I'm kind of on the fence with this one. Touted as a spiritual successor to Mega Man and backed by $4 million of Kickstarter cash, Mighty No. 9 should have been an inspiring success story of how one developer went rogue (Keiji Inafune) and delivered what the fans wanted against all odds. Somewhere along the line, something went wrong. After facing numerous delays, Mighty No. 9 is finally here...and while it does disappoint in some ways, it also delivers. Let me explain: What you get here IS very much in the spirit of Mega Man. The characters are slightly different...but the 8 robot bosses, stealing their powers, and run-and-gun platforming gameplay are all intact--plus a couple of minor twists. The most noticeable difference is that Beck (the main character you play as) can dash into enemies to deal the final blow and absorb their power. You're encouraged to prime enemies with your main blaster or other powers, then quickly dash into them for temporary buffs and point bonuses. Love it or hate it, this gives the gameplay a frantic pace not found in Mega Man games. It's worth mentioning that there are a couple of frustrating sections in this game--mainly in the form of instant-death traps (thankfully, checkpoints and extra lives are plentiful). Graphically, Mighty No. 9 is disappointing...even for a lower-priced game. The backrounds are almost lifeless, the character models barely move during the story scenes, and some effects are underwhelming (yes, the explosions do look kind of like pizza). This is the area in which the game feels the most unfinished. In addition, framerate issues are present here and there. While nothing major (at least in the PS4 version), given the simple graphics it's inexcusable in this day and age. The music and sound effects of Mighty No. 9 are sufficient and communicate the game's intended retro theme. The airy, techno-y tunes are superb and very reminiscent of past Mega Man games, and the voice acting is serviceable (corny, but endearing at the same time). When the dust settles, what you're left with in Mighty No. 9 is a short-but-sweet platformer which lacks the graphical punch and charm to elevate it above average status. This IS a letdown...but it's still an enjoyable game. It's a dose of old-school goodness that could've used some more coordination, but I still encourage you to give it a go...even if it doesn't quite live up to its legacy.