So what's the consensus on e-tanks, sub-tanks, suit upgrades, ELF upgrades, etc. in Mega Man?

Are they considered cheating? How much is fair to use on a first playthrough? How much for subsequent playthroughs?

>>11809567 (OP)
>Are they considered cheating?
no.
hundreds of thousands of japanese school children played these games. the robot masters were literally designed by children in magazine polls that inafune slightly modified

>>11809567 (OP)
Why would using items the game provides you be cheating? You can avoid them if you want a tougher challenge I guess.

>>11809567 (OP)
Robot weaknesses trivialize the bosses far more than any of these do. I never understood why they want you to just steamroll bosses with no effort or thought if you use their weakness. However, the main (and usually only) challenge in most Mega Man games is the final gauntlet and those can still take quite a beating even with their weakness, so who the fuck knows.

>>11809567 (OP)
They are a game mechanic, obviously it wouldn't be cheating to use them, only a retard would think that.

>>11809567 (OP)
>sub-tanks
You didn't beat the game.
>suit upgrades
You didn't beat the game.
>ELF upgrades
You didn't beat the game.
>etc.
You didn't beat the game.

>>11809581
>>11809575
>>11809570
It's not cheating, but it's like playing on the easiest difficulty if you use them.

>>11809582
This, but unironically. Although I would still use them first playthrough to learn the boss movesets.

>>11809567 (OP)
just stick to dark souls man

Elf "upgrades" may be the single worst gimmick I've seen in any videogame ever.

"Let's replace old megaman staples like hearts and subtanks with a consumable item that'll permanently penalize and ruin your file making you want to AVOID our unique gimmick."

>>11809589
Sometimes I fail to understand how did the Zero series get so overrated.

>>11809582
>>11809585
I agree that E/sub tanks feel like cheating, but stuff like arm/armor upgrades is fair game.

>>11809592
I did this every time.

>>11809592
Inticreates are hardcore MM autists who were making the game for themselves rather than the average player

>>11809592
You're supposed to want to avoid them if you care about rank. Why the fuck would cheap bullshit that trivializes the game *not* affect rank?

The ELF upgrades are grindy bullshit, but you are only supposed to use as much as you need to beat the game, and then never touch them again if you are going for ranks.

>>11809607
Then don't make it a unique gimmick while taking away staples from the previous games.

>>11809592
In all fairness, Z2-4 went back to hiding sub-tanks in stages like in MMX.

>>11809605
These games would be fine if it weren't for the fucking GBA screen crunch.
I've died more times to some spike out of camera than anything else.
The screen crunch alone prevents me from wanting to seriously dedicate to get good at these games.

>>11809612
That's why people like Zero. The focus is on the gameplay and the bosses instead of stupid RPG mechanics. Those mechanics are still there but they are limited in scope, more time-consuming, less powerful, and negatively affect rank causing players to be much less likely to gravitate towards ELF any more than needed.

>>11809567 (OP)
The games are designed around refilling your health mid fight to not die against the badly designed bosses

>>11809592
If the game is literally ranking your skill why would you not be penalized compared to someone who does it legit with no items?
Once you get to Z3 you get your wish and you can just trivialize the entire game with the cyber elf that drops health pick ups anyway.

>>11809617
Seriously, especially since the games rank you and grant an ability based on how fast you complete the stage. Trying to move through these stages fast is a misadventure unless you have the whole layout memorized.

>>11809567 (OP)
First time through, do whatever you gotta do to win. You should try and hold back more on a replay, though.