Mega Man 2: A Game That Almost Never Was

Mega Man 2 is often considered the zenith of Capcom’s side-scrolling series, with its exceptional level design, iconic Robot Masters, and phenomenal music that remains unparalleled in the realm of video games.

Many are unaware of the fact that the Mega Man franchise was on the brink of extinction before it could establish itself. The initial game sold so poorly that Capcom was on the verge of abandoning the project entirely.

In a surprising revelation on social media, director Akira Kitamura disclosed that his determination led to a sequel being approved by Capcom, even amidst the development of the Willow game adaptation.

“I’d like to add a little more information as the production period for Mega Man 2 was just under three months, which is causing some confusion. This was not something I was forced to do by the company. It wasn’t something the company asked me to do, it was all something I wanted to do. Sales of Rockman 1 were not good at first, so it was decided to end it there.

“However, I finally began to understand the true nature of the project, so I applied to make a complete Rockman again. However, the next project, ‘WILLOW,’ had already been decided, so it was impossible. Still, I couldn’t give up, so I forced myself to make two projects in parallel and somehow got the OK.”

Kitamura further explained that production on Willow paused briefly as resources were redirected towards Mega Man 2. He emphasized that while there were some overnight work sessions during the final stages, the team’s well-being was always a priority, and no one was subjected to undue stress.

The fact that such a remarkable game was created in such a short time frame is truly astonishing. Fast forward to today, the Mega Man series has spawned numerous sequels and spin-offs, with the most recent installment, Mega Man 11, debuting on the Nintendo Switch in 2018.

Did you play Mega Man 2 when it originally launched on the NES, or have you experienced it elsewhere in the years since? Let us know with a comment.

[source x.com, via automaton-media.com]