6 Things I’ve Learned From the Mega Man 8-Bit Deathmatch Demo

When Mega Man fan CutmanMike teased us earlier this year with a video of Mega Man 8-Bit Deathmatch, I must admit I was skeptical we’d actually get to play it some day. But here’s a fully-playable demo, which includes both a single-player campaign with bots and a multiplayer mode. The Mega Man 8-Bit Deathmatch demo is free, and even though it’s based off Doom 2, you don’t need that game to play it. If you don’t have time to get fragging right now, here are my impressions from a 40-minute play session this morning:

This Freaking Rules

Let’s get the unabashed fanboyism out of the way first. There mere sight of 8-bit Mega Man characters sliding around a 3D battle arena brings pure delight, and everything works as it should, from the health and energy orbs (in small and large sizes, of course) to the feel of the special weapons, which are scattered liberally throughout each map.

Old-School in More Than One Way

Because the game is based on the Doom engine, it’s a frantic ride, but it also lacks the instant twitch factor of today’s Call of Duty shooter culture. In Mega Man 8-Bit Deathmatch, you have time to soak in the impact of each special weapon as you strafe around the arena, but that also means the playing field is ripe for opportunists who sweep in like vulture’s the last-minute kill.

Everything You Know About Weapons is Wrong

It’s funny, but the weapons I remember being super lame in actual Mega Man games are dominant in 8-Bit Deathmatch, and vice versa. Quick Man’s boomerang is a rapid fire powerhouse, but Elecman’s thunderbolt is too slow and underpowered to keep pace with the action. And how often did you use Napalm Man’s canisters in Mega Man 5? Here, it only takes two or three shells to get the kill, and you can litter the arena with them.

Online Play Lags, but Works

I joined a server with 88 ping, and while movement was fluid, there was a noticeable delay between clicking the mouse and actually firing projectiles. That didn’t stop me from having a blast, but one thing I’d like to see in the full game is better handling of lag.

This is Some Demo

If CutmanMike did no more work on Mega Man 8-Bit Deathmatch, it would be sufficient. The demo has four maps, five skins and 10 weapons, which is more than enough to get the idea. The single-player mode is hard enough that you’ll need multiple attempts to complete the four built-in levels, and multiplayer as it stands is enjoyable enough for an occasional quick play session.

Capcom Deserves Props

Development of this game has been out in the open for months, and Capcom hasn’t shut it down. In fact, Capcom’s official blog linked to the trailer last February. As with Mega Ran’s hip-hop album, Capcom embraces the fan tribute, which is more than I can say for some other publishers. Hats off to Capcom for letting Mega Man 8-Bit Deathmatch see the light of day.