When it comes to Capcom’s recent retro game collections, most have a rather important inclusion. They tend to have galleries filled with concept art. It’s a look inside games we usually don’t get to see. These sections are filled with preliminary art, design documents, and other features that make things seem extra special. It helps you appreciate the work that went into them and the final product.
Each section has its own gallery in Mega Man Legacy Collection 2. Some of the items don’t have the same “wow” factor as others. Many of the images are fairly typical items that seem familiar. These are the character art files that end up appearing as part of a game’s hype train. We see different images of Mega Man, Proto Man, Bass, and all of the various bosses. It is nice to see these, because we these characters are constantly in motion in the game. Here, we have a better look at them and their various intricacies.
Where these sections really shine is with the images we have never seen before. There are so many instances where concept art appears. We get these pencil designs that show the evolution of characters. In some instances, we see examples of gameplay elements or level design. There are characters in different positions, that help us better understand proportions. We see how they compare to other characters. We get a greater understanding of how these games came to be and how everything works together.
One of my favorite images is of Mega Man 10’s Octobulb. This is a miniboss we face before Sheep Man and Dr. Wily. In the official art, we see notations going through its creation. We see how it went from something more smooth and svelte to something with very defined and precise lines. We get an impression of how things work. The best part is the image of it as an ordinary octopus, not plugged into various walls and outlets. It is insightful and fascinating. Especially when compared to the final product.
And then, there is the thrill of the unknown and unrecognizable. After Mega Man Legacy Collection 2 hit the internet, it caused a buzz because of one image. It is this piece of art in the Mega Man 8 section of the museum. Once the game appeared, Rockman Corner’s Protodude pointed out this oddity. It does not match any of the Mega Man 8 art and should not be in this category. Further, it is Yuji Ishihara art that does not fall into the Mega Man 7, 9, or 10 groups either. It is an enigma with no answers, there to challenge us over the ages.
Having such treasures available in a digital format benefits everyone. No matter how much you love Mega Man, knowing that some essentially imagery that helped shape the games could be preserved forever is reassuring. It is there for future generations, thanks to it receiving a digital and physical release on consoles. It is wonderful to have these points of reference so we can compare and remember how things came to be.
Mega Man Legacy Collection 2 is available for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.
