Gamescom 2026: Mega Man: Dual Override Brings Classic Gameplay in a Sleek Modern Package

Every major gaming company deserves its own mascot. Not just a face, but a real mascot who can appear at events and bring joy to kids and adults alike. Like Mario or Sonic. But many companies have given up on the idea. Xbox doesn’t have a mascot like that. Sony has tried several times, but it never quite worked out. Perhaps until Astro Bot. And if I had to say who Capcom’s mascot is, it would unquestionably be Mega Man. He has been with us for, I almost don’t want to say the number, an incredible 40 years now. And next year, he will celebrate that 40th anniversary with a new game.

Mega Man: Dual Override follows a truly classic formula, and at Gamescom, Capcom gave us the opportunity to try out several levels from the game. And while it wasn’t a large portion, it’s already clear that this will be a classic old-school Mega Man game. You can expect fairly expansive platforming levels full of hazards and enemies. And if you want to collect everything, you’ll often have a hard time, since all those bonus items are hidden in corners of the screen that you can only reach through a barrage of enemy fire.

It’s mainly about precise jumping, but the action is still there. After all, Mega Man is equipped with fairly powerful weapons, and the new Dual Override ability is also designed to strengthen your attacks if you have enough collected energy. Over the course of the three levels, we could also try transforming into two forms, one of which was the classic Mega Buster, while the other was the more modern Jet Stinger. You need to know when each one is more suitable. For example, I defeated the first boss, who was another copy of Astro Man, much more easily as Jet Stinger.

And finally, there was Twinkle Girl, who was actually one of the Gamescom announcements. She is a new boss, and her explosive abilities can give you a really hard time. At that point, you have to use absolutely everything you know how to do, from jumping to combat abilities. She rains fireworks down on you from every direction, so you really have your work cut out for you. But these are exactly the situations where Chips come into play. A well-chosen Chip gives you certain abilities that you can tailor more closely to your playstyle. Prefer defense? Activate a Chip that creates a barrier against attacks. More of an action player? Upgrade your attacks. Or play the orthodox way, without Chips, for a truly classic Mega Man experience.

It was only 3 levels, a short demo, but it was good. Maybe even too difficult considering that you sit down to play it without any explanation and have only 30 minutes, but in the comfort of your own living room, it will certainly be a different story. For now, though, you’ll have to wait until next year, and we still don’t have a more specific date.