Capcom Finally Dishes the Goods on Mega Man 11

Well, that didn’t take too long to get sorted, did it? Unless you count the wait on top of the dearth of information we’ve received about Mega Man 11 since last year, that is.

Capcom’s let the spices flow today, starting off with a new trailer for the upcoming and long-awaited sequel:

Right off the bat, we can see that voice acting makes its triumphant return to the series. No names are attached as of yet, and while there’s no sign of Bass yet, there’s plenty of it in Mega Man’s new voice compared to what we’re used to hearing from the robot boy.

The trailer goes on to confirm what we’d heard about the Double Gear system just recently, which seems to have been an old creation of Dr. Wily’s that Mega Man will have to use to beat the mad scientist this time out. Though it puts stress on Mega Man’s systems, it allows him to slow the flow of time around him and overcharge his Mega Buster (which seems to include acquired weapons as well).

In addition to discovering the identity of the previously-revealed Robot Master as Block Man, who can encase himself in his namesake to create a larger form, we also learn of a new Robot Master named Fuse Man, who appears difficult to handle at full speed, but more manageable when the Double Gear system slows things down a bit. (More can be seen, albeit unnamed, in the box art featured in the gallery below.)

Finally, the game is confirmed to arrive on October 2nd, and those who pre-order the game will receive “an exclusive alternative game soundtrack DLC.”

Further press information from Capcom sheds more light on the game, from Block Man being an “egotistical” sort to the inclusion of a new weapon wheel for your acquired powers to the backgrounds being hand drawn. The Double Gear system is also elaborated upon:

• Speed Gear – Introduces the ability to slow the flow of time, a useful tool for many situations such as navigating tricky platforming sections or avoiding fast-moving enemies or obstacles.
• Power Gear – Allows players to charge the Mega Buster to a new level, and weapon-based abilities become even more robust.
• Double Gear – When at critical health, Mega Man will gain access to a hidden ability to activate both gears simultaneously, unleashing maximum power and allowing for deft maneuvers in the direst situations.

In addition, Capcom is pushing this as a game for veterans and newcomers alike, as “[a] wealth of difficulty options are available for a player of any platformer skill level.”

Finally, there’s the price: $29.99 USD, and it will be available as both a digital download and a physical retail copy.

Mega Man 11 will be making its public playable debut alongside Mega Man X Legacy Collection 1 + 2 at Capcom’s Electronic Entertainment Expo booth, #2223 in the South Hall from June 12th to 14th. However, members of the press were able to recently go hands-on with the game for themselves:

• USgamer – Notes that using the Double Gear option will slow down your rate of fire and have a prolonged cooldown, and that the Robot Masters have their own gears as well (in case you weren’t sure); describes it as “the opposite of Mega Man 9.”
• IGN – Notes that L1 and R1 bumpers on PlayStation 4 activate the Power and Speed Gears (respectively); successfully completes the preview without using the term “Blue Bomber.”
• GameSpot – Block Man’s stage features hieroglyphics dedicated to his accomplishments, four difficulties include Newcomer, Casual, Normal, and Superhero; Double Gear mode restores some health, developers made point of ensuring stages can be finished without the Gears’ buffs.

And to close us out, GameXplain has some footage to go along their thoughts from their 90-minute session with the game:

LBD "Nytetrayn"

David Oxford, or “LBD ‘Nytetrayn’,” as he is sometimes also known, is a freelance writer of many varied interests who resides in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. If you’re interested in hiring him, please drop him a line at david.oxford (at) nyteworks.net.

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