Mighty No. 9 - gamescom Preview

Mighty No. 9, has been highly anticipated for a long time now. The game, made by Mega Man creator Keiji Inafune and his team at Comcept bears a resemblance to retro action-platformers. Fans are understandably eager to play this instalment by the legendary game designer and news of its delay is surely a harsh blow to those waiting. With a release date set for Q1 next year, Mighty No. 9 is frustratingly close to being a reality for fans. From what I saw of the game at this year’s gamescom it is going to be a well crafted, charming title that should appeal to fans of the genre.

I got to see a number of levels that demonstrated simple yet hard to master gameplay mechanics. You play as Beck, a robot who has the ability to transform and absorb Xel, the particles that make up robots. The visuals are vibrant and colourful and give charm and personality to the game. The entire aesthetic has an air of childlike wonder to it and it’s no surprise that the game is being made into an animated TV series. The pleasant visuals contrast massively to the gameplay though, which is tough and demanding.

Mighty No. 9’s gameplay consists of a mix of run and gunning and platforming. Reminiscent to Mega Man, Beck is equipped with an arm cannon to defeat enemies. Whilst you can use this weapon to get you through the levels, you will want to be using Beck’s other ability, dashing, to net you the most points. Dashing is like it sounds, Beck dashes forwards propelling him at a speed much faster than running. You can clear gaps and even use dash multiple times to extend your time spent in the air. It’s used to get under small gaps and upon seeing gameplay of Mighty No. 9 it became clear that this mechanic lies at the heart of the game.

Dashing is not only a useful platforming tool, but also a combative one as well. Dashing allows Beck to absorb the Xels of other robots, but this can only be done when enough damage has been dealt to them. This sounds easy in theory but the real test comes from acquiring the highest possible points by absorbing enemies when they begin to glow. It’s made harder by having to know how many shots it takes for enemies to become absorbed. The game becomes a rhythmic twitch based puzzle where reflexes are key if you want to gain the most points. Earning a string of combos isn’t easy and you’ll want to time your dashes perfectly to gain 100% absorption from enemies.

The dash mechanic extends into bosses as well where it can be used to defeat them at the end of their health. Missing the dash is a crucial mistake that allows the boss to regain some of their health. Transformations are a key part of boss fights as well. During the game Beck learns other robot powers and can use these to his benefit. The boss fight I saw was Battalion, a militarised robot mounted with a gatling gun and a missile launcher. Whilst possible to defeat without transforming, the boss was susceptible to freeze attacks from one of Beck’s transformations.

What I’ve seen of Mighty No. 9 has got me excited for its release. The accessible core gameplay makes it easy to play but difficult to master. Perfectionists are going to have a tough time getting 100% combo ratings as quick reflexes and flawless runs will be required. The incentive for replaying levels is high with different awards handed out for completing stages in certain ways. Co-op modes, challenge stages and a back-to-back boss mode make Mighty No. 9 a complete package.

Mighty No. 9 is set for a 2016 release for PS4, Xbox One, PC, Mac, Linux, Wii U, 3DS and PS Vita.