Capcom has launched all six of the original NES "Mega Man" games for iOS and Android devices. While the original versions of the games are highly regarded, the mobile ports are receiving negative reviews due to questionable changes and poor work done in the ports.
"These lovingly-crafted adaptations will remind long-time fans and introduce newcomers to what made the Blue Bomber such a popular and iconic character," reads the official press release. "Each game has been optimized for the mobile devices with adjustments to game speed. Each game will be available separately for $1.99."
However, the adjustments to game speed amount to inconsistent drops in frame rate, Polygon reported. It is stated that the ports perform horribly, which make it difficult to properly time jumps and attacks in a game that focuses entirely on these two mechanics.
Slowdown is not the only issue as the emulation done in the port also include glitches regarding the music. There are times when the music tracks stop and fail to loop, particularly on the iOS ports.
User reviews reportedly reveal that the games experience slowdown even in modern, powerful smartphones like an iPhone 6 or Google Pixel phone. Running the games on an NES emulator can give a smoother, more genuine experience, Nintendo Life reported.
It is further noted that Capcom's failure with these ports comes as a surprise given how well emulators perform and with how well Nintendo did with "Super Mario Run." It should be noted that "Super Mario Run" was built from the ground up for touchscreen devices and did not have to implement a virtual D-pad and buttons.
Square-Enix has ported their old games on mobile devices and these have been well received. The company also made newer games specifically for mobile devices, such as "Mobius Final Fantasy," and these have been well received.
This is also not the first time Capcom re-released the six NES games. Capcom most recently released the "Mega Man Legacy Collection" for PC, 3DS and home consoles. These ports not only featured smooth frame rates but also the ability to use save states, unlock bonus content and play unique game challenges.