At a certain point the fans act as their own. It's inevitable that it happens, almost physiological in a way. Their first projects are usually clouded by love and aim to recreate a certain experience in an obsequious way, thinking of the starting model not so much as a historical video game object, but as if it were a fetish to cling to in order to find a way. to satisfy that desire for identity affirmation that oscillates between nostalgia and a strong dissatisfaction with the present. The resulting tribute is what they are, something they feel they cannot give up and that they try to revive by making enormous efforts to do so.
When we played 20XX back in 2017, it caught our attention to think about how we would have liked it if Capcom had taken the same, or the same, risk with the Mega Man series. Inafune Keiji, the character's father, with his very disappointing and unbrave Mighty No. 9. The following year saw the release of Mega Man 11 which, while well made and much more refined than 20XX, didn't even attempt to make the series take a leap. that he projected it into the present. It was one of those pretty games, but afraid to make a mistake, where Batterystaple Games' title was prone to its model, but at the same time eager to somehow update its speech, to continue having its own meaning for the modern audience. Since then, Capcom has run aground, in the sense that it has no longer found a way to bring Mega Man back except through various collections and remasters, while what began with 20XX has expanded and begun to reclaim its autonomy, like us. you will see in the 30XX revision, reached version 1.0 after a long period in early access on Steam.
Straight to the point
30XX begins with the final boss that meets the protagonists at the end of the game to give them a surprising twist. If we want the narrative part of 30XX, it's all here, and Batterystaple Games immediately gets out of the way. history Focus on what you do best. So here we are before a new roguelike action platform game, in which you must manage to overcome a series of random levels in sequence to reach the conclusion. If you die, something almost inevitable in the initial hours, you will have to start over, but with the possibility of unlocking some permanent improvements by spending the resources accumulated during the game. The central area in this case is a large laboratory, where Nina and Ace, the two protagonists, will be able to regroup, face some challenges, discover hidden secrets and, above all, embark on the adventure again.
Nina and Ace are still pretty much the characters they were in 20XX. Nina is basically Mega Man, so she fights mostly at range using her built-in arm cannon, while Ace is Zero and uses an energy sword to slash enemies. The game can easily be played with both, so it's up to you whichever style of play you prefer, but it's still worth noting that the levels, although procedurally constructed, offer situations designed to highlight the strengths and weaknesses of each of them. To do this, the developers designed very large sections, which come together to form the overall map, in which the individual parts are carefully composed so as not to look completely foreign and somehow antiseptic, because they are too random. In any case, once you have chosen your character, it is time to face the first level.
Some inconsistencies
Each level of 30XX is structured more or less the same way. Then you go through an initial area, you get temporary power-ups, which are lost if you die, you participate in the additional tests available, such as facing a character in a duel or overcoming mini challenges in levels full of enemies, which provide more power-ups , you beat the mid-level boss, then repeat more or less the same formula until the end-of-level boss, presented in perfect Mega Man style. After beating him you can decide whether to advance to the next level. or whether to return to the laboratory to capitalize on what has been achieved. Everything is clear, simple and direct. Ientrance to the game It is practically immediate, and only the various secondary activities require a few more moments to be understood (the moment to start them). From this point of view, despite the complications created by the random elements, he is truly a top-notch Mega Man, to the point that he offers no resistance to the player's return, even if he is abandoned for a few days.
Everything seems to work very, very well in 30XX, at least until some things start to take over. repetitiveness, mitigated by the random sequence with which the levels are dealt with. Unfortunately, it's mostly its random nature that creates some problems, with some passages sometimes seeming inconsistent and uninteresting, especially when you find yourself in intricate mazes of corridors, which allow you to reach the end by following different paths. . Too bad choosing one path over another often doesn't result in many additional rewards or satisfaction. In fact, sometimes you can find more chests or other prizes by following the most direct routes. Of course, its levels are well characterized from a graphic point of view, although they lack truly surprising moments and each of them is made up of different elements that make them unique to play. So we have a kind of level with platforms that appear and disappear or others that move when we touch them; another in which we can manipulate the force of gravity by entering special areas and another set in a large industrial complex, with coupled gears and mechanisms.
Extra modes and conclusions.
30XX also stands out for its extra mode that it offers, which aim to satisfy all types of players. For example, Mega mode is, as the title suggests, inspired by the classic Mega Man and allows you to select one of eight static levels, that is, with a fixed layout, to complete before tackling the final level. There's also a co-op mode (very unstable, actually, with frequent disconnections), allowing you to play together with a friend, and a rich level editor, intended to give the community an easy and intuitive to use tool for creating and sharing . your own maps.
That said, it's fair to point out that 30XX is not a very long game. Getting to the end is a matter of a few hours. Unlocking all the unlockables takes a few more hours, but the end of the game never seems too far away, especially when you find the right upgrades that make some levels and some boss health walks.
The latter are well designed and follow the Mega Man model without too many mysteries, some are very tough, while others have more predictable attack patterns, so much so that it seems that they have been designed following a kind of hierarchy, in terms of proposed challenge. However, from a technical point of view, don't expect much more than a 20XX evolution. So the 2D graphics are more defined, there are more objects, more effects, more enemies and more of everything, but we are still faced with a Mega Man clone that is not inconsiderable, but at the same time not surprising. Doing so was probably not one of their goals, but the developers could have been more daring from a stylistic point of view.
Conclusions
Tested version PC with Windows digital delivery Vapor, Nintendo eShop Price 19,50 € {brand_origin}.it 8.0 Readers (9) 8.3 your vote30XX demonstrates more surely than 20XX that it has its own identity, improving the elements that made its predecessor appreciated and trying to mark an even deeper line with respect to Mega Man. The matrix, however, remains evident, the gameplay in general is very close to the style dictated by Capcom, but at the same time offers something unique that cannot fail to please those who are waiting for the Japanese house to wake up. In this sense, where 20XX was worth remembering its source of inspiration, despite also being a follower of roguelikes, and almost presenting itself as a splendid object of celebration, 30XX tries to affirm that it has all the means to cut this umbilical cord, without ignoring his spirit.
PRO
- A clear evolution of the 20XX
- Well-designed systems do not weigh down procedural elements too much
- He celebrates it and at the same time manages to distance himself from the Mega Man series
AGAINST
- Some inconsistencies in procedurally generated maps
- It inevitably gets repetitive.
