Mega Man Dual Override PS5 Preview. Capcom’s Blue Bomber is back next year with a brand new outing to celebrate the franchise’s 40th anniversary, and is the first major instalment in the series since 2018’s Mega Man 11. This time, the little blue fella has a few new tricks up his sleeves while still retaining the classic platforming, tough-as-nails bosses, and vibrant visuals that have defined the franchise for nearly four decades. We’ve been lucky enough to get our mitts on Mega Man Dual Override on PS5 for an hour or so of hands-on time, and while proving nothing short of rubbish at the game, came away suitably impressed.
Mega Man Dual Override PS5 Review
Before jumping into the action, I’m first presented with the option of picking a specific Chip Set to determine Mega Man’s special ability. I plump for the defensive ‘Built for Survival,’ which activates a shield by pressing R1. Handy in a pinch when you’re taking a battering from enemies I figured, and sure enough, I was right.
We waste no time in jumping right into the action, which has the Blue Bomber battling his way through an industrial-like setting. L2 controls the type of abilities the blue fella wields – Mega Buster and Jet Stinger, respectively – which you can flip between instantaneously in the middle of a ruck. The Mega Buster is your regular blaster that you can charge shots to increase the damage output, while the Jet Stinger sees you blasting forward into foes and also serves as a great way to navigate tough platforming segments where speed is a necessity.
The standout mechanic this time around is the Override Mode, which is represented by a bar that fills up as you dispatch foes; once it’s full, you can activate it at the push of a button, allowing you to unleash more powerful attacks with screen-filling projectiles that really help turn battles in your favour. Override Mode also activates automatically when the Blue Bomber is about to kick the bucket, providing a last ditch attempt to make a comeback.
Mega Man Dual Override’s core platforming feels precise and responsive, while blasting away foes is as enjoyable as it ever was in the series. The game seems to provide a delicate balance between both core pillars, providing enough of a challenge to keep you thinking ahead while not feeling overly punishing. While sometimes it’s simply a case of blasting through legions of foes before their combined firepower overwhelms you, other times stages focus more on pixel-perfect jumps as you blast foes mid-air; it’s fiddly at first, but once you master the timing and movement, extremely rewarding.
Pleasingly, the Override mechanic itself doesn’t feel superfluous. It genuinely is a meaningful addition to Mega Man’s moveset, bringing an extra layer of strategy to the bread-and-butter combat. Do you use it against multiple regular foes or save it for a boss or mini-boss? Yes, it’s a powerful tool, but Mega Man isn’t invincible when using it, and is left vulnerable briefly after the effect wears off.
The few bosses I fought proved challenging, to the point where a major encounter at the end of the second stage had me completely stumped – I couldn’t get past the bugger. Still, I’ll happily concede that was down to my lack of skill, rather than the boss being outright cheap. While you can tank hits against some of the smaller foes and merrily blast away, that won’t work against bosses; you’ll have to learn their attack patterns and look for the optimum window to land a few hits, before going back on the defense.
Anyone who has played a Mega Man game knows what to expect here, but the action feels smooth and responsive. Even the most simple of movements can make all the difference here as you hop or or slide under incoming attacks, sparring you valuable health and creating a window to launch your own offensive.
Capcom’s latest Mega Man outing looks absolutely gorgeous too, playing like an anime with its lush, shiny visuals and vibrant colours, while even at this early stage, everything runs smooth as butter.
Mega Man: Dual Override is shaping up to be a compelling, action-packed return for the Blue Bomber with seamless platforming and action, while its Override mechanic adds a welcome wrinkle to the classic Mega Man gameplay.
Capcom will release Mega Man: Dual Override in 2027 for PS5.