Common Sense Media Review
By David Chapman
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Zero's the hero in this Mega Man spin-off collection.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
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Videos and Photos
Mega Man Zero/ZX Legacy Collection
What's It About?
Return to the world of Mega Man X and the battle between humans and Reploids with the MEGA MAN ZERO/ZX LEGACY COLLECTION. Players will follow the saga of Zero, as told in Mega Man Zero 1 through 4, as he's reactivated in the distant future, joining the robot Resistance and fighting to bring balance to Neo Arcadia. Afterward, players can watch Zero's legacy continue in Mega Man ZX and ZX Advent, as new heroes join the struggle to maintain the peace and prosperity between humans and Reploids. Six games in total are all in their original pixels or smoothed for cleaner presentation. You can take control of the game the way you want with customizable layouts, Save-Assist, and Casual Scenario mode for those looking to enjoy the games with a little less difficulty. Think you've mastered the challenge? Prove your metal mettle in the all-new competitive Z Chaser mode, pitting your platforming skills against the computer, friends, and even the world in races against the clock.
Is It Any Good?
When most people hear Mega Man, they immediately picture Capcom's iconic "Blue Bomber." But in the Mega Man Zero/ZX Legacy Collection, it's the saber-wielding warrior Zero that takes the stage. Zero's solo story unfolds over the course of the four Mega Man Zero games, and his legacy continues in the two Mega Man ZX games included in the collection. While these might be an offshoot from the main series, they shouldn't be dismissed as any less entertaining. All the core elements that made Mega Man near and dear to gamers' hearts are still here. There's plenty of fast action, death defying acrobatic platforming, and a slew of power upgrades to help the heroes take advantage of their foes' weaknesses. Between the excellent gameplay mechanics, the sometimes insane difficulty, and the engaging stories, there's no denying that these spin-offs more than live up to the legacy of the Mega Man series.
Instead of just tossing six games together and calling it a day, Capcom decided to add a few extra features to the collection. Some of these are great, while others leave something to be desired. On the positive side, the addition of the Casual Scenario mode and Save-Assist options are great. These make the games much more forgiving for newcomers by reducing the damage, eliminating insta-death from falls, and adding multiple checkpoints to save your progress. Since the ZX games were originally developed for the dual-screen Nintendo DS, the collection gives players a few layout options for dealing with the second screen. Some feel natural and intuitive, while others make that second screen much more invasive than needed. The game's attempt at multiplayer, the "Z Chaser" mode, pits players against each other or AI opponents in a race against the clock. It doesn't add anything to the overall experience and feels like nothing more than filler. Still, the package as a whole is a great addition to any Mega Man fan's library and shows exactly why Zero has earned his time in the spotlight.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about violence in video games. Is the impact of the violence in Mega Man Zero/ZX Legacy Collection affected by the cartoonish art style of the gameplay? Does the violence against robots have less of an impact than more realistic violence against human characters?
What's the appeal of revisiting classic franchises, either in re-releases or reboots? What are some of the qualities that make these franchises virtually timeless?
Game Details
- Platforms : Nintendo Switch , PlayStation 4 , Windows , Xbox One
- Pricing structure : Paid
- Available online? : Available online
- Publisher : Capcom
- Release date : February 25, 2020
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- Topics : Superheroes , Adventures , Robots
- ESRB rating :
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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