Please support Game Informer. Print magazine subscriptions are less than $2 per issue
The Curious Case Of Mega Man Legacy Collection 2's Misplaced Art
On August 8, Capcom released Mega Man Legacy Collection 2 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC, containing the four 2D Mega Man games that were not on the previous collection. Before the end of the day, a minor controversy was stirring around one of the art pieces categorized under Mega Man 8, as Mega Man fans were baffled by its inclusion.
The art in question, it seems, was not from any existing Mega Man game.
Soon, the internet community put the artwork under a microscope. The power was not from any existing game, either, and Mega Man himself never really took on visual design changes for new powers besides his armor changing color. Some people noted that the new artwork was digitally drawn, which would be fairly modern for any Mega Man game on that collection. The design resembles the more modern design of Mega Man in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS, with segmented feet and a lined glove. The artstyle also closely resembles that of Yuji Ishihara, character designer for the Mega Man Battle Network games, who definitely would not have any work in Mega Man 8 for the PlayStation 1.
A few theories are floating around about how this art ended up in Legacy Collection 2. Some people have suggested that an employee was looking through the art archives, saw the large hand on Mega Man, and assumed it was his Mega Man 8 rival Duo. Others think the seemingly misplaced art is actually an intentional tease for a new game.
Regardless of why, the art is clearly a mistake, and it contributes to Capcom's reputation as a company that can fill a warehouse with tiny mistakes.
Our Take
While we would love for this to be an intentional tease for a new game, we suspect it was just a mistake. The question is, is it a mistake for a cancelled project or something that Capcom is actively working on? Smash Bros. has brought other long-dead series back to life, maybe Mega Man is next.
I’d like to ask you to support Game Informer’s continued coverage of games with a subscription. For less than two dollars per issue, we mail you a full year of 10 print magazines, each with cover stories and preview features filled with exclusive details about the most exciting upcoming games. We profile and interview game creators. We look back on the rich history of gaming, and we celebrate what’s next.
Here on the website, we offer much of our content for free, including game reviews, daily news, videos, event coverage, and more – all with minimal ads.
We do so with a small editorial team, alongside contributing paid writers from around the world – over 65 individuals from 9 countries around the world, just in the last couple of years.
It’s not possible without support.
In a time when game makers and games coverage have faced hard struggles and layoffs, the future of this 30+ year magazine and community is at risk. Our new standalone magazine subscription is the number one way you can keep us alive – and we believe you’ll get a pretty fantastic gaming magazine in your mailbox every few weeks for your trouble.
Thank you.
