Demo-lition Man! A Free Sample of Platforming History

Mega Man 11's demo is now available to play for free across the PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.

This is fantastic news for fans of the original series, and I encourage newcomers to try a level in one of the most storied franchises in gaming history. Like Mario, Contra, Ninja Gaiden, Castlevania, and Battletoads, the Mega Man series is a memorable platforming experience with a rich history dating back to the 1980's, containing creative challenges for fans of platforming and quick decision making. Prepare to memorize patterns and have your reflexes tested. No doubt, you will feel proud and satisfied after learning the ins and outs of these titles. 

In this demo, players are given a single level to play: Block Man's stage. After watching several different playthroughs of this level I feel confident in saying that  Mega Man 11 is a nice pairing of 3D in 2D, if that makes sense. Mega Man's graphical makeover is easy on the eyes and a nice modernization of this classic's overall layout. Capcom has also introduced something new in the form of the game's Double Gear system, giving the player new abilities to use throughout the game.

While it is always hard to make a judgement from a demo or trailer, Mega Man 11 is sure to entertain longtime fans of the series, and this free demo opportunity is a fantastic avenue for players across all platforms to have a taste of what was considered a regularity in platforming during the NES era, and experience what may have inspired modern classics like Cuphead and Super Meat Boy.

At one point in the level Mega Man changes suits to what can only be described as Pikachu meets Thomas Edison. His new projectile is an electrical blast attack that behaves similarly to Pikachu's projectile in the original Super Smash Bros., even sticking to the ceiling and turning corners. The only negative feedback I can volunteer is that I would have liked to have seen more enemies, but this may be subjective and dependent on the difficulty setting the game is played on. It's possible that more enemies may have hindered the platforming, but I was not blown away by the enemies riding the hamster wheel or the skulls with giant mallets.The most positive takeaway is that the mini bosses and platforming are present, and a wonderful boss battle takes place at the end of the level, containing phases reminiscent of both Air Man and Wood Man from Mega Man 2. 

You have nothing to lose, except lots and lots of lives, by trying out this demo. I say go for it, but beware of becoming hooked!

Mega Man was never a series I was crazy about as a kid. My favorite Capcom franchises were both Resident Evil and Street Fighter. However, after having encountered Mega Man as a playable character in the Marvel vs. Capcom series and picking up the original Game Boy versions, I instantly became hooked and he lapped my love of Akuma and Leon S. Kennedy. I even decided to do what I described as the "Mega Man May Marathon." A series of Twitch streams where I played the original six entries on the famicom and even the Japanese exclusive Rockman and Forte, better known as Mega Man and Bass on the Game Boy Advance. I became hooked to the challenges of this franchise and have become an exponentially better gamer for it. 

I hope that by trying this demo, you may also thrive off a challenge! Thanks for reading. Do you have a favorite entry in the Mega Man series?