Mega Man Zero/ZX Legacy Collection

A wonderful collection of Mega Man off-shoots that deserves your attention.

Starting at $5.89Buy now

Get on Steam

Get on Xbox Games Store

The "Mega Man Zero/ZX Legacy Collection" compilation includes six games: Mega Man Zero 1, 2, 3, and 4, as well as Mega Man ZX and ZX Advent. This collection offers additional features such as an artwork gallery, music player, and special filters. It also includes customization options like Casual Scenario Mode, Save-Assist, and Z Chaser Mode for a new challenge.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

78%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,016 reviews

story57 positive mentions

optimization13 negative mentions

The collection includes six classic Mega Man games, providing great value for fans of the series.
The addition of save assist and casual mode makes the games more accessible to new players without sacrificing the core challenge.
The gameplay is fast-paced and fluid, with tight controls and a rewarding combat system.

The keyboard controls are poorly designed, with limited customization options that frustrate players.
Some players experience performance issues, including crashes and slowdowns, particularly on certain hardware setups.
Unskippable cutscenes in Zero 1 and 2 can be tedious, especially when retrying boss fights.

story
162 mentions
35 % positive mentions
63 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The "Mega Man Zero" series is praised for its compelling and emotionally rich storytelling, which spans across multiple games and features well-developed characters and intricate plots. Players appreciate the depth of the narrative, with many noting its darker themes and significant plot twists that enhance the overall experience. While the gameplay can be challenging, the story is often highlighted as a standout aspect, making it a memorable journey for both new and returning fans of the franchise.
- “Mega Man Zero has the greatest story of any platformer I have ever played and is also the perfect ending for the Mega Man X series (be ready to cry).”
- “On top of the amazing gameplay, the series also has a surprisingly good story, especially compared to most other Mega Man games.”
- “The story arc of Zero is spread over four games that tell a completely amazing science fiction action story the likes you don't get anymore from the good old days of games and anime.”
- “The overall story is passable but held back by these factors.”
- “It's not just 'stop Wily' or 'stop Sigma', these games were built from the ground up with the story in mind.”
music
125 mentions
44 % positive mentions
53 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The music in the Mega Man Zero/Zx Legacy Collection is widely praised, with many reviewers highlighting its quality and memorable compositions, particularly in Mega Man Zero 3. While some lament the absence of remastered soundtracks from previous versions, the inclusion of a music player and gallery allows players to enjoy the original tracks and additional remixes. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, enhancing the nostalgic experience of the collection.
- “The soundtrack is really good.”
- “The music and uncompressed cutscenes are some of the best aspects about this collection.”
- “The music is fantastic, 10/10.”
- “Unfortunately, Capcom hates us and decided enhancing a game by modding in remasters of music or translating the Japanese releases of ZX and ZX Advent so that we could play with Japanese voiceovers was evil or something.”
- “They did not include the remastered soundtracks that they own the rights to and have lying around in a server somewhere.”
- “The bad news when it comes to sound is with both of the ZX games, where we have a lot of compression, leading to sound bleeding with the soundtrack and the sound effects, making it very hard to make out the actual music that plays when something explodes or an enemy or you yourself attack.”
gameplay
104 mentions
48 % positive mentions
45 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The gameplay in the Mega Man Zero and ZX series is widely praised for its fast-paced, fluid mechanics and engaging level design that encourages exploration and mastery of combat. Players appreciate the depth of the combat system, the variety of mechanics, and the rewarding nature of the gameplay, although some note that certain mechanics can be confusing or poorly explained. Overall, the series is considered a high point in action-platforming, combining challenging gameplay with compelling storytelling and memorable music.
- “Mega Man Zero 3 has excellent gameplay, great level design that rewards exploration without being so cryptic it's difficult to accomplish anything, has interesting collectibles that teach you more about the lore and world of the game, has amazing quality of life improvements like auto-charging your weapons, has multiple different ways you can build Zero to make the game very replayable, has save-assist to make the game easier (and you can turn it off if you want the authentic experience), has new systems that are engaging to test more build options with, a banger soundtrack even by Mega Man standards, a great cast of characters including the 3-game-long face turn of the guardians, and an excellent story with one of the best final bosses in the series.”
- “Some of the best 2D action/platformers of all time, the Mega Man Zero and Mega Man ZX series are difficult but rewarding games that heavily encourage players to try and try again in order to master the game's mechanics.”
- “The better you get at the core mechanics, the more you'll appreciate just how incredibly deep the combat and movement in the Zero/Zx series is.”
- “First of all, gameplay is no fun because you don't get weapons from bosses like you used to in Mega Man.”
- “The developers have a responsibility to either teach the player how to play the game or make the main facets of gameplay obvious; this port fails on both accounts.”
- “It doesn't help that the one mechanic that's supposed to be there as a crutch for new players requires you to grind an obscene amount of the typical in-game currency just to make the handicap usable at all.”
graphics
57 mentions
26 % positive mentions
68 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The graphics of the collection are generally praised for their nostalgic pixel art style and vibrant animations, capturing the essence of the original Mega Man games while offering options to adjust visual settings for a modern experience. However, some users report graphical glitches, particularly on the Steam Deck, and express disappointment with certain filter effects that alter the original artwork. Overall, the collection is celebrated for its beautiful artwork and the ability to switch between classic and enhanced graphics, though technical issues and aesthetic choices have drawn mixed reactions.
- “This collection brings the culmination of a classic video game series, both on the storyline front as well as in its graphical pixel art style, that started back in the 8-bit generation with Mega Man.”
- “While I was super entertained by the gameplay, what brought my attention the most were the backgrounds and graphics.”
- “One of the main reasons for that is the sublime artwork in these games, especially the fullscreen 'story' artworks, which still look incredibly good today.”
- “Graphical glitches on the Steam Deck.”
- “Not impressed with the 2020 graphics for this game.”
- “Terribly optimized port that will not run full speed on a 2019 PC without a dedicated graphics card.”
optimization
36 mentions
11 % positive mentions
53 % neutral mentions
36 % negative mentions
Overall, the optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with many users expressing frustration over the newly implemented DRM, which they claim significantly hampers performance and stability, causing issues like stuttering and crashes. While some players report smooth performance and no issues on their systems, a substantial number highlight that the retroactive addition of DRM has negatively impacted their experience, particularly for modding and on lower-end hardware. Consequently, while the core gameplay is praised, the optimization and DRM policies have led to widespread dissatisfaction among the community.
- “Good news for me at least, through my testing of each opening level of the Zero/Zx collection, I have found no issue of crashing or any other performance-related issue.”
- “Unlike others, I had 0 performance issues in all 6 games or Z Chaser.”
- “No slowdowns or performance hiccups to be seen here.”
- “To be honest, I'd have rated this game higher, but the optimization is abysmal.”
- “This collection has trash optimization with bad stutters.”
- “Capcom recently added Enigma DRM to a lot of their games, even old games that were left untouched for years. This DRM broke mods for such games and introduced performance issues like stuttering.”
grinding
26 mentions
12 % positive mentions
-8 % neutral mentions
96 % negative mentions
The reviews highlight that grinding is a significant aspect of the Mega Man Zero series, often described as tedious and time-consuming, particularly for unlocking weapon skills and upgrades. While some players appreciate the challenge and depth it adds, many find it frustrating, especially with the requirement to farm resources and complete repetitive tasks. The introduction of easier modes in later games alleviates some of the grind, but the core gameplay still suffers from the lingering grindy mechanics, particularly in the earlier titles.
- “The grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding, as it allows you to unlock powerful abilities and gear that enhance your gameplay experience.”
- “I love how the grinding system is designed; it feels satisfying to see my character grow stronger with each effort I put in.”
- “Grinding may take time, but the sense of achievement when you finally reach your goals makes it all worthwhile.”
- “Then I spend a large amount of time farming energy to fill those life bars before I can comfortably face a boss.”
- “Zero 1 suffers from the first game syndrome with its annoying off-screen death traps and grindy nature for its weapons, though the weapons themselves are good when maxed out.”
- “It's got plenty of good gameplay moments and very solid bosses as always, but it's marred by grinding (yes, grinding) and some occasionally outright bad level design.”
replayability
15 mentions
40 % positive mentions
40 % neutral mentions
20 % negative mentions
The game offers high replayability due to its diverse playstyles, multiple character builds, and engaging collectibles that enhance the lore. Players appreciate the challenging yet fair gameplay, bonus modes, and leaderboard features that encourage repeated playthroughs. Overall, the combination of expert modes, achievements, and quality of life improvements significantly boosts the game's replay value.
- “For the story and combat, it's top-notch RPG/platformer and the replay value is high when you have 5 games to play with, and each is different depending on your playstyle/builds.”
- “Mega Man Zero 3 has excellent gameplay, great level design that rewards exploration without being so cryptic it's difficult to accomplish anything, has interesting collectibles that teach you more about the lore and world of the game, and has multiple different ways you can build Zero to make the game very replayable.”
- “Insanely replayable, fantastically tight controls, the peak of being both way too hard and entirely fair.”
- “There are plenty of replay value to it and as you unlock things by playing these games, you get cards to unlock the bonus cards in the gallery.”
- “It has some segments with frustrating design, but overall this is just a big improvement over Zero 1, aside from less replayability.”
- “The rank system might be intimidating for new players but it adds a lot of replayability for veteran Mega Man fans.”
emotional
7 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its interconnected and heart-wrenching story, particularly in the Mega Man Zero series, which evokes strong feelings and a sense of nostalgia. Players appreciate the depth of the narrative, especially the impactful endings that can elicit tears, despite some frustrations with gameplay mechanics. Overall, the emotional journey is deemed worthwhile, especially for newcomers to the series seeking a challenging experience.
- “I hate to say it, but so far, I very much prefer the Zero games with its fast-paced gameplay, better boss battles, and a heart-wrenching, beautiful interconnected story across all of the games.”
- “But with all that aside, I think this game is very well worth your money if you look for a challenge, and the Mega Man Zero story is pretty depressing and emotional. I think you would enjoy this collection if you're new to this series :)”
- “It breaks a few things along the way, and the story has a definite 'aftermath' taste after Zero 3, but the conclusion is definitely worth checking out, with a tier A emotional ending.”
stability
6 mentions
50 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The stability of the game varies significantly across platforms; while some users report frequent freezing and graphical glitches on Windows and the Steam Deck, others experience smooth performance with minimal issues. Overall, the feedback indicates a mixed experience, with some players enjoying stable gameplay and others encountering notable problems.
- “This collection runs great!”
- “It runs great, with the only minor problem I see is not being able to use your controller triggers.”
- “Props on that and also experiencing no glitches or anything.”
- “Runs poorly on Windows; it freezes on startup most of the time.”
- “Graphical glitches on the Steam Deck.”
- “I haven't noticed any performance problems or glitches that can be present in ports like this.”
atmosphere
6 mentions
50 % positive mentions
17 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is described as strong and oppressive, effectively conveying a sense of drama and a metaphorical dark age. However, the quality of voice acting detracts from the overall experience, leading to mixed feelings about how well the atmosphere is executed. Despite some inconsistencies, the game is recognized for its engaging, story-driven environment.
- “It has an excellent and strong, oppressive atmosphere, but also has a lot of systems that don't gel well yet.”
- “It's also the place where story and atmosphere reach their highest potential, satisfying with surprising subtlety and grace.”
- “I appreciate the atmosphere and drama, feeling like this is the metaphorical dark ages following the decline of the previous world.”
- “While the sound quality has been improved, the quality of the acting is very poor and ruins the atmosphere of most scenes.”
- “And it's really, really ruining the atmosphere.”
monetization
3 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The monetization of the game has been criticized as feeling rushed and resembling a cash grab, particularly for its console origins, which may disappoint younger players drawn in by its colorful marketing. However, some reviewers acknowledge that the game offers more than just a simple re-release, featuring valuable additions that enhance the old-school action-platforming experience.
- “Almost like the game was made for consoles and quickly rushed onto Steam as a cash grab.”
- “Kids who buy it because of its colorful advertising may get frustrated, put it down, and not pick it up again.”
- “It’s old school action-platforming at its finest, and the additions that were included this time make it more than just a rerelease cash grab.”
humor
3 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by a lighthearted and whimsical tone, featuring quirky elements like a funny hat and amusing tunes. Players appreciate the comedic aspects, including the absurdity of a robot character and the unexpected inclusion of controller rebinds, which adds to the overall charm. However, some suggest that those seeking a more traditional experience might prefer the original games.
- “Go sail the seven seas with your funny hat and some tunes, or look elsewhere to play the originals, which are incredible games and worth your time.”
- “Edgy robot man is hilarious.”
- “Hilariously, there are controller rebinds for a controller.”
character development
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
-100 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is seen as somewhat clichéd, particularly in ZX, though some players appreciate the more menacing character designs in earlier titles. While Advent introduces an interesting concept with a-trans abilities and boasts superior character designs and soundtrack, the overall execution of character development remains underwhelming, especially as the gameplay shifts back to a more traditional stage format.
- “Advent's best feature is its character designs, vastly superior soundtrack, and the expanded concept of a-trans, which is still a half-baked, if cool idea for an ability.”
- “I do actually prefer the skinnier and slightly more menacing character designs of 1-4, than the usual blocky and cartoonish design of the original Mega Man series.”
- “The characters are a bit tropey for my liking, especially in ZX.”
- “I prefer the skinnier and slightly more menacing character designs of 1-4 over the usual blocky and cartoonish design of the original Mega Man series.”