Reploids are to blame for Mega Man’s latest handheld outing. An island of irregular (evil) reploids mysteriously had their data erased. A DNA chip dubbed the “DNA Soul” was found in one of the erased reploids. The chip extracts data and reproduces it. It can also lay a mean Sigma virus. Mega Man and Zero set out to destroy the reploids and find the DNA Soul.

Mega Man’s old school gameplay still holds up in his latest outing on Game Boy Color. Mega Man Xtreme 2 is more 8-bit NES Mega Man compared to the X series on Playstation. Fans of the NES games will be content with the fast play flow combined with the series’ newer dash and wall climbing moves.

Customization is key to create the best X or Zero character. Players can pick up power up parts in each stage to pull off an array of special moves. X gains more projectile moves like Fire Wave or Marine Tornado, while Zero gains more hand-to-hand moves like a Drill Crash or a Dash cut. There are also hidden power up parts that strengthen different parts of Mega Man or X’s body – Head, Arm, Body, or Foot. There are even Soul Items that let Mega Man charge shots faster or have X inflict double damage.

Mega Man and Zero animate beautifully in Xtreme 2. The pint-sized heroes fight fluid and move well thanks to tight controls. The sound in Xtreme 2 is standard and not much more than the NES titles of the past. The difficulty is a bit lighter compared to Mega Man X6, which will hold well with younger players. There are four stages, each with a different rowdy robot. Waste it, and you’ll get its power for future use.

Mega Man sticks to its roots in Xtreme 2. His latest adventure is enhanced with tons of weapon customizations and fast gameplay. Check it out if you want to get old school play on the road.