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(→‎Release and merchandise: https://www.gematsu.com/2020/07/mega-man-vr-targeted-virtual-world-virtual-reality-game-announced-for-capcom-plaza-ikebukuros-vr-x-corner)
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{{Game Infobox
⚫
'''Mega Man 11''', known in Japan as {{nihongo|''Rockman 11: Unmei no Haguruma!!''|ロックマン11: 運命の歯車！！|Rokkuman Irebun Unmei no Haguruma!!|lit. "Rockman 11: Gears of Fate!!"}}, is a action platformer game and the eleventh main installment in the original ''[[Mega Man (classic series)|Mega Man]]'' series. Developed and published by [[Capcom]], the game, which marks the return of the ''Mega Man'' series mainline after eight years of hiatus, was first announced on 4th December 2017 in Capcom's livestream event celebrating the ''[[Mega Man (series)|Mega Man]]'' franchise's 30th anniversary.<ref>http://www.capcom-unity.com/capkel/blog/2017/11/30/tune-in-to-the-mega-man-30th-anniversary-livestream-on-december-4th</ref> ''Mega Man 11'' is avalaible for PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch and Xbox One,<ref>http://www.capcom-unity.com/capkel/blog/2017/12/04/ready-mega-man-11-is-coming-in-late-2018</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLFW8KiVJBU Youtube: Official Mega Man 11 - 30th Anniversary Trailer]</ref> and was released worldwide on October 2018.
 
  +
|title1=Mega Man 11
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|image1=Megaman11Switch.jpg
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|caption1=Switch cover
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|developer=Capcom
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|publisher=Capcom
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|release_date=2018
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|genre=Plaformer
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|platforms=Switch<br/>PlayStation 4<br/>XBox ONE<br/>PC
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}}
  ⚫
'''Mega Man 11''', known in Japan as {{nihongo|''Rockman 11: Unmei no Haguruma!!''|ロックマン11: 運命の歯車！！|Rokkuman Irebun Unmei no Haguruma!!|lit. "Rockman 11: Gears of Fate!!"}}, is an action platformer game and the eleventh main installment in the original ''[[Mega Man (classic series)|Mega Man]]'' series. Developed and published by [[Capcom]], the game, which marks the return of the ''Mega Man'' mainline series after eight years of hiatus, was first announced on 4th December 2017 in Capcom's livestream event celebrating the ''[[Mega Man (series)|Mega Man]]'' franchise's 30th anniversary.<ref>http://www.capcom-unity.com/capkel/blog/2017/11/30/tune-in-to-the-mega-man-30th-anniversary-livestream-on-december-4th</ref> ''Mega Man 11'' is available for PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch and Xbox One,<ref>http://www.capcom-unity.com/capkel/blog/2017/12/04/ready-mega-man-11-is-coming-in-late-2018</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLFW8KiVJBU Youtube: Official Mega Man 11 - 30th Anniversary Trailer]</ref> and was released worldwide on October 2018.
   
 
==Gameplay==
  
==Gameplay==
−
''Mega Man 11'' features the usual gameplay of the classic games. Mega Man will again be able to use Sliding and Charge Shot, and can call upon Rush to reach higher platforms, using abilities that appear to be Rush Coil and Rush Jet.<ref>[http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2017/12/05/eleven-things-we-learned-while-playing-mega-man-11.aspx Game Informer coverage]</ref> Players travel through linear stages before battling against one of Doctor Wily's eight Robot Masters, including Fuse Man and Block Man. Mega Man can perform classic moves such as the chargeable Mega Buster and slide, as well as obtain new weapons by defeating Robot Master bosses at the end of each level. ''Mega Man 11'' features 3D polygonal characters and environments, departing from the pixel art-based approach from the first six games and the [[Mega Man 9|ninth]] and [[Mega Man 10|tenth]] installments, and going towards a similar approach to both the [[Mega Man 7|seventh]] and [[Mega Man 8|eight]] installments in its detailed graphic gameplay. Much like ''[[Mega Man Powered Up]]'', ''[[Mega Man: Maverick Hunter X]]'', and ''[[Mega Man X8]]'', ''Mega Man 11'' uses 2.5D graphics for the gameplay engine.
 +
''Mega Man 11'' features the usual gameplay of the classic games. Mega Man is once again able to use Sliding and Charge Shot, and can call upon Rush to reach higher platforms, using abilities that appear to be Rush Coil and Rush Jet.<ref>[http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2017/12/05/eleven-things-we-learned-while-playing-mega-man-11.aspx Game Informer coverage]</ref> Players travel through linear stages before battling against one of Doctor Wily's eight Robot Masters. Mega Man can perform classic moves such as the chargeable Mega Buster and slide, as well as obtain new weapons by defeating the Robot Master bosses at the end of each level.
   
  +
''Mega Man 11'' features 3D polygonal characters and environments, departing from the pixel art-based approach from the first six games and the [[Mega Man 9|ninth]] and [[Mega Man 10|tenth]] installments, and going towards a similar approach to both the [[Mega Man 7|seventh]] and [[Mega Man 8|eight]] installments in its detailed graphic gameplay. Much like ''[[Mega Man Powered Up]]'' and ''[[Mega Man: Maverick Hunter X]]'', ''Mega Man 11'' uses 2.5D graphics for the gameplay engine.
⚫
Unique to this game is the Double Gear system,<ref name="Doublegear">http://www.capcom-unity.com/capkel/blog/2018/05/29/gear-up-for-mega-man-11-available-october-2nd</ref> which grants Mega Man two additional abilities; the Speed Gear and Power Gear. The Speed Gear lets Mega Man slow down time, allowing him to dodge attacks,<ref name="Doublegear"/> while the Power Gear increases the attack power of Mega Man's weaponry<ref name="Doublegear"/>; both of these will overheat if Mega Man uses them too much.<ref name="Doublegear"/> When Mega Man's health is critically low, he can activate both gears to perform a powerful charge shot which can only be used once and leaves Mega Man weakened afterwards.
  
   
  ⚫
Unique to this game is the "Double Gear" system,<ref name="Doublegear">http://www.capcom-unity.com/capkel/blog/2018/05/29/gear-up-for-mega-man-11-available-october-2nd</ref> which grants Mega Man two additional abilities; the "Speed Gear" and "Power Gear". The Speed Gear lets Mega Man slow down time, allowing him to dodge attacks,<ref name="Doublegear"/> while the Power Gear increases the attack power of Mega Man's weaponry<ref name="Doublegear"/>; both of these will overheat if Mega Man uses them too much.<ref name="Doublegear"/> When Mega Man's health is critically low, he can activate both gears to perform a powerful charge shot which can only be used once and leaves Mega Man weakened afterwards.
⚫
''Mega Man 11'' marks the return of difficulty settings for the series, last seen in ''Mega Man 10'', expanding upon them for a total of four: Newcomer, Casual, Normal, and Superhero. The game have additional features, including Time Trials, Missions, Global Leaderboards and a concept art gallery. The Nintendo Switch version have Amiibo support, which can be used to unlock in-game items.
  
  +
  +
''Mega Man 11'' marks the return of difficulty settings for the series, : "Newcomer", "Casual", "Normal", and "Superhero".
  +
  +
Mega Man is once again able to use Sliding and Charge Shot. The Charge Shot now possesses the "Guard Break" ability where a fully charged shot can temporarily stun shielded enemies (such as Met or Sniper Joe), rendering them vulnerable to a quick rapid-fire attack before they regain their balance. The player can also call upon Rush to reach higher platforms, using familiar abilities such as the Rush Coil and Rush Jet (though Mega Man must defeat half of the Robot Masters to gain the ability to use Rush Jet). A new feature is that the energy meter for Rush is now present as a standard feature, negating the need to switch over to it first, but the weapon energy is now connected to both of Rush's forms. It can also be activated or deactivated at will by pressing a button based on the controller (for the default buttons for the PS4 version, B t for Rush Coil, or B c for Rush Jet), which can also switch Mega Man back to normal if he is equipped with a special weapon.
  +
  +
Unlike any past games where Mega Man would merely undergo a color change upon collecting Special Weapons, ''Mega Man 11'' introduces a new feature where his helmet and left arm (for his Mega Buster) will also undergo a change with each special weapon besides a color change, known as "Head Gear" and "Arm Gear", based around the design of the Robot Master the weapon is obtained from. His ability to switch between weapons without going to the menu originally seen in ''Mega Man 7'' and most other games afterward (excluding ''Mega Man 9'') is retained (but with positioning rearranged to buttons such as B l2 and B r2 instead). Players also can now use the right analog stick (or right touchpad with a Steam controller) to allow Mega Man to quickly switch to a specific weapon based on the direction used without having to go through any others first (or tapping it to return to the Mega Buster).
  +
  +
Energy Tanks, Weapon Tanks, and Mystery Tanks make a re-appearance in this game, along with the Store and being able to use Screws as currency again (now referred to as Bolts), which is run by Roll for the Items/Support section and Auto for the Parts section. The player has the option of equipping or unequipping parts bought at the store, but if there are two similar parts, namely in the case of the Energy Balancer and Cooling System items that have a more powerful variant, only one may be equipped at a time. Also a number of items found in the store cannot be purchased right away and each requires their own method to be unlocked first before they can be purchased. Additionally Eddie and Beat play the same role they did in ''Mega Man 9'' and ''Mega Man 10''.
  +
  +
Like in ''Mega Man 10'', the game features difficulty modes, expanding upon them for a total of four: "Newcomer", "Casual", "Normal" and "Superhero". The difficulty level challenge will also affect what occurs on a stage and what items can be found laying around.
  +
  +
Once the Main Game is completed, the player can freely choose to return to any stage they wish, including the Gear Fortress stages. In addition certain parts not available in the main game are now eligible for purchase.
  +
  ⚫
The game have additional features, including Time Trials, Missions, Global Leaderboards and a concept art gallery. The Nintendo Switch version have [[wikipedia:Amiibo|Amiibo]] support, which can be used to unlock in-game items.
   
 
==Characters==
  
==Characters==
 
*'''[[Mega Man (character)|Mega Man]]'''
  
*'''[[Mega Man (character)|Mega Man]]'''
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⚫
*'''[[Roll]]'''
  
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*'''[[Roll (Mega Man)|Roll]]'''
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*'''[[Rush]]'''
  
*'''[[Rush]]'''
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*'''[[Auto]]'''
  
*'''[[Auto]]'''
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*'''[[Dr. Light]]'''
  
*'''[[Dr. Light]]'''
−
*'''[[Dr. Wily]]'''
  
   
 
===Bosses===
  
===Bosses===
 
*'''[[Block Man]]'''
  
*'''[[Block Man]]'''
  +
 
*'''[[Fuse Man]]'''
  
*'''[[Fuse Man]]'''
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*'''[[Blast Man]]'''
  
*'''[[Blast Man]]'''
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*'''[[Acid Man]]'''
  
*'''[[Acid Man]]'''
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*'''[[Tundra Man]]'''
  
*'''[[Tundra Man]]'''
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*'''[[Torch Man]]'''
  
*'''[[Torch Man]]'''
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*'''[[Impact Man]]'''
  
*'''[[Impact Man]]'''
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*'''[[Bounce Man]]'''
  
*'''[[Bounce Man]]'''
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  ⚫
*'''[[Dr. Wily]]'''
   
 
==Story==
  
==Story==
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==Development==
  
==Development==
−
The existence of ''Mega Man 11'' was first teased in ''[[Mega Man Legacy Collection 2]]'', which featured concept art from this game as an easter egg. Roll's ''Mega Man 11'' design was also teased by her [[wikipedia:Nendoroid|Nendoroid]] figure. The game was officially announced in December 2017 as part of the franchise's 30th anniversary celebration, along with the announcements of 2018 re-releases of earlier ''Mega Man'' games; ''[[Mega Man X Legacy Collection]]'' and ''[[Mega Man X Legacy Collection 2]]''.<ref>https://www.theverge.com/2017/12/4/16734780/capcom-mega-man-11-switch-release-legacy-collection-x</ref> It is being directed by [[Koji Oda]], produced by [[Kazuhiro Tsuchiya]],<ref>http://www.gameinformer.com/themes/blogs/generic/post.aspx?WeblogApp=features&y=2017&m=12&d=06&WeblogPostName=exclusive-interview-with-mega-man-11s-creators&GroupKeys=</ref> features character designs by [[Yuji Ishihara]]<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20180711041520/https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2017/12/08/exclusive-mega-man-11-concept-art-gallery.aspx Gameinformer - "Exclusive: Mega Man 11 Concept Art Gallery".]</ref> and music by [[Marika Suzuki]].<ref>[http://www.rockman-corner.com/2018/07/mega-man-11-s-composer-is-marika-suzuki.html Rock Man Corner - Mega Man 11's Composer is Marika Suzuki.]</ref> The game runs on Capcom's [[MT Framework]].<ref>[https://wccftech.com/mega-man-11-engine/ Mega Man 11 Is Powered By Capcom's MT Framework Engine; Mega Man X9 Discussed".]</ref> According to Tsuchiya and Oda, the departure of original ''Mega Man'' creator [[Keiji Inafune]] was mainly the reason for the long hiatus of a new classic game, as there was a huge hesitation for anyone to step up and become "the new Mega Man guy" until Oda himself did so.<ref>http://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2018/06/14/mega-man-11-devs-explain-the-long-break/</ref>
 +
The existence of ''Mega Man 11'' was first teased in ''[[Mega Man Legacy Collection 2]]'', which featured concept art from this game as an easter egg. Roll's ''Mega Man 11'' design was also teased by her [[wikipedia:Nendoroid|Nendoroid]] figure. ''Mega Man 11'' runs on [[Capcom]]'s [[MT Framework]].<ref name="framework">[https://wccftech.com/mega-man-11-engine/ Mega Man 11 Is Powered By Capcom's MT Framework Engine; Mega Man X9 Discussed".]</ref> According to the game's producer [[Kazuhiro Tsuchiya]] and director [[Koji Oda]],<ref>http://www.gameinformer.com/themes/blogs/generic/post.aspx?WeblogApp=features&y=2017&m=12&d=06&WeblogPostName=exclusive-interview-with-mega-man-11s-creators&GroupKeys=</ref> the departure of ''Mega Man'' producer [[Keiji Inafune]] was mainly the reason for the long hiatus of a new classic game, as there was a huge hesitation for anyone to step up and become "the new Mega Man guy" until Oda himself did so.<ref>http://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2018/06/14/mega-man-11-devs-explain-the-long-break/</ref> ''Mega Man 11'' is directed by Oda, produced by Tsuchiya, and features character designs by [[Yuji Ishihara]]<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20180711041520/https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2017/12/08/exclusive-mega-man-11-concept-art-gallery.aspx Gameinformer - "Exclusive: Mega Man 11 Concept Art Gallery".]</ref> and music by [[Marika Suzuki]].<ref>[http://www.rockman-corner.com/2018/07/mega-man-11-s-composer-is-marika-suzuki.html Rock Man Corner - Mega Man 11's Composer is Marika Suzuki.]</ref>
  +
  +
The game was officially announced in December 2017 as part of the franchise's 30th anniversary celebration, along with the announcements of 2018 re-releases of earlier ''Mega Man'' games; ''[[Mega Man X Legacy Collection]]'' and ''[[Mega Man X Legacy Collection 2]]''.<ref>https://www.theverge.com/2017/12/4/16734780/capcom-mega-man-11-switch-release-legacy-collection-x</ref>
   
 
==Release and merchandise==
  
==Release and merchandise==
 
''Mega Man 11'' was released worldwide for Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One on October 2, 2018,<ref>https://www.engadget.com/2018/05/29/mega-man-11-release-date-capcom/</ref> execpt in Japan where it released two days later. In Europe, the Switch version is only avalaible through digital download.
  
''Mega Man 11'' was released worldwide for Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One on October 2, 2018,<ref>https://www.engadget.com/2018/05/29/mega-man-11-release-date-capcom/</ref> execpt in Japan where it released two days later. In Europe, the Switch version is only avalaible through digital download.
   
−
An alternate soundtrack for the game was available for those who pre-ordered the game.<ref name="Doublegear"/> A new Mega Man Amiibo figurine was also released alongside the game for the Switch version.<ref>http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2018/05/video_mega_man_11_will_blast_onto_nintendo_switch_on_2nd_october_and_you_can_pre-order_it_right_now</ref>
+
An alternate soundtrack in the form of a DLC add-on for the game was made freely available to those who pre-ordered the game. A new Mega Man Amiibo figurine was also released alongside the game for the Switch version.<ref>http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2018/05/video_mega_man_11_will_blast_onto_nintendo_switch_on_2nd_october_and_you_can_pre-order_it_right_now</ref> A demo featuring Block Man's stage was released on the Nintendo Switch on September 6, 2018, and on the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 the following day.<ref>[http://www.capcom-unity.com/capkel/blog/2018/09/06/bust-block-man-in-the-mega-man-11-demo [[Capcom Unity]]: Bust Block Man in the Mega Man 11 Demo!]</ref>
  +
  +
''Mega Man VR: Targeted Virtual World!!'', an upcoming virtual reality attraction at Capcom Plaza Ikebukuro‘s "VR-X" virtual reality corner, was announced at July 2020.<ref>http://www.capcom.co.jp/amusement/game/title/vrvr_vr-x.html</ref> It will be based on ''Mega Man 11'' and open on July 18, 2020.
   
 
==Reception==
  
==Reception==
 
''Mega Man 11'' was met with positive reviews by critics. IGN gave it a 7.5/10 rating saying "It's not revolutionary, but Mega Man 11 feels almost like a classic Mega Man game, and is a good foundation for the next 10 games"<ref name="ignrev">https://www.ign.com/articles/2018/10/01/mega-man-11-review</ref> while GameSpot gave it a 7/10 rating praising the game for its "great sub-bosses and intense robot master fights, some new stage gimmicks [being] a lot of fun and endearing personality of the series com[ing] through in the visual and character design", while criticizing the stages for being "far too long and hav[ing] some questionable elements, [and] the difficulty spikes throughout levels lead to frustrating setbacks and the Double Gear System never seems quite as useful as you want it to be".<ref name="gamespotrev">https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/mega-man-11-review-the-robots-ride-again/1900-6417003/</ref> Nintendo Life gave it a 9/10 rating, writing that "Mega Man 11 is an excellent resurgence for the Blue Bomber, imbuing the tried-and-true classic gameplay with modern touches and new ideas that expand on existing concepts in interesting ways."<ref name=NLife>http://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/nintendo-switch/mega_man_11</ref>
  
''Mega Man 11'' was met with positive reviews by critics. IGN gave it a 7.5/10 rating saying "It's not revolutionary, but Mega Man 11 feels almost like a classic Mega Man game, and is a good foundation for the next 10 games"<ref name="ignrev">https://www.ign.com/articles/2018/10/01/mega-man-11-review</ref> while GameSpot gave it a 7/10 rating praising the game for its "great sub-bosses and intense robot master fights, some new stage gimmicks [being] a lot of fun and endearing personality of the series com[ing] through in the visual and character design", while criticizing the stages for being "far too long and hav[ing] some questionable elements, [and] the difficulty spikes throughout levels lead to frustrating setbacks and the Double Gear System never seems quite as useful as you want it to be".<ref name="gamespotrev">https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/mega-man-11-review-the-robots-ride-again/1900-6417003/</ref> Nintendo Life gave it a 9/10 rating, writing that "Mega Man 11 is an excellent resurgence for the Blue Bomber, imbuing the tried-and-true classic gameplay with modern touches and new ideas that expand on existing concepts in interesting ways."<ref name=NLife>http://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/nintendo-switch/mega_man_11</ref>
  +
  +
===Sales===
  +
During its first week on sale in Japan, the physical Nintendo Switch version of Mega Man 11 sold 14,650 copies, while the physical PlayStation 4 version sold 12,052 copies.<ref>https://gematsu.com/2018/10/media-create-sales-10-1-18-10-7-18</ref> On February 2019, the game sold 870,000 copies worldwide,<ref>http://www.capcom.co.jp/ir/data/pdf/explanation/2019/3rd/explanation_2019_3rd_02.pdf</ref> and as of September 2019, the game has sold one million units.<ref>https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2019/11/07/mega-man-11-sales-surpass-1-million-copies-sold/</ref><ref>http://www.capcom.co.jp/ir/english/finance/million.html</ref>
  +
  +
===Accolades===
  +
The game was nominated for "Best Action Game" at The Game Awards 2018,<ref>https://www.polygon.com/game-awards-tga/2018/12/6/18130000/the-game-awards-winners-2018</ref> for "Original Light Mix Score, Franchise" at the National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers Awards,<ref>http://navgtr.org/archives/3566/</ref> and for the G.A.N.G. / MAGFEST People's Choice Award at the 2019 G.A.N.G. Awards.<ref>https://variety.com/2019/gaming/news/game-audio-network-guild-awards-2019-1203169520/</ref>
   
 
==Trivia==
  
==Trivia==
Line 49: Line 95:
 
**The first classic game since ''Mega Man & Bass'' to feature idle animations.
 
**The first classic game since ''Mega Man & Bass'' to feature idle animations.
 
**The first classic game to display a Robot Master's serial number alongside the robot himself when he is selected and also the first game to give the Robot Masters official nicknames.
 
**The first classic game to display a Robot Master's serial number alongside the robot himself when he is selected and also the first game to give the Robot Masters official nicknames.
−
**Not counting ''Mega Man Powered Up'', ''Mega Man 11'' is the first classic ''Mega Man'' game to feature multiple stage select themes.
+
**Not counting ''[[Mega Man Powered Up]]'', ''Mega Man 11'' is the first classic ''Mega Man'' game to feature multiple stage select themes.
−
**Both [[Proto Man]] and [[Bass]] are absent from ''Mega Man 11'', making it the first mainline game since his introduction in ''Mega Man 3'' not to feature the former character, and if one considers Bass's cameo in ''Mega Man 9'', the first game not to reference the latter character at all since his introduction in ''Mega Man 7''.
+
**Both [[Proto Man]] and [[Bass]] are absent from ''Mega Man 11'', making it the first mainline game since his introduction in ''[[Mega Man 3]]'' not to feature the former character, and if one considers the latter's cameo in ''[[Mega Man 9]]'', the first game not to reference Bass at all since his introduction in ''Mega Man 7''.
   
−
*As part of the promotion for ''Mega Man 11'', Capcom's upcoming action game ''[[Devil May Cry 5]]'' features the Mega Buster weapon via DLC for the main character [[Nero]].
 +
*As part of the promotion for ''Mega Man 11'', Capcom's action game ''[[Devil May Cry 5]]'' features the Mega Buster weapon via DLC for the main character [[Nero]].
   
 
*Unlike in previous classic ''Mega Man'' games, the player does not need to meet any requirements to unlock Rush's forms in the game; instead, all forms of Rush are unlocked by default.
  
*Unlike in previous classic ''Mega Man'' games, the player does not need to meet any requirements to unlock Rush's forms in the game; instead, all forms of Rush are unlocked by default.
Line 67: Line 113:
 
<gallery>
  
<gallery>
 
File:Mega Man 11.png|Key artwork.
  
File:Mega Man 11.png|Key artwork.
  +
Rockman 11.jpg|Production Note artwork
 
</gallery>
  
</gallery>
   

Revision as of 08:14, 3 July 2020

Mega Man 11, known in Japan as Rockman 11: Unmei no Haguruma!! (ロックマン11: 運命の歯車！！ Rokkuman Irebun Unmei no Haguruma!!?, lit. "Rockman 11: Gears of Fate!!"), is an action platformer game and the eleventh main installment in the original Mega Man series. Developed and published by Capcom, the game, which marks the return of the Mega Man mainline series after eight years of hiatus, was first announced on 4th December 2017 in Capcom's livestream event celebrating the Mega Man franchise's 30th anniversary.[1] Mega Man 11 is available for PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch and Xbox One,[2][3] and was released worldwide on October 2018.

Gameplay

Mega Man 11 features the usual gameplay of the classic games. Mega Man is once again able to use Sliding and Charge Shot, and can call upon Rush to reach higher platforms, using abilities that appear to be Rush Coil and Rush Jet.[4] Players travel through linear stages before battling against one of Doctor Wily's eight Robot Masters. Mega Man can perform classic moves such as the chargeable Mega Buster and slide, as well as obtain new weapons by defeating the Robot Master bosses at the end of each level.

Mega Man 11 features 3D polygonal characters and environments, departing from the pixel art-based approach from the first six games and the ninth and tenth installments, and going towards a similar approach to both the seventh and eight installments in its detailed graphic gameplay. Much like Mega Man Powered Up and Mega Man: Maverick Hunter X, Mega Man 11 uses 2.5D graphics for the gameplay engine.

Unique to this game is the "Double Gear" system,[5] which grants Mega Man two additional abilities; the "Speed Gear" and "Power Gear". The Speed Gear lets Mega Man slow down time, allowing him to dodge attacks,[5] while the Power Gear increases the attack power of Mega Man's weaponry[5]; both of these will overheat if Mega Man uses them too much.[5] When Mega Man's health is critically low, he can activate both gears to perform a powerful charge shot which can only be used once and leaves Mega Man weakened afterwards.

Mega Man 11 marks the return of difficulty settings for the series, : "Newcomer", "Casual", "Normal", and "Superhero".

Mega Man is once again able to use Sliding and Charge Shot. The Charge Shot now possesses the "Guard Break" ability where a fully charged shot can temporarily stun shielded enemies (such as Met or Sniper Joe), rendering them vulnerable to a quick rapid-fire attack before they regain their balance. The player can also call upon Rush to reach higher platforms, using familiar abilities such as the Rush Coil and Rush Jet (though Mega Man must defeat half of the Robot Masters to gain the ability to use Rush Jet). A new feature is that the energy meter for Rush is now present as a standard feature, negating the need to switch over to it first, but the weapon energy is now connected to both of Rush's forms. It can also be activated or deactivated at will by pressing a button based on the controller (for the default buttons for the PS4 version, B t for Rush Coil, or B c for Rush Jet), which can also switch Mega Man back to normal if he is equipped with a special weapon.

Unlike any past games where Mega Man would merely undergo a color change upon collecting Special Weapons, Mega Man 11 introduces a new feature where his helmet and left arm (for his Mega Buster) will also undergo a change with each special weapon besides a color change, known as "Head Gear" and "Arm Gear", based around the design of the Robot Master the weapon is obtained from. His ability to switch between weapons without going to the menu originally seen in Mega Man 7 and most other games afterward (excluding Mega Man 9) is retained (but with positioning rearranged to buttons such as B l2 and B r2 instead). Players also can now use the right analog stick (or right touchpad with a Steam controller) to allow Mega Man to quickly switch to a specific weapon based on the direction used without having to go through any others first (or tapping it to return to the Mega Buster).

Energy Tanks, Weapon Tanks, and Mystery Tanks make a re-appearance in this game, along with the Store and being able to use Screws as currency again (now referred to as Bolts), which is run by Roll for the Items/Support section and Auto for the Parts section. The player has the option of equipping or unequipping parts bought at the store, but if there are two similar parts, namely in the case of the Energy Balancer and Cooling System items that have a more powerful variant, only one may be equipped at a time. Also a number of items found in the store cannot be purchased right away and each requires their own method to be unlocked first before they can be purchased. Additionally Eddie and Beat play the same role they did in Mega Man 9 and Mega Man 10.

Like in Mega Man 10, the game features difficulty modes, expanding upon them for a total of four: "Newcomer", "Casual", "Normal" and "Superhero". The difficulty level challenge will also affect what occurs on a stage and what items can be found laying around.

Once the Main Game is completed, the player can freely choose to return to any stage they wish, including the Gear Fortress stages. In addition certain parts not available in the main game are now eligible for purchase.

The game have additional features, including Time Trials, Missions, Global Leaderboards and a concept art gallery. The Nintendo Switch version have Amiibo support, which can be used to unlock in-game items.

Characters

Bosses

  • Bounce Man

Story

The evil scientist Dr. Wily has completed a forbidden research to attack the peaceful robotic society again. While reflecting on his younger days when he studied alongside Dr. Light, he remembered a creation of his own: the Double Gear System, a device that dramatically increases the abilities of robots, but its research was stopped due to the danger caused by pushing robots beyond their limitations, and it is related to the conflict between Dr. Wily and Dr. Light. Finishing the Double Gear System, Dr. Wily steals eight of Dr. Light's robots and increases their abilities to use on his plans to conquer the world. In order to counter the situation, Dr. Light reluctantly decided to install a prototype of the Double Gear System that Wily created when he was younger on Mega Man, giving him new abilities to help him stop Dr. Wily's nefarious ambitions.

Development

The existence of Mega Man 11 was first teased in Mega Man Legacy Collection 2, which featured concept art from this game as an easter egg. Roll's Mega Man 11 design was also teased by her Nendoroid figure. Mega Man 11 runs on Capcom's MT Framework.[6] According to the game's producer Kazuhiro Tsuchiya and director Koji Oda,[7] the departure of Mega Man producer Keiji Inafune was mainly the reason for the long hiatus of a new classic game, as there was a huge hesitation for anyone to step up and become "the new Mega Man guy" until Oda himself did so.[8] Mega Man 11 is directed by Oda, produced by Tsuchiya, and features character designs by Yuji Ishihara[9] and music by Marika Suzuki.[10]

The game was officially announced in December 2017 as part of the franchise's 30th anniversary celebration, along with the announcements of 2018 re-releases of earlier Mega Man games; Mega Man X Legacy Collection and Mega Man X Legacy Collection 2.[11]

Release and merchandise

Mega Man 11 was released worldwide for Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One on October 2, 2018,[12] execpt in Japan where it released two days later. In Europe, the Switch version is only avalaible through digital download.

An alternate soundtrack in the form of a DLC add-on for the game was made freely available to those who pre-ordered the game. A new Mega Man Amiibo figurine was also released alongside the game for the Switch version.[13] A demo featuring Block Man's stage was released on the Nintendo Switch on September 6, 2018, and on the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 the following day.[14]

Mega Man VR: Targeted Virtual World!!, an upcoming virtual reality attraction at Capcom Plaza Ikebukuro‘s "VR-X" virtual reality corner, was announced at July 2020.[15] It will be based on Mega Man 11 and open on July 18, 2020.

Reception

Mega Man 11 was met with positive reviews by critics. IGN gave it a 7.5/10 rating saying "It's not revolutionary, but Mega Man 11 feels almost like a classic Mega Man game, and is a good foundation for the next 10 games"[16] while GameSpot gave it a 7/10 rating praising the game for its "great sub-bosses and intense robot master fights, some new stage gimmicks [being] a lot of fun and endearing personality of the series com[ing] through in the visual and character design", while criticizing the stages for being "far too long and hav[ing] some questionable elements, [and] the difficulty spikes throughout levels lead to frustrating setbacks and the Double Gear System never seems quite as useful as you want it to be".[17] Nintendo Life gave it a 9/10 rating, writing that "Mega Man 11 is an excellent resurgence for the Blue Bomber, imbuing the tried-and-true classic gameplay with modern touches and new ideas that expand on existing concepts in interesting ways."[18]

Sales

During its first week on sale in Japan, the physical Nintendo Switch version of Mega Man 11 sold 14,650 copies, while the physical PlayStation 4 version sold 12,052 copies.[19] On February 2019, the game sold 870,000 copies worldwide,[20] and as of September 2019, the game has sold one million units.[21][22]

Accolades

The game was nominated for "Best Action Game" at The Game Awards 2018,[23] for "Original Light Mix Score, Franchise" at the National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers Awards,[24] and for the G.A.N.G. / MAGFEST People's Choice Award at the 2019 G.A.N.G. Awards.[25]

Trivia

  • Mega Man 11 is notable for having these distinctions in the classic series.
    • It is the second mainline classic game to use full voice audios since Mega Man 8.
    • Excluding re-releases and compilations, it is the first Mega Man game to be available on Steam upon release.
    • The first Mega Man game to receive a standalone physical release since 2008's Mega Man Star Force 3.
    • The first classic Mega Man game (barring compilations) to come to a Nintendo console physically since Mega Man & Bass in 2002/2003.
    • The first original Mega Man game since Mega Man 7 to feature at least one Robot Master on all cover art outside of Japan.
    • The first classic game since Mega Man & Bass to feature idle animations.
    • The first classic game to display a Robot Master's serial number alongside the robot himself when he is selected and also the first game to give the Robot Masters official nicknames.
    • Not counting Mega Man Powered Up, Mega Man 11 is the first classic Mega Man game to feature multiple stage select themes.
    • Both Proto Man and Bass are absent from Mega Man 11, making it the first mainline game since his introduction in Mega Man 3 not to feature the former character, and if one considers the latter's cameo in Mega Man 9, the first game not to reference Bass at all since his introduction in Mega Man 7.
  • As part of the promotion for Mega Man 11, Capcom's action game Devil May Cry 5 features the Mega Buster weapon via DLC for the main character Nero.
  • Unlike in previous classic Mega Man games, the player does not need to meet any requirements to unlock Rush's forms in the game; instead, all forms of Rush are unlocked by default.
  • The Robot Masters in this game are referred in-game as Wily Numbers despite not being made by Dr. Wily, as has happened in previous games.
  • Just like in Mega Man 7 and Powered Up, the Robot Masters will make an animated entrance (such as Fuse Man dropping down onto the stage while inside a lightning bolt).
  • Mega Man's design is based on his appearance from the manga included in Rockman Character Collection, including the cleaning device used by him.
  • Mega Man's new ability with gaining a new Head and Arm Gear in addition to the color changes when using special weapons is similar to his successor’s Armor changes.

Gallery

References

  1. ↑ http://www.capcom-unity.com/capkel/blog/2017/11/30/tune-in-to-the-mega-man-30th-anniversary-livestream-on-december-4th
  2. ↑ http://www.capcom-unity.com/capkel/blog/2017/12/04/ready-mega-man-11-is-coming-in-late-2018
  3. ↑ Youtube: Official Mega Man 11 - 30th Anniversary Trailer
  4. ↑ Game Informer coverage
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 http://www.capcom-unity.com/capkel/blog/2018/05/29/gear-up-for-mega-man-11-available-october-2nd
  6. ↑ Mega Man 11 Is Powered By Capcom's MT Framework Engine; Mega Man X9 Discussed".
  7. ↑ http://www.gameinformer.com/themes/blogs/generic/post.aspx?WeblogApp=features&y=2017&m=12&d=06&WeblogPostName=exclusive-interview-with-mega-man-11s-creators&GroupKeys=
  8. ↑ http://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2018/06/14/mega-man-11-devs-explain-the-long-break/
  9. ↑ Gameinformer - "Exclusive: Mega Man 11 Concept Art Gallery".
  10. ↑ Rock Man Corner - Mega Man 11's Composer is Marika Suzuki.
  11. ↑ https://www.theverge.com/2017/12/4/16734780/capcom-mega-man-11-switch-release-legacy-collection-x
  12. ↑ https://www.engadget.com/2018/05/29/mega-man-11-release-date-capcom/
  13. ↑ http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2018/05/video_mega_man_11_will_blast_onto_nintendo_switch_on_2nd_october_and_you_can_pre-order_it_right_now
  14. ↑ Capcom Unity: Bust Block Man in the Mega Man 11 Demo!
  15. ↑ http://www.capcom.co.jp/amusement/game/title/vrvr_vr-x.html
  16. ↑ https://www.ign.com/articles/2018/10/01/mega-man-11-review
  17. ↑ https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/mega-man-11-review-the-robots-ride-again/1900-6417003/
  18. ↑ http://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/nintendo-switch/mega_man_11
  19. ↑ https://gematsu.com/2018/10/media-create-sales-10-1-18-10-7-18
  20. ↑ http://www.capcom.co.jp/ir/data/pdf/explanation/2019/3rd/explanation_2019_3rd_02.pdf
  21. ↑ https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2019/11/07/mega-man-11-sales-surpass-1-million-copies-sold/
  22. ↑ http://www.capcom.co.jp/ir/english/finance/million.html
  23. ↑ https://www.polygon.com/game-awards-tga/2018/12/6/18130000/the-game-awards-winners-2018
  24. ↑ http://navgtr.org/archives/3566/
  25. ↑ https://variety.com/2019/gaming/news/game-audio-network-guild-awards-2019-1203169520/

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