Hack Showcases and RPG Hack Showcases are a series where I show off various game and rpg hacks. I try to stick with hacks that improve gameplay or add quality of life features, completely or partially change the plot and characters, along with additional content, dialogue, graphical and sound improvements. Non-rpgs I try to give a full run to, or at least enough for a solid review. Rpgs I will stick with titles that have enough changes in the beginning to show off, and when I can, show parts later in the games where more differences appear. There may be spoilers in the reviews and videos. Some of these I may stream fully in the future or play on my own. Reviews are open to later revisions due to bug and content updates or me playing them and finding anything new I wish to bring up.

Created by Woodfrog, Mega Man: Sequel Wars is a fanmade sequel to Wily Wars for the Sega Genesis. As of 9/26/2024 only Episode Red: Mega Man 4 has been released. When Mega Man 5, Mega Man 6 and other content are released (either as separate roms or one large one) I’ll update this review.

FEATURES

–Faithful recreations of the original games, with extensive research done to make everything accounted for.

–Smooth controls that avoid all of the shortcomings of the original Wily Wars and its control issues.

–Refined 16-bit graphics that use the Mega Drive’s superior visual capabilities to their fullest, with detailed environments and elaborate parallax backgrounds.

–Original soundtrack featuring both remakes of the original tunes and all-new compositions. Comes in both Classic (original Wily Wars style) and Modern (Regular) flavors.

–New characters to play – including Proto Man who can deflect bullets with his shield, and Roll who uses her broom to mop up enemies in close range.

–More gameplay options including the ability to use any weapon from 4-6!

SO HOW IS EPISODE RED: MEGA MAN 4?? This fangame is totally a work of love and dedication from Woodfrog and his team! Episode Red takes everything great about MM4 and brings it to the beautiful world of 16-bit and the devs really pushed the limit as to what the Genesis can do with the graphics, gameplay and music! The graphics are beautiful with lots of colors and details in the foregrounds and backgrounds, even if at times you may think something in the background could attack you. The new look of the stages aren’t just a fresh coat of paint, it’s a new world! I loved the extra detail in the boss fights with the new animations when they appear and the intro scenes, and even some the mini-boss fights have a new look! The soundtrack is a feast for your ears and sounds amazing! You can really hear all the instruments in the new tracks as you run around the stages. I love the horns in Cossack Stage 1-2’s theme and the new boss themes really give a sense of “Oh crap, I gotta fight for my life!” Oh and there’s a few little Easter Eggs based on those from the original MM4 too! Also try using the Rain Flush on the quicksand in Pharoah Man’s stage for a surprise!

Play control is as tight as the NES games and a big improvement over Wily Wars. Having a dedicated slide button still throws me off though. Sequel Wars allows for 6-button controller support, so one those buttons becomes a rapid fire button, and the other 2 let you alternate your special weapons, Rush, and adapters. The controls even using burst chaser, air dash and double jump feels good! Speaking of which, this comes with a lot of ways to customize your game! Starting options include changing the controls, turning on or off the graphical or new soundtrack and more. Changes when you start include playing as Mega Man, Proto Man, or Roll. You can also use every weapon from MM4-6 in a run (which works less glitchy for when I did those Wily Wars Improvement Hacks), unlimited ammo, difficulty settings and turning on a double jump, air dash or burst chaser. Double jumping does what it says on the tin, but the air dash and burst chaser was something implemented in a famous MM4 hack some time ago and incorporated into Sequel Wars. Burst chaser makes you run and jump faster and the air dash lets you slide in midair! You can certainly get through stages and boss fighters faster like this, but careful where and how you jump!

In conclusion Episode Red is indeed the version of Wily Wars we deserved and the Sequel Wars series aims to be a love letter to all Mega Man fans and i can’t wait to see what Woodfrog and his team pull out next!

I GIVE MEGA MAN: SEQUEL WARS EPISODE RED 4.5 OUT OF 5 E-TANKS!!

GAMEPLAY VIDEO:

LINKS:
https://woodfrog.itch.io/mega-man-the-sequel-wars-episode-red – Mega Man Sequel Wars

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