COLOGNE, Germany—Thanks to its cutesy 2D visuals and run-and-gun platformer mechanics—staples of classic ‘90s games like Metal Slug, Contra, and Megaman—it would be easy to write off Mighty No. 9 as yet another predictable example of a developer cashing in on nostalgia. And while there’s no doubt that nostalgia has its part to play in Mighty No. 9, to only see it that way is to ignore and undermine the significant effect that a few innocuous-sounding changes have on the game’s otherwise classic formula.
But first, a refresher. The Kickstarter-funded, multi-platform, and sadly now-delayed-until-2016 Mighty No.9 comes from the mind of Keiji Inafune, the legendary ex-Capcom developer who’s had a hand in the likes of Resident Evil, Onimusha, and Street Fighter. He’s also the creator of Megaman, which might explain why Mighty No. 9’s protagonist Beck bears more than a passing resemblance to the legendary blue hero, but with just enough tweaks to avoid any legal wrangling. Despite the resemblance, though, Beck’s skill set gives him and the game a completely different feel.
Beck’s dash move changes up his primary skills of shooting and platforming. Perform a dash in mid-air and you fly forwards a short distance, allowing you to cross larger gaps, or avoid fire that unexpectedly comes from above or below. Multiple dashes greatly extend the time you can spend in the sky, and give you the freedom to charge through lengthy passageways at a rate significantly faster than on foot. More impactful than that, though, is how dash helps you dispatch enemies and earn power-ups. Typically, you’d keep shooting an enemy until it dies, but in Mighty No. 9, this prevents you from earning new abilities. Instead, after a few shots and a telltale glow, you dash into it to finish the job and acquire a time-limited bonus.
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