Mega Man IV (1993 video game)
Mega Man IV, released in 1991 in Japan (as Rockman World 4) and 1993 in North America for the Nintendo Game Boy, is a side-scrolling action platformer developed by Minakuchi Engineering and published by Capcom. It is the fourth installment in the Mega Man series on the Game Boy and is a direct sequel to Mega Man III.
The game largely retains the core gameplay mechanics established in previous Mega Man titles. The player controls Mega Man as he battles through eight Robot Master stages, each with unique environments and enemies. At the end of each stage, Mega Man faces a Robot Master boss. Defeating a Robot Master grants Mega Man their special weapon, which can then be used against other Robot Masters, often exploiting a weakness.
Mega Man IV features a new set of Robot Masters: Toad Man, Bright Man, Pharaoh Man, Ring Man, Dust Man, Skull Man, Dive Man, and Drill Man. Dr. Wily returns as the main antagonist, attempting to conquer the world once again.
Like its predecessors, Mega Man IV incorporates elements from the NES Mega Man games, specifically Mega Man 4 and Mega Man 5. It combines and reinterprets Robot Masters and level designs from these games for the Game Boy's limitations. The game also introduces a new support item called the "Energy Balancer," which automatically fills the weapon energy of the lowest-powered weapon when another is collected. This feature helps streamline weapon management for the player.
The game's story is a simplified version of the classic Mega Man plot. Dr. Wily deploys a new army of Robot Masters, prompting Mega Man to confront them and ultimately defeat Dr. Wily to restore peace. The ending reveals Dr. Wily pleading for forgiveness, a recurring trope in the Mega Man series.
Mega Man IV is generally well-regarded among fans of the Mega Man series, praised for its solid gameplay, challenging level design, and faithful adaptation of the Mega Man formula to the Game Boy platform. It is considered one of the better entries in the Game Boy Mega Man series.