10 Video Game Spin-Offs That Surpass The Original

9. Mega Man Zero (Mega Man)

unreal tournament
Capcom

After the original Mega Man franchise grew stagnant, Capcom rejuvenated things with the rebooted Mega Man X, which was hailed as a return to form. However, this iteration inevitably fell into a slump, manifesting some of the worst titles in the series. (No Mega Man fan should play X7. It'll break your heart.)

Luckily, Capcom nailed it with the next reboot, Mega Man Zero. Set a century after X's timeline, the story centres around a re-activated Zero, who must stop a new global threat.

It was risky to focus on Zero rather than the Blue Bomber we all know and loved, but everything worked out with this bold direction. Customisation in weapons and armour is a big factor this time around, offering more variety in the gameplay. Rather than being shackled by the Mega Buster, Zero has an array of upgradable weapons, diversifying the combat.

Extra attention is given to developing characters, expanding the plot, and connecting each instalment, making players more invested in the overarching narrative.

Most importantly, MMZ never suffers a dramatic decline in quality, which can't be said about the original or the X saga. Boasting six solid entries, Mega Man Zero is worth anyone's time, especially if they want a platformer that invokes the spirit of the classics, while still feeling fresh.

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James Egan has been with Whatculture for five years and prominently works on Horror, Film, and Video Games. He's written over 80 books including 1000 Facts about Horror Movies Vol. 1-3 1000 Facts about The Greatest Films Ever Made Vol. 1-3 1000 Facts about Video Games Vol. 1-3 1000 Facts About James Bond 1000 Facts About TV Shows