In 2008 Capcom shocked the videogame world by offering a devolved edition of their popular Mega Man series, returning the Blue Bomber to the days of 8-bit pixels and MIDI soundtracks for the most authentic NES experience possible.  In this era of high-definition visuals and 5.1 Dolby Surround Sound, Mega Man 9 left many futurists scratching their heads at what in the world they were up to.  The game was a hit, as fans responded to its retro-style look and feel, and helped spawn a return to classical platforming in the process.  Mega Men 10 continues the mission, offering up more twitch-gameplay, impossible jumps, and unfiltered value for your dollar than most full-prices games ever will.

In a story that sounds like it was ripped straight from today's headlines, robots everywhere are coming down Roboenza, a flu-like virus virus that degrades and sends them into a frenzy.  The flu is rapidly spreading across the land, and before long Mega Man's beloved sister, Roll, becomes infected.  The sinister Dr. Wily claims he was working on a medicine-making machine to help produce a cure, only to have an infected robot dash off before it was ready for production.  Cautiously, Mega Man vows to help his nemesis locate the device, and with the help of his robotic brother Proto Man, the two set out to find the cure. The story is actually one of the more clever ones in the series' history filled with plenty of twists and turns that should keep you motivated to strike down the 8 robot bosses and save the day...and your sister.

The gameplay should be instantly familiar to longtime fans, as Capcom hasn't tinkered with much of the formula they helped return with the last game.  Mega Man jumps, shoots, and makes use of the weapons he obtains from defeated bosses.  It's bare bones for the Blue Bomber in this regard, but the same can't be said of Proto Man, however, as he returns (free of charge, this time around) packing a host of upgrades like slide, charged-shot, and even a shield.  The trade-off is that he takes more damage, which helps the game a different dynamic and strategic style.  It's worth mentioning that secondary weapons are now easily accessible via shoulder buttons, which is a nice addition and helps give the game a quicker pace.

Also new is the ability to change your difficulty levels, most evident with the inclusion of Easy Mode, which is designed to help newer players adjust to the often-punishing difficulty the better Mega Man games are famous for.  While this might strike some (hardcore) fans as heresy for a series that's on its tenth cannonical chapter (to say nothing of the countless spin-offs, side-games, etc) to worry about bringing in new fans, let's not forget that "series-favorite" Mega Man 2 also featured a similar difficult setting option.

The game features a great collection of boss characters, as every one is individual and every stage is unique.  Originally I had reservations whether the oddly-named Sheep Man and Strike Man (who resembles a baseball) would be a good fit, but I eventually came around. They offered up some of the most unique stages of the entire game and were a blast to experience all the way through.  As always, part of the fun is figuring out the most advantageous order to take them down, using each new weapon to take down the next on the way to the final encounters.

Mega Man 10 holds the devolved devotion to the 'classic' 8-bit look and feel of its predecessor, with authentic sprites and reduced color pallet that oozes retro-stylishness.  The same goes with the amazing soundtrack, which is filled with standout chip-tune compositions that rank up there with the series best.  My personal favorites were Solar Man and Chill Man's themes, which were truly outstanding.  Too bad I can't say the same about Dr. Wily's, which was a bit more subdued than what we're used to hearing in the typically bombastic final stages of the adventure.

As with the previous game, there are plenty of Achievements and special challenges to unlock and help extend the play long after the last boss has been vanquished.  Capcom is promising plenty of downloadable content (DLC), including the ability to play as Bass throughout the game, as well as new levels and challenge modes.  The game is available through WiiWare, XBLA, and the PlayStation Network services, so just remember to make sure you've got a decent controller to handle all the action.

Mega Man 10 is a fine sequel in a series that's filled with fine sequels, holding fast and true to the established format and providing even more twitch-response thrills we've come to expect.  Of course, this adherence to tradition and somewhat predictable experience may not hold many surprises, longtime fans probably won't mind a bit.  Being able to pick between Mega Man and Proto Man from the start adds much-needed replay value, as do the multitude of optional challenges for the most dedicated players.  Easy Mode is available for those who never thought they'd be able to finish a Mega Man game on their own, so there's no reason to stay away any longer.

Mega Man 10 is available for download for WiiWare on March 1st, PSN on March 11th, and XBLA on March 31st.