Many complain that games for the PSP are either ports of PlayStation 2 games, or simply lazy rehashes of older games to make an easy dollar. Whilst the original game that Powered Up is based on is nearly 20 years old, Capcom have gone to town with this version, featuring upgraded visual design and major additions to the game. Capcom being Capcom, they’ve not only given the character design a make over, but also the music and the levels, they’ve added two new bosses, included a version of the old game (with the new visuals), plus a huge challenge mode and a construction mode! Throw in a wealth of unlockable bonuses and this is quite simply a fantastic package.

When starting a new game, the player is given two choices: begin the New- or the Old-style adventure. Plumping for the new style, players are given a total of eight levels to play through to reach the bosses at the end (not including the intro level), including two new ones over the old style, Time Man and Oil Man. The story (such as it is) kicks off with the evil Doctor Wily stealing all of Doctor Light’s robots to turn them evil and use them for his own ends. Enter Mega, whereupon he asks Doctor Light to upgrade him from a simple helper robot to a fighter. Doctor Light christens him Mega Man, and off he goes to fight evil and save his friends.

The theme of each level is based on the boss which players meet at the end. So for example, Fireman’s level has columns of lava shooting up (sideways too sometimes), firey death awaits below and the in-level enemies follow suit, chucking lumps of lava at Mega Man, usually while he is precariously perched on a ledge! The names themselves are usually a big, big clue – Elecman, Iceman, and Bombman and so on. As with bosses in games from yesteryear, it’s usually a “simple” matter of watching their attacks, timing a dodge and then shooting back. After he’s blasted them to a gently steaming pile of robot wreckage, he’s sweetly asks, “Are you ok?” Aww, bless ‘im.

Apart from the satisfaction of besting these bosses, there are a few bonuses to be had here. Using Megaman’s original attack, the Mega Buster, means that the robots are not destroyed, but are instead taken back to be repaired. They can then be used to play through levels themselves, meeting a Megaman look-alike at the end. Megaman is also rewarded with their attacks to use for himself-from Fireman he gets the Fire Storm, from Iceman the Ice Slasher - he can end up with eight additional attacks. Some of these prove useful in conquering other levels. Oilman’s Oil Slider can be used to skate across water obstacles for instance, and Time Man’s Time Slow talent is perhaps the most useful of all for negotiating those tricky timed jumps.

The levels are actually very short, but due to their difficulty it’ll be a few attempts before players manage to successfully negotiate the perils. There are three choices of difficulty and while many may go for the normal setting, even this can be frustratingly difficult. On the hardest option, the enemies have more armour and jumps are even trickier! This is one of the attractions for fans of the series although it may put off new comers. Even the easy rating does little to diminish the speed of pendulum swings or the possibility of instant spiky/firey/icey death. What it does include are some conveniently placed boxes where the little blue fella might otherwise plummet to his doom!

It still requires precision and timing that some mere mortals do not possess - the kind of quick-witted precision button presses that are demanded can turn lesser men (and women) into quivering wrecks. Despite the super-deformed mini marvel looking like a children’s cartoon character, this is not for novices, rookies or anyone under the mental age of 10 - even on Easy! On the other hand, if you enjoy a real challenge that does not patronise your intelligence, then by all means take the plunge. There are incentives to be had in beating the game on Easy and Normal – two more talents can be added to Mega Man’s repertoire. For beating Easy, Mega Man S is selectable – he can Slide. Beat Normal and Mega Man C becomes available, he can both Slide and use the Charge Shot.

One slight minus becomes apparent through prolonged playing - the controls. Either the D-pad or analog can be used for movement, although the D-pad is the favoured means. Repeated jumps and can produce numb thumbs however, and such is the precision required for some of the jumps, repeated failure to make a jump can (sometimes) be put down to failings in the hardware rather than the software. Only two other buttons are required for play, X and square (or circle and triangle) for jump and shoot. It can be annoying repeating the same jump over and over simply because the button hasn’t been pressed hard enough or in the right direction. Practice does however make perfect.

The Old-style version of the game has the original six bosses to defeat and the original music. But even though it has the game’s new visuals, the level of difficulty is definitely of the “old skool” variety. Unlike the new game, it does not take up the whole screen and level design is based on the original game, making it smaller in view. It’s just as much fun to play though!

Beyond the main game, there are the challenges to navigate. Each character’s becomes available after they’ve been beaten in the main game, ten characters with each having as many challenges. These can be as eye-crossingly hard to beat as any parts of the adventures, but there are no difficulty levels to select here. Each starts off deceptively simple – usually just reach the continue flag. But a bit of logical thinking is sometimes required besides the accurate jumps. The challenges take advantage of each robot’s unique talent, Cutman (he has scissor blades on his head) can perform a second jump after his first, allowing him to reach higher places. Sounds simple enough? The direction he jumps also comes into play, so if he’s out by even the tiniest amount…cue grinding of teeth! Defeat all 100 challenges and not only is Proto Man (Mega Man’s mysterious brother) unlocked, but so are a further ten challenges involving Doctor Wily’s castle and every boss from the game!

It has to be said the design within the game is fantastic. The characters are so full of super-deformed fun and very well animated; the levels are technicolour playgrounds, often with more than one way through the traps and perils. There is some slight slowdown when too much is happening on screen at once, but this happens very rarely. The music (remixed versions of the tunes from the original game) is that special brand of “Japanese jazz-perky” that can sometimes irritate, but not here, as they can often carry players through to the end of the levels when they might otherwise give up. Voices are American, but again, they don’t annoy, they’re just perfect for the game.

The construction mode is also available from the start, but some of the components to be used here can be picked up by playing through the adventures (although not in Easy). Players can construct their own levels, selecting from Scenery Packs and Enemy Packs. Following the instructions is extremely simple with block placement, parameter settings and then a play-through all clearly explained. From March 2006, new levels and costumes were made available to download via the WLAN connection service (although a USB connection will work too), from both Capcom themselves and Japanese magazine Dengenki. There is also the option to upload your levels for others to play and to download levels from Japan, the US and Europe.

This is an engaging addition to the library of Mega Man games, its cute visuals belying its hardcore credentials. Capcom have done a sterling job of updating the game for the PSP and this is a very fine example of what can be achieved on the platform. It’s not a game to be completed in a day or even a week and it requires patience of Herculean proportions. Maybe this will see the return of blisters and calluses on players’ thumbs!