Middle of the week is here! I avoid calling it hump-day, because I know you dirty-minded people would make jokes night and day. Hell, I'd do the same thing if I could! Anyway...the week seems to be going along quite nicely. I hope you've been having an easy-going week, just as I have. I'm going to head to bed, and come back to kick off Wednesday with a positive attitude. Sometimes, that's all it takes to make for a great day! See you guys in a few short hours.

P.S. - Make sure to check out all the news that popped up while you were sleeping! A lot of great stuff coming from Famitsu. Quite a busy night, indeed!

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Mega Man 9 is out for WiiWare, and it has been since Monday. I am guessing that most of you guys have picked the game up by now, which gives you a good couple of days to have at the title. We've been covering Mega Man 9 for a long time now, which makes it all the sweeter to have it sitting on our Wii menus, ready for us to jump into. Jump we have...as well as die many a death.

We knew that Mega Man 9 was going to be tough, every hands-on account told us so. I said the same thing when I put together my impressions from the playtime I grabbed at E3. That exposure lasted all of 10 minutes, but that's all it took for me to know that the game was going to kick my ass...every square inch of it. Now that I have the game on my Wii, I can finally see just how evil the developers have been.

Every pit holds a hidden enemy...just off screen waits an owl to bombard you with rocks...a giant fire dragon attacks with a firing pattern that seems unavoidable...spikes line walls, ceilings, and everywhere else you can think of. All of these dangerous pitfalls can be 'enjoyed' within just a few minutes of playtime. There's no doubt that Mega Man 9 goes out of its way to give you a tough time, but is it too evil for its own good?

For me, the frustration level is just right. Mega Man 9 makes me hate it and love it all at the same time. I love the challenge, but I hate failing so many times to get things right. Once I do succeed...my dear lord, the sense of accomplishment makes me feel like I've hit the lottery. I find myself sweating (brow, hands) while jumping over pits, and cursing every enemy that pushes me to my death. Even though I scream obscenities, they are usually followed by a chuckle...and another run through the level. I don't know why I love the abuse, but I just can't put the damn game down. There is a distinct like between frustratingly fun, and downright unfair. Mega Man 9, for me, strikes the perfect balance.

I know there are plenty of people that feel the way I do, and many others that feel the opposite. Mega Man 9 owners, how do you feel about the gameplay? Does the evil game design make you regret spending your 1,000 Wii Points, or was the purchase worth every penny? Do you have a particular level/robot master/enemy/pitfall that drives you nuts? Head to the comments, and feel free to vent! Is this game everything you hoped for, or is it only meant for people that love self-torture?!