Nintendo DS

Mega Man ZX Advent

In conclusion, if you’re a long-time MegaFan, or if you got your first taste with the original ZX; whether you’re looking for a standard platformer or another Metroidvanian-type game for the DS to hold you over until the next DS Castlevania or the long-denied Metroid Dread; whether you’re a fan of old-school 2D games or just find yourself sick of playing redundant yet critically-acclaimed first-person shooters or the umpteenth Final Fantasy sequel – pick up ZX Advent. In fact, everyone should pick this game up, or at least 100 thousand people should. That way, there’ll be a third game in the ZX saga and that would make me VERY happy.

I really can’t find anything negative to say about this title and in the end that may be the best complement. If you would enjoy a terrific platforming experience on your DS, then you certainly owe it to yourself to pick up this title. The game play, cut-scenes and level design are all top-notch and will provide a few hours of old school gaming bliss.

Some may say that ZX Advent is simply more of the same, but when “the same” is this excellent, who are we to complain? The Mega Man series remains one of the few remaining bastions of sprite-based, 2D action, and ZX Advent is a sterling example. With plenty of depth and some of the best hardcore run-and-jump gameplay available today, anyone who has an interest in classic 2D platforming would do well to check out Mega Man ZX Advent.

Sans s'écarter une seule seconde du chemin emprunté par le premier ZX, Advent parvient néanmoins à rendre la formule plus digeste, plus riche et plus jouable grâce à une foultitude de petits détails bien sentis. Pour couronner le tout, le jeu profite en plus d'une réalisation de grande classe et d'une mise en scène dynamique. Seule véritable ombre au tableau : la durée de vie, qui semblera peut-être ridicule aux aficionados de la série, mais encore faut-il avoir le courage de rechercher tous les secrets dissimulés dans le jeu. Bref, voilà une petite cartouche bourrée d'énergie et de challengse que nous recommandons chaudement d'essayer.

Advent’s done more than enough for one sequel, though. It fixes the main problem with the original ZX, throws in some other major improvements besides, and keeps everything that almost made ZX a classic to begin with. Now that it’s finally playable and pretty friendly to beginners as well, there’s no reason for anyone that owns a DS to pass this new Mega Man up.

The depth these forms add to the Mega Man formula is impressive. Some minigames and multiplayer round out the functionality, but Advent is most entertaining when it sticks to the basics. Fight some robots, find some secret room and enjoy the evolution of one of the most memorable heroes in gaming.

On the whole, ZX Advent is a very well rounded experience that is probably a must own for Mega Man fans of yesteryear who long for a return to the series' roots.

Mega Man ZX Advent will appeal to a lot of Nintendo DS owners -- especially those who played and enjoyed the first title. It's a fairly long and deep experience, though it's by no means a perfect game. However, the good certainly outweighs the bad, and we can't help but recommend this game as a result. It's got a great feel to it, successfully melding together many different genres into an enjoyable gaming experience. Give it a go and see for yourself. It's a game that feels like Mega Man X with an environment more akin to a handheld Castlevania title. There's nothing wrong with that. Add in two playable characters, a load of optional collectables, and a great environment, and you got yourself a rock solid game.

Mega Man ZX seemed to be driving the series somewhere different for a change by introducing explorative elements a la Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (which itself took a leaf out of Super Metroid's books). It didn't work out as planned and so they decided to scrap it in favour of a more restrictive design. Advent is clearly a step backwards in this regard and this only serves to prolong the stagnating circumstances that the series is currently in. That said, the game is still as much of a blast as the first one was with more forms to assimilate, plenty of crazy boss fights (those who complete Expert Mode deserve much respect), better production values, and an overall smoother ride. Sure, it wasn't quite the advent I was expecting, but it's still one of the best hardcore action-platformers out there.

If you're a DS owner looking for a solid action release, ZX Advent is definitely one to put on your holiday wish list. The game features a ton of solid gameplay with enough improvements over the original to take note of. I loved the wide variety of biometal, the appropriate challenge, the touch screen interaction, and the exploration aspects. It's not a perfect game by any stretch but it's certainly a step in the right direction for the Mega Man franchise. If you have ever been a fan of Capcom's mascot it's time to come back to the series and see what's going on. Recommended

It's probably an inevitable future of Mega Man being subject to scores and scores of spin-offs and sequels and series that should be laid to rest, but as along as there's a good old standby, a series that is built off the roots of predecessors that made the franchise a franchise, I think we'll be fine. Mega Man ZX Advent is a great Mega Man game that inspires memories of former glory while hinting at the possibility of a bright future both for a character that most gamers holds dear and a sweet little system that is more than capable of handling whatever the developers throw at it.

In the absence of truly creative level design or player abilities, though, I have to admit being a bit lukewarm on the game despite my long-standing affection for the franchise.

Ultimately, the only people who are likely to pay any attention whatsoever to Advent are longtime Mega Man fans who simply want their sequels to offer some refinements and a bit of story fan service. Advent delivers on both counts -- particularly the latter, which puts players in the employ of a trio of robots named for Drs. Light, Wily, and Cossack -- which means that it succeeds admirably in its mission. A revolution in gaming it's not, but it fits comfortably into its fan-oriented niche... and it plays well in the process.

Ultimately, Mega Man ZX Advent is an improvement over its predecessor that will continue to offer tons of challenges to Mega Man loyalists and platformer fans. Anyone new to the series or the genre will likely be turned off by its high difficulty level, though the easy setting might let them squeak by. With two completely different characters and a ton of hidden items to find, missions to accomplish, and secrets to unlock, replay value is high. Though the main story can be accomplished in roughly five hours by an experienced player, the extras make it a worthy investment for anyone looking for a fun challenge.

There's no denying that Capcom still delivers an appealing package that manages to deviate from the formula in surprising ways. It's equally apparent, however, that these changes are not necessarily for the better. Mega Man fans should approach this one with an open mind, but be aware that not all the changes are for the better. Maybe the next entry will find a way to compromise on these ideas and really nail it.

Mega Man ZX Advent tries to outdo the last game in the series, and in doing so actually ends up as a less satisfying experience. The glut of different forms makes the gameplay feel awkward and bloated, turning what was a very streamlined experienced into something far less comfortable. When combined with the easy, and frankly rather boring, battles against the boss foes, it makes the entire experience feel less polished. While Mega Man ZX Advent isn't a bad game by any stretch of the imagination, it's certainly a step back in game design from Mega Man ZX. While this certainly won't be enough to stop fans of ZX from enjoying this new edition, it also means that those who didn't enjoy the previous adventure are going to want to avoid this one as well.

ZX Advent delivers a solid 2D platformer that is difficult to find elsewhere, forcing a players to rely pretty heavily on their skill to see them through. Mega Man fans will have their desire sated.

Overall, Mega Man ZX Advent is a solid DS action game. The old school difficult may turn a lot of gamers off, but the gameplay is solid and the power/appearance assimilation is fun. If you're a fan of Mega Man and have enough self control not to rip out your own hair when a game frustrates you, you might want to give Mega Man ZX Advent a try.

If you're a fan of Mega Man, that shouldn't keep you from getting this game. Fans of the Mega Man series and people who loved Mega Man ZX will find what they already love in Advent. It's not revolutionary, but it's still fun, and a great throwback to a much simpler time in gaming.

I’m not sure exactly when the Mega Man series became the most confusing story in videogaming, but I know I don’t like it. I feel old saying it, but Mega Man needs to be a robot guy in a blue helmet shooting guys with scissors and snakes on their heads. I have no idea who these new characters are or how they fit into the Mega Man lore, but this narrative definitely shouldn’t get in the way of the gameplay. ZX Advent is certainly better than the first ZX thanks to a much better map system, but it still pales in comparison to the NES games and those in the MMX series.

For some, they'll enjoy that old-school challenge, possibly even laugh at it when they think back to the original NES Mega Man games. It certainly doesn't belie its heritage. There's no denying, however, that the platforming feels a little tired and the constant blibbering of the characters is rather trite. And he still can't duck. You can pull a decent platformer out of here, but after interminable sequels we're all still waiting for Capcom to push the big blue Mega Man reset switch and do it all over again properly.