Upon its release, Mega Man Anniversary Collection for the GameCube and PlayStation 2 has gotten fair reception from reviewers. Surprisingly, Gamespot (aka videogames.com) and IGN both seemed to like the compilation, and gave it an "8" score. In fact, the compilation has managed to get about an average score of "8" from most reviewers (along with understandable control gripes). However, even though the compilation has been given satisfactory scores, there's still something missing in each review. Gamespot states that "when it comes right down to it, these are really, really old games that were - for the most part - designed for ancient hardware," that the games in the compilation "feature crusty, old sprites and very little in the way of visual detail," and that the graphics are "outdated." But there is more to Mega Man Anniversary Collection than meets the eye. The most important thing about Mega Man Anniversary Collection is not so much that classic Mega Man titles were re-released, but that two Mega Man titles long-overdue for home hardware were finally released.

First, the compilation is significant because it marks the long-awaited consumer release of the blue-bomber's CPS-II fighter, Mega Man 2: The Power Fighters. For the longest time, I couldn't find the game anywhere (not even in Japanese arcades!), so I wished and wished for a consumer release; and just when I had nearly lost hope, Capcom delivered! While a number of CPS-II titles came to the DreamCast, PlayStation, Saturn, and the 3DO during the golden age of Capcom fighting games, Mega Man 2: The Power Fighters was denied a home release. Strangely, even successful CPS-II titles like Alien VS Predator and Armored Warriors (among others) never saw consumer releases, which is why it's so great to see Mega Man 2: The Power Fighters now on the PlayStation 2; it is one of the many CPS-II titles that should have came to the PlayStation but never did. Get the PlayStation 2 version of Mega Man Anniversary Collection for Mega Man 2: The Power Fighters. It's well-worth it, and it's one-step closer to CPS-II completion on the PlayStation.

And last but not least, Mega Man: The Power Battle. The prequel to Mega Man 2: The Power Fighters, this CPS fighter is the first Mega Man fighting game. Like its big brother Mega Man 2: The Power Fighters, Mega Man: The Power Battle was also a difficult title to find until being released as part of the Mega Man Anniversary Collection. It's a good thing the game finally got a consumer release, because even though it should have came to the Super Nintendo back in the day, it unfortunately never did. Alongside the release Mega Man 2: The Power Fighters, Mega Man: The Power Battle is another long-awaited title that has finally come home. I remember seeing the game covered in some magazine way back when, and from then until just recently I waited and waited, and at last the game has seen a consumer release! Get the PlayStation 2 version of Mega Man Anniversary Collection for Mega Man 2: The Power Fighters, and get the GameCube version for Mega Man: The Power Battle. Mega Man Anniversary Collection isn't just a re-release of vintage Mega Man games; it marks the release of two great Mega Man titles that should have been released a long, long time ago.