Mega Man 2 GB Review

By Charles

August 27, 2025

I was pleasantly surprised with Mega Man: Dr. Wily's Revenge and was looking forward to seeing what the rest of the Game Boy series was like. I was very disappointed by this game. As I'm writing this review, I haven't played Mega Man 3 GB, so I'm really hoping that things improve. I know they do by Mega Man 5, but I hope that 2 is the only poor Game Boy game.

Mega Man 2 GB

Game Boy, 1991 ~$800 sealed ~$40 used

Virtual Console 3DS

Nintendo Switch Online Game Boy

13

/40

PRESENTATION

CONTROLS

CONTENT

Just like on the NES, Mega Man looks the same between games. The menus are improved, with boss mugshots added, but unfortunately, that is the only positive. While the previous game put a new spin on the old levels, this game tries to recreate everything 1:1. The music matches to begin with and then trails off, beginning to sound very random. For some reason, sound effects are completely changed, but don't sound very good. The bosses are very uncanny as they re-created everything poorly instead of copying it from the NES. The backgrounds are okay and the level tiles are very good, but there is a lot of sprite flickering and strange horizontal lines.

Mega Man controls just like in the previous entry, so he still feels slow, but the new slide is even slower. It feels very rigid and doesn't flow well with the rest of your movement, partially because you can't jump out of a slide. Unfortunately, the special weapons are not well done and feel useless. The only thing done right is Rush, who is actually very well implemented and works just like on the NES.

Mega Man 2 GB contains 10 levels, since Wily 1 expands on the last boss rush by having an entirely new level in each of the four portals. Just like in all of my Mega Man reviews, I have to point out that this is a very short game. It's really easy, so I breezed through it and finished in one hour. You're constantly given items and each boss is super easy with or without Special Weapons. There were more "leap of faith moments", but I didn't mind them as much since there were enough safe blocks to react in time. The game is just really short and not challenging whatsoever.

FUN FACTOR

3

5

This game is too short and easy to have any fun platforming, and the music and visuals aren't good enough to hold up the experience. There is a story involving time travel, but you can only tell because there are clocks in the background of the final level. The game seems very rushed and I think it would have been better had it been given more time. There is nothing aggravating or offensive, however, so you can still have an okay time playing it.

3

2

WORTH THE MONEY?

Only buy the cartridge if you want a complete collection - there isn't enough content to be worth your money. It's on Nintendo Switch Online, but I wouldn't get that just for this game.

WORTH THE TIME?

Only play this game if you want to play every Game Boy Mega Man. The other Mega Man games are way more fun but just as quick to play.