graphics detailed. Mega Man decides to hitch a ride on a nearby train and ride it back home. Some of the credits roll by while he rides the train. The Blue Bomber rides past the countryside and the city until he arrives home. Dr.Light, Roll and Rush greet Mega Man and then the rest of the credits roll. The graphics and music of the "Credits" part of the ending are very cool! You are awarded with a great ending in Mega Man 4.

Here are my personal ratings for the game Mega Man 4 on a scale of 1 to 5:

Storyline: 4.5
Graphics: 4.8
Music: 4.8
Play Control: 4.6
Challenge: 4.5
Funfactor: 4.5
Ending: 4.9

Negatives: Well, there are a few negatives in Mega Man 4. First of all, I'll be honest. I don't think that Mega Man 4 is quite as fun as Mega Man 3. It's still ALOT of fun though!! The ending didn't get a 5.0 for one reason. The last boss wasn't captured when he was kneeling right in from of Mega Man! Also, the Rush Jet doesn't control as well as in Mega Man 3. You can't make the jet go backwards but are forced to go forwards. One last thing. Why is Rush greeting you at the end after he helped you throughout the game?? Mega Man 4 is a GREAT game and a LOT of fun, but like all games, has its negatives. However, this game is a MUST PLAY for everyone!