Mega Man Legends 2

Mega Man Legends 2 is an action-adventure from Capcom, released on PlayStation in 2000 as a sequel to the popular spin-off that broke away from the classic 2D platforming Mega Man series. The player once again takes control of the blue robot Mega Man Volnutt, who together with his partner Roll and other friends searches for the legendary treasure Mother Lode, said to hide the secrets of an ancient civilization as well as the key to restoring the parched Earth. Along the way the player visits various villages and islands, meeting eccentric supporting characters and their distinctive stories, gradually piecing together the mosaic of a vanished civilization's history.

The game combines exploration of more open 3D environments, platforming sections, and third-person shooting combat, complemented by a weapon-upgrade system using collected materials. Compared to the first entry, it offers a more elaborate world split across several islands, more interesting side quests, and a stronger sense of humor built on distinctive characters and their relationships, as well as small side plots scattered across the world. The charming visual style combines round, almost cartoonish character models with fairly expansive explorable locations, between which the player travels aboard their own airship, gradually upgraded with new parts found during expeditions.

Technically the game made sensitive use of the PlayStation hardware, although occasional loading pauses between areas were a reminder of the console's technical limits. Contemporary reviews praised the inventiveness of the world, its atmosphere, and its music; the game earned a loyal fan base, even though in sales it remained more of a cult item overshadowed by the more popular action titles of its time. Even so, it earned a devoted community that returns to it to this day and regularly reminds new players of its qualities. Mega Man Legends 2 is still considered one of the finest yet most overlooked entries in the entire Mega Man series, and many fans still call for its sequel.

Why play it: For fans of the Mega Man series looking for an inventive world, atmosphere, and music, even at the cost of the occasional loading pause – a cult, high-quality entry whose sequel is still being called for today.