Ok so I've been wondering for a while now but I'm wondering why mega man 2 is supposedly the greatest in the 2d mega mans. Now I'm aware the music is awesome and probably has some of my favorite music from any game. However with that said I played mega man 1 a while ago and it seemed pretty much identical and mega man 3 added sliding and power shots, which didn't make it easier but rather more fun. So I'm wondering why everyone has such fondness for this game or if I'm just crazy or something.

Opinions.

It came out when I was 13 and I played the shit out of it an loved it. I have fond memories of the game, but haven't touched it in years. Nostalgia-colored glasses, maybe? Or maybe it's one of the greatest 2D platformers ever made, but you just don't like it. And that is totally fine.

Wood Man.

Overrated is the acceptable face of insulting other people's opinions.

It has my favorite bosses of any of the games in the series. Other than that, yea, it's opinions. In case you haven't figured this out, there is no scientific method to determining a game's goodness. The vast majority of games that get 10s from big review sites, I can not stand. Doesn't make them wrong.

Because more people were introduced to the series by Mega Man 2 than 1.

@Brodehouse said:

Because more people were introduced to the series by Mega Man 2 than 1.

This most likely. That is usually why some sequels get more recognition then their originals. Sometimes combined with just being better, but that isn't a neccessity.

@Brodehouse said:

Because more people were introduced to the series by Mega Man 2 than 1.

I was one of those people who was introduced to the series via 2. I had some of my favorite NES moment's sitting in the living room with my Dad giving me advice about what to try and not to do with each boss and more importantly Quick man's beams of instadeath.... The first time I did that bit I am not kidding I felt like a boss (OK granted I was only 8 at the time but still)

For me and this might be nostalgia kicking in seriously here but for me it was one of the finest NES games I've ever played (till Mario 3..... Nothing will ever beat Mario 3). Even fire up an emulator or the Wii and give it a blast every now and then as well.

Best level design

@TeflonBilly said:

Best level design

Yep, out of the first 3 Mega Man games, I think 2 has the best level design and bosses.

Mega Man 2 is no Mega Man 3, I'll tell you that. Hell of a game, Mega Man 3.

@CptBedlam said:

@TeflonBilly said:

Best level design

Yep, out of the first 3 Mega Man games, I think 2 has the best level design and bosses.

I think it has some of the best level songs out of the Mega Man series. Case in point.

The music man, the music! Best video game music ever.

It's also one of the few (the only?) Megaman games where boss weaknesses are not 1:1 Some bosses have more than one weakness (namely Metalman's saw, which kills its owner in one hit.)

@MonkeyMitcho: I consider the greatest Mega Man to be Mega Man X. Here, enjoy this video:

I always find it weird when people are so confused by why a game is so popular, yet they have only played it well after the fact. The game is like 25 years old, obviously you can't play it for the first time now and have the same kind of appreciation as those that played it when it was new. With a 2012 mindset, Mega Man 2 may seem like all the others, but it certainly does have a leg up in some key areas that may not seem as apparent as it did when they were new.

A little perspective is helpful in this situation. Mega Man 2 was a bunch of fun and at the time was fresh. This was way before 10 entries in that series alone and countless spin offs that Capcom has released over the years.

@TeflonBilly said:

Best level design

Yep, out of the first 3 Mega Man games, I think 2 has the best level design and bosses.

Megas Man X was the best 2D Mega Man.

@ll_Exile_ll: I think your point is invalid because to this day people will defend that this is the greatest mega man game and I'm wondering why so many people think that. But maybe it's just nostalgia or the music (to me music cannot be put on a scale of quality. Again personnel opinion.)

@believer258 said:

Megas Man X was the best 2D Mega Man.

You mean Megas Man XLR, right?

@Video_Game_King said:

@believer258 said:

Megas Man X was the best 2D Mega Man.

You mean Megas Man XLR, right?

I must have typed that on my phone, something that has caused my spelling to go down the shitter.

Megaman 2 is the best in the series because it was the game the best executed megamans core concept before the games feature creep added in elements that were poor. The bosses were all solid, before characters like snake man or gemeni man crept in. the powers were all useful and solid. The level design was solid and the music was brilliant. Some opinions aren't just opinions. There are solid reasons for them.

The only reason I can't put Mega Man 2 ahead of Mega Man 3 is because of the stupid turret boss on the 4th wiley stage. It has to be one of the worst bosses in the series right? I'm pretty sure you can't beat it unless you have full energy for your crash bombs. Am I the only one who really hates that boss battle (if you can even call it that)? I feel like a lot of people never mention that boss battle when talking about or comparing if 2 is better than 3. I did just play 2 and 3 for the first time earlier this year, so maybe it is much fresher in my mind. What do you all think?

Edit: Whoops, posting in a necro thread.

I dunno, I played it again last year when my nephew got an original NES. Still plays tight, still has great level/enemy design, the music's fantastic, and I enjoyed myself quite a bit.

Sounds like everything you need for a top tier 80's platformer to me.

@monkeymitcho: Wait, so the music is subject to opinion but Mega Man 2 is "overrated"? Hmm?

Everything is overrated to somebody.

I absolutely agree, X is super fun with great music, cool boss designs that you can affect by using certain weapons (chopping off Flame Mammoth's trunk with the boomerang thing so he can't spit oil for example) and levels that change depending on the order in which you beat them. Such a great game.

Because it's the best NES Megaman. Best overall Megaman goes to Megaman X though.