Posted by Bob Mackey
It took much longer than I thought, but intrepid 2D platform fans have finally started uploading the fruits of their labor; so now, those with skills outside the Mega Man domain (i.e., me) can stare in awe and wonder as puddles of drool develop at their feet. What I've chosen to share with you today is--at the moment of this writing, anyway--the fastest Mega Man 9 speed run currently available on YouTube; though research tells me that the world record is a minute and change less than cordic's time of 23:16. Follow the fun here, or watch below through the techno-wizardry known as embedding:
I'm not one to call anyone's Mega Man skills into question, but cordic cheeses this run just a little bit; note the starting amount of 999 screws, and the fact that this run is segmented as opposed to being one straight shot. But there's a whole lot of raw talent here--and if this dude doesn't have a turbo controller, I am prepared to call him out as a robot foolishly trying to integrate himself into human society. We're onto you, robot.
Putting aside the upcoming man versus machine apocalypse, speed runs like this are more than just entertaining; they're also educational--in a good way. All the little tricks used to get through the levels ASAP aren't due to mere chance; they're entirely prescribed by a mix of the level layout and the usefulness of Mega Man 9's special weapons. After getting used to the lame special weapons in the later Mega Man games, I had to force myself to use said weapons in 9 during more than just boss fights--and my new plan of action actually worked. If you don't believe me, just check out the above speed run; until then, you may never know the practical uses for shooting hornets out of your arm.
Related Links:
The Ten Greatest Classic Mega Man Levels, Part 1
For Love of the Game: Rockman 7 FC
Mega Man 2 Vs. Mega Man 3: The Eternal Battle for Everlasting Peace
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About Bob Mackey
For a brief period of time I was Bull from TV's
Night Court, but some of you may know me from the humor column I wrote for Youngstown State University's The Jambar, Kent State University's The Stater, and Youngstown's alternative newspaper, The Walruss. I'm perhaps most well-known for my bi-weekly pieces on Something Awful. I've also blogged for Valley24.com and have written articles for EGM, 1UP, GameSpite and Cracked. For all of my writing over the years, I have made a total of twenty American dollars. It's also said that I draw cartoons, which people have described with words such as "legible." I kidnapped the Lindbergh Baby and am looking to do so again in the future.
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