Mighty No. 9

Mighty No. 9 was supposed to be the long-awaited spiritual successor to the classic Mega Man series, spearheaded by Keiji Inafune himself. But what fans received was a disappointing mess that failed to recapture the charm and tight gameplay of the Blue Bomber’s glory days.

Developed by Comcept and funded through a hugely successful Kickstarter campaign, Mighty No. 9 casts you as the transforming robot Beck on a mission to take down a rogue AI and her eight mighty robot masters. The 2D side-scrolling action aims to replicate the run-and-gun platforming that made Mega Man a hit.

Unfortunately, the execution is severely lacking. Level design is uninspired, boss battles are a slog, and the whole experience is plagued by imprecise controls and cheap deaths. Mighty No. 9 simply lacks the polish and care that went into the Mega Man games it tries so hard to emulate.

The disappointing final product sparked major backlash from backers who felt misled by the ambitious promises of the Kickstarter campaign. While it has its moments, Mighty No. 9 is a prime example of how difficult it can be to successfully resurrect a beloved classic franchise.

For a far better modern take on the 8-bit run-and-gunner, check out the Shovel Knight series instead. Mighty No. 9 sadly didn’t make the cut.