I commend the developers for trying out new things with the Mega Man formula, but they sure as hell did not have the finess or forethought necessary to pull them out.
The core gameplay loop and controls of Mega Man Zero is stellar, combat feels impactful and responsive, and the level design isn't too shabby either, but all adjacent systems and mechanics are some of the worst in the franchise.
If this game did not have the life system that it does, the level system that it does, the insanely grindy E-Crystal requirements for cyber elves that it does, and wasn't stuck in such a small screen it could've been one of my favorites, but all of these systems really drag down the experience as a whole.
The core gameplay loop and controls of Mega Man Zero is stellar, combat feels impactful and responsive, and the level design isn't too shabby either, but all adjacent systems and mechanics are some of the worst in the franchise.
If this game did not have the life system that it does, the level system that it does, the insanely grindy E-Crystal requirements for cyber elves that it does, and wasn't stuck in such a small screen it could've been one of my favorites, but all of these systems really drag down the experience as a whole.