Mega Man II for the iPod really intrigued me. As it is one of my favorite NES titles, I simply had to try it on my iPod Touch. While it features all of the sights and sounds in a crisp manner, the game suffers from its busted control. The touch screen on the iPod is generally very well implemented, and it goes without saying, this is an impressive little device. However, to play Mega Man II, it is a let down. If you hold the iPod in a vertical fashion you have the option to play the game with a tiny joystick at the bottom of the screen. I would avoid that control scheme as the joystick feels very constricting and difficult jumps are made nearly impossible.

     Fortunately, you can flip the iPod to its side and play horizontally. That allows you to control the game like a miniature NES controller, and this works far better. It doesn't entirely solve the delicate movements required to make some tough jumps in Mega Man II and also to negotiate the numerous patterns by the oncoming enemy. The NES version of the game seamlessly blends the action onscreen with the good old boxy NES controller in your hand, and all is well.

     In the end, the question is - is it worth our time? Well, for 2.99, while still cheap in the grand scheme, it's a bit pricey considering its flaws. There are some truly brilliant games out there available on the iPod for a mere .99 cents. However, fans of such nostalgic classics such as Mega Man II will, like me, download it anyway. Though, I would reccomend downloading the "lite" version of the game for free as to screen it ahead of time to see if you like the controls. If you can look past its shortcomings, you are clearly in for a treat with this classic and legendary NES title.

-Kurt L.

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