I really didn't expect to do such a 180 on Mega Man Legends 2. At the outset, I was pleased with just how much smoother and more accessible its control scheme is over its prequel. The tone felt ominous without sacrificing any of the series' Ghibli-esque charm, and it makes a striking first impression opening in a sleepy, snowy town full of character.
As the game progresses, Mega Man, Roll, and Data travel to a number of different locales that demonstrate the different cultures and class structures present in their strange post-apocalyptic world, but I found many of these communities to be painted with such a light brush that I found myself missing MML1's Kattelox Island. It wasn't soon after that I found myself losing my patience with its dungeons — the desire for more mechanics and twists I expressed in our MML1 episodes turned out to be a monkey's paw wish, demonstrated by long marathon dives through frustrating mechanics. If I wasn't playing to host these episodes, I likely wouldn't have finished at all.
Don't get me wrong, I'm glad Mega Man Legends 2 exists, and I'm still sorrowful over 3's cancellation, but this one just didn't do it for me the way that its clunky, weird prequel did.
Mega Man Legends 2 is simultaneously more polished and a little rougher around the edges than the first game. Replaying the first game reminded me of just how charming the Legends universe is, and in particular, the little city on Kattlelox Island. Many of the residents had their own personalities, and it set the tone for the game... at least until the final 15 minutes, where the backstory and lore behind the game world — and Mega Man himself — were blown open. Somewhat. Legends 2 really digs into this stuff. In hindsight, the first game is, oddly, a side story in the overarching plot. The sequel gets our heroes back on track in searching for Roll's parents. Instead of loading all the key plot points at the end, MML2 has much better pacing, giving you a sense of the big picture throughout the game. The world that was being built here is so fascinating that I still want the chance to see it explored more.
There are some gameplay elements that hold MML2 back, such as later encounters dragging on longer than I think they should. It's not a difficulty issue, so much as battle mechanics that slow down the pace; even easier bosses can take awhile because of how few openings you have to even do damage. And don't get me started on the insanely heavy-handed approach to water physics.
I think all of this should have been much more refined, but at the same time, there are still plenty of gameplay improvements, like being able to actually move while locked to a target, a vital improvement from the first game. The environments are far, far more varied and interesting to explore, and there's equal amounts of variety in the missions and events that take place between dungeon diving. Because of some of the tedium in the second half of the game, perhaps Mega Man Legends 2 isn't as honed to perfection as I wish it were, but for me, enough things were improved upon that I still enjoyed my revisit. Getting more time with this adorable cast makes the rougher edges worth it.
What can I say that I haven't said before about Mega Man Legends 2? I love this game. It holds a special place in my heart even if it's not perfect by any stretch of the imagination. Two things I love in any fantasy story are awesome characters and world-building, and this series has both in spades. Which makes it all the harder to play and finish the game each time because it's been 18 years and the closest we have to a third game is a canceled prototype from a few years ago. I just wish there was more! I have and always will keep hope alive, as I truly believe that one day we will see Mega Man Legends 3. I mean Capcom can't keep MegaMan on the moon forever, right?
