The '80s are still here.

Do you know that little blue guy with the mega buster and that karateka that wanders around the world looking for a fight (and probably, self-enlightenment too)? Because they are back, stronger than ever, with some crazy new adventures designed just for you, my friend. Yeah, you are on the right track there. We are talking about Mega Man and his Capcom ally, Ryu.

From the honest collaboration between the gaming company and a particular set of fans, Street Fighter X Mega Man was born to celebrate both Capcom franchises, even though it is far slanted towards the latter. When it comes to the look, style, and gameplay, they are directly derived from the classic 8-bit Mega Man games, featuring some non-linear stage progression, an arsenal of special weapons, and the longed-for old-school gameplay that will not be nice to you if you are more used to the difficulty of modern games.

With an original soundtrack by Luke Esquivel ("A_Rival") and developed by Singapore native Seow Zong Hui ("Sonic"), you will find a game where the blue bomber goes toe-to-toe against some of Street Fighter's most beloved characters aligned with their themed stages and boss battles. And the fact that these enemies can use super attacks just like their Street Fighter forms is a pretty cool design decision!

Mega Man VS the World

As you might have understood by now, the curveball thrown into the mix comes from the role of Street Fighter's characters, as they will not be your allies but, in truth, the real bad guys. So instead of Elec Man, Ice Man, or Cut Man, you will be fighting Ryu, Chun-Li, Blanka, and other unexpected foes.

That fact insufflates a great deal of charm into the game, aided by some fantastic soundtrack that mixes up familiar songs from Mega Man and Street Fighter while utilizing some new chiptune tracks that are true to form. Moreover, the stages are pretty well designed in a deeply nostalgic way related to assets from old games. There was love put into these levels, no doubt about that.

The bosses naturally follow predictable patterns in true old Mega Man fashion, but as is always the case, simply knowing the pattern is no guarantee of victory. You will have to react accordingly and make generous use of the charge shot, slide, and acquired weapons.

Extension and surprises

All in all, the game is impressive. However, the downside is there is an extension of it. You will get so involved in Street Fighter X Mega Man that you might be a bit disappointed when you reach the final stage, as you will feel like it was just a breeze that leaves you yearning for more. But then again, beating the game in no time should not be a problem because the design is so solid that you will enjoy every second of it.

The game also features some secrets worth uncovering, including a bunch of little nods, lots of Easter eggs, and a boss you are not guaranteed to see, alongside Dan Hibiki, who plays the role of punching bag as Mega tests out a newly acquired power.

Keep on shinning, Blue Bomber

We still don't know why our blue hero went rogue and started hunting human fighters instead of mad robots, but we are confident he should have his reasons. That being said, if you love these characters from the past or want to get to know them, this handcrafted game is made for you; I mean, for true old-school gamers and new ones with a taste for the classics to be enjoyed more than once.

Even though you might hear that Street Fighter X Mega Man is not the best or most polished Mega Man game around, it is pretty true to its source material and a substantial and enjoyable effort filled with wonderful ideas by a very dedicated fan that proves well enough that there is life yet in this franchise. Help the little blue guy to keep on shining!