Mighty No. 9

Mighty No. 9 follows the Mega Man formula to a tee, and that’s both a blessing and a curse.

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In "Mighty No. 9," players control Beck, a robot tasked with defeating his fellow robots that have been infected by a virus. Using a variety of attacks and abilities, players navigate through 2D side-scrolling levels filled with enemies and obstacles. The game draws inspiration from the Mega Man series, emphasizing fast-paced action and precise platforming.

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Play Modes

Reviews

54%

Audience ScoreBased on 976 reviews

gameplay123 positive mentions

optimization7 negative mentions

The gameplay is fun and reminiscent of classic Mega Man games, with a unique dash mechanic that adds a fresh twist.
The character designs and personalities of the Mighty Numbers are charming and add depth to the game.
The game offers a decent challenge, rewarding players for mastering levels and learning boss patterns.

The graphics are subpar, resembling older console games rather than a polished modern title.
The voice acting and dialogue are often criticized for being cheesy and poorly executed.
Level design includes numerous instant-death traps and frustrating enemy placements that can lead to cheap deaths.

gameplay
455 mentions
27 % positive mentions
63 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Mighty No. 9" has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the fast-paced mechanics and the unique dash-and-absorb system that encourages aggressive play. However, criticisms focus on the clunky execution of these mechanics, frustrating level design, and a lack of polish, leading to a gameplay experience that can feel unfair and unbalanced. While some players find enjoyment in mastering the mechanics, others feel it falls short of the classic "Mega Man" experience, often resulting in a frustrating rather than rewarding challenge.
- “The gameplay is smooth, and the dash mechanic is a standout feature—so much fun and really makes every stage a blast.”
- “When you can get into the rhythm of shooting and dashing, pulling off combos and figuring out how to position yourself, everything combines well and makes for very fun gameplay.”
- “The dash mechanic is well implemented by both characters, and I fail to see where people's issues with the controls lie.”
- “You can still somewhat have fun with it, but it isn't a very polished game since the visuals are lacking and confusing at some parts, the level design is bland and generic, the core game mechanics aren't really fleshed out to their fullest, like the absorption dash Beck has, and it also has a couple of bugs that could literally instakill you, even though they are rare (not fun!) and the base price is hardly worth it.”
- “The gameplay is clunky, animations (if you can call them that) are strange, textures are not that great, and the gameplay overall lacks depth.”
- “The dash mechanic was supposed to be the highlight of the game and what makes it fun, but honestly the whole entire game is designed around it and ultimately it only serves to make the game more frustrating than fun.”
graphics
217 mentions
19 % positive mentions
64 % neutral mentions
17 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players noting that they resemble outdated PlayStation 2-era visuals, which is disappointing given the game's budget. While some appreciate the anime-inspired art style and find it charming, others criticize the lack of polish, confusing visuals, and absence of basic animations like mouth movements during dialogue. Overall, the graphics are seen as a significant letdown, failing to meet the expectations set by the game's promotional materials.
- “The graphics look great even today.”
- “The graphics look like they belong on the PS2, which is impressive for a game like this, and are very reminiscent of Mega Man X8, but in a more cartoony style which, rather than being a detriment, gives the game its own almost cutesy charm.”
- “The graphics are fine, looks like a GameCube style game which is fine by me, but the levels feel empty with a lack of detail.”
- “The graphics look like they belong on the PS2, which is impressive for a game like this, and are very reminiscent of Mega Man X8, but in a more cartoony style which, rather than being a detriment, gives the game its own almost cutesy charm.”
- “For a game that had a budget of 4 million dollars, graphics that look like they came straight from the PS2 era are just unforgivable.”
- “The graphics are a joke.”
story
201 mentions
18 % positive mentions
73 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The story of "Mighty No. 9" is generally viewed as weak and uninspired, often described as bland, generic, and reminiscent of classic Mega Man narratives without offering much depth or originality. While some players appreciate the character designs and find the story somewhat engaging, many criticize the execution, dialogue, and overall coherence, leading to a perception that the story is merely an afterthought in a game focused on gameplay. Overall, the narrative fails to resonate with players, leaving it as a forgettable aspect of the experience.
- “The story has more depth to it than people give it credit.”
- “The story is engaging, though I prefer how the Japanese version plays it straight.”
- “The story is good, despite some of the voice acting.”
- “The story is bland and drones on without your consent; the voice acting and script leave much to be desired, and the level design tries to pass off fake-difficulty tricks as true difficulty.”
- “The story is pushed, but really I felt it was throwaway at best.”
- “The plot is really shallow and the characters are pretty uninspiring and stereotypical.”
music
129 mentions
38 % positive mentions
53 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising its catchy tracks and composition by notable Mega Man veterans, while others find it forgettable compared to classic Mega Man soundtracks. Some players appreciate the option to switch to an 8-bit style soundtrack, enhancing nostalgia, but overall, the consensus suggests that while the music is decent, it lacks the memorable quality of its predecessors.
- “The music by Manami Matsumae and Ippo Yamada is actually very well-composed.”
- “The soundtrack is still a banger though, at least, as it should be with every good Mega Man game.”
- “The music is amazing, coming in 8-bit and also the normal soundtrack.”
- “The music is entirely forgettable, the sound effects are flaccid, and the repeated voice samples get grating in a hurry.”
- “Most of the songs are forgettable, which is a massive sin coming from the spiritual successor of Mega Man, and only 3 of them are something that I would listen to, because they seem uninspired and just white noise compared to the massive great tracks that the Mega Man games do have.”
- “The graphics suck, the controls are loose, the level design is uninspired, and the music isn't up to par with the rest of the Mega Man franchise.”
character development
24 mentions
54 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is generally praised for its creative and appealing character designs, which many players find enjoyable and reminiscent of classic titles. However, there are mixed feelings regarding the depth of character development, with some players noting that while the designs are strong, the overall execution in terms of gameplay and narrative lacks the polish and engagement expected from a franchise inspired by Mega Man. Additionally, there are concerns about the main character's appeal, suggesting that character development may not resonate with all audiences.
- “The character designs are fantastic, the story is fun enough, the gameplay is good.”
- “Amazing character designs; no wonder the company is called Comcept.”
- “Call is cute, but I can tell there is going to be more character development for her in hopeful future installments.”
- “It's like this game wasn't supervised by anyone except in the character design part.”
- “For all that the character design in this game is awesome, there are some... issues.”
- “Classic difficulty and classic cheesy character development; just the way I remember my Nintendo games.”
optimization
24 mentions
25 % positive mentions
46 % neutral mentions
29 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with players reporting significant performance issues, including frame drops, graphical glitches, and poor visual effects, even on high-end hardware. Many reviewers feel that the game feels incomplete due to these technical shortcomings, which detract from the overall experience and gameplay. Despite some attempts to improve performance in alternate versions, the consensus remains that the game is poorly optimized and fails to deliver a smooth experience.
- “Other than this and some infrequent lag, there were not many other performance issues.”
- “On the side; there is a 64x version of this game included sporting much better performance over the default 32x version, but oddly enough, the Steam overlay and achievements do not work on it.”
- “My biggest problem with the game is the optimization, and believe it or not, this is the best version of the game in that regard, and even that isn't saying much.”
- “The optimization kinda sucks because until I found a 21:9 monitor, some bosses aren't even having full visual effects displayed on screen; this is distracting.”
- “Beyond the most blatant tech issues (performance, VFX particles/shaders implementation, the eventual game-breaking glitch), even good ideas are held back by such hindrances–especially when it comes to balancing and fine-tuning shortcomings.”
- “But it's so poorly optimized that it lags out and eats my button inputs, even on the lowest settings.”
stability
22 mentions
14 % positive mentions
14 % neutral mentions
73 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players reporting a smooth experience free of glitches, while others have encountered significant bugs, particularly in specific stages. Many users noted that while some glitches exist, they are not game-breaking for everyone, suggesting that experiences may vary based on individual setups. Overall, the game appears to have stability issues that may require future updates to address.
- “I've encountered no glitches, the levels are well made, the music is great, the controls are smooth, and the gameplay is challenging but fair.”
- “The game looks great and runs great on a gaming PC.”
- “No glitches, no crashes so far.”
- “I fight through glitches and bugs to play the full game as much as possible.”
- “So many blatant glitches and gameplay errors that make this game unfair and not due to skill.”
- “I feel like I'm beta testing a very buggy game on Unity, what a rip off.”
replayability
17 mentions
41 % positive mentions
59 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game offers significant replayability through various features such as multiple playable characters, a challenge mode, and varying difficulty options, which encourage players to revisit levels and complete additional challenges. While some players noted issues with level design and a lack of innovative content compared to similar titles, the overall consensus is that the game remains engaging and enjoyable for repeated playthroughs. Additional content and secrets could enhance the experience further, but many find the existing replay value satisfying.
- “The ray DLC does add a nice bit of replay value to the game!”
- “Great game with good mechanics, solid story, and tons of replayability.”
- “There’s a ton of replay value with the varying difficulty options of the main campaign along with all the extra challenge stages.”
- “There are complaints about some unnecessarily annoying level design, a boring multiplayer experience, and already having a DLC that I feel is a must-have purchase, but overall, I found this game really fun to play and I know I can come back to it with its replayability.”
- “I'd recommend the other title Azure Striker Gunvolt compared to this on 3DS because it actually feels innovative when compared to this and has much more replayability.”
- “All good things, sure I do wish that maybe there were more secrets and better level replayability, maybe using some of the other weapons.”
emotional
14 mentions
86 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
The emotional responses to the game are overwhelmingly negative, with many players expressing feelings of disappointment and frustration, often likening their reactions to crying like "an anime fan on prom night." Reviewers criticize the lack of emotional engagement, poor storytelling, and unsatisfactory gameplay mechanics, leading to a sense of heartache rather than the intended emotional connection. Overall, the game fails to resonate with players on an emotional level, leaving them feeling let down.
- “I cried like an anime fan on prom night.”
- “I played, I thought, I cried.”
- “Heart-wrenching.”
- “You aren't going to care about the story in a game like this; it will just be remembered as a game that apparently had a boring story that nobody cared about.”
- “$4 million to help create a bland game with poor level design, boring bosses, a boring story, and a god-awful ending is just ridiculous and really should have people scared for any future Kickstarter 'promise' because frankly that's what most of them are.”
humor
10 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as quirky and endearing, with players finding enjoyment in the voice acting and character interactions, particularly the comedic elements of the gameplay. While some players approach the game as a joke due to its perceived flaws, they still find themselves laughing, even in moments of failure. Overall, the humor adds a lighthearted touch to the challenging experience, making it entertaining for both fans and newcomers to the Mega Man series.
- “I often find myself laughing even after dying.”
- “They're kind of quirky as well: I found Avi's news reporter act, for instance, to be hilarious and endearing.”
- “The voice acting is also funny in my opinion.”
grinding
10 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and annoying, often describing it as poorly designed and unfun. Many reviews highlight that the repetitive nature of grinding detracts from the overall enjoyment, making battles feel slow and level designs occasionally frustrating. Despite some interesting concepts, the grinding mechanics are seen as a significant drawback, overshadowing the potential for fun.
- “Poorly designed, tedious, annoying, and overall, just unfun.”
- “This is less a 'spiritual successor' to Mega Man, and more a distillation of all the tedious elements, while retaining very little of the actual fun.”
- “I really wanted this game to succeed but the overall gameplay is just boring and tedious.”
monetization
8 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has drawn significant criticism, with many players perceiving it as a cash grab rather than a genuine effort to create a quality product. The game's advertising and marketing strategies have been described as misleading and tone-deaf, contributing to a negative perception among fans, especially following delays and changes in design. Overall, the monetization approach has overshadowed the game's merits, leading to a backlash from the community.
- “It's not a fun game, but rather a cash grab from a desperate game designer who could have made a masterpiece, but instead churned out this mess.”
- “A game that's cursed by its name, Mighty No. 9 hit the market (late) amidst a cloud of negative perceptions; people didn't like the change in art style, delays in production, and a horribly tone-deaf advertising campaign.”
- “It's overloaded by bad design choices that they try to cover up with deceptive advertising.”
atmosphere
3 mentions
0 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
67 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is a mixed bag; while the gameplay is fast and enjoyable, it lacks a compelling story and cohesive atmosphere, with voice acting that detracts from the experience. The music contributes positively to the pacing, and the charming cutscenes offer a calming quality, despite the graphics being underwhelming. Overall, the atmosphere feels inconsistent, balancing between enjoyable elements and notable shortcomings.
- “The graphics may not be groundbreaking, but I find charm in the way the cutscenes unfold with their looping animations; it creates a very calming atmosphere for me.”
- “Even though it lacks the atmosphere and any semblance of a worthwhile story, the gameplay dynamics centered around the dash are fast and fun, almost making it feel like if Sonic crossed over with Mega Man in a good way.”
- “The music is good and helps create pacing, but the voice actors, with the exception of Steve Blum, fail to maintain the atmosphere or action at the proper pacing due to poor delivery.”
- “The graphics are nothing great, but I find charm in the way that the cutscenes unfold with the looping animations; it creates a very calming atmosphere for me.”