Mega Man 11 has hands down the most divisive soundtrack in the franchise. For many, it's a massive disappointment with its primarily EDM score sounding interchangeable and repetitive. I'm not one of those people, I actually really love Mega Man 11's music, it's probably one of my favorites in the series. I've always thought that Mega Man can work well with either synth or rock (or both as we'll get into with Mega Man X), and sometimes, I even tend to prefer the synthier soundtracks. I just can't help myself with Mega Man 11's soundtrack, its music is so punchy and energetic, and each track feels so rich and full of sound. I'm very excited to give this score and Marika Suzuki some much needed credit, especially on a compositional level.
Mega Man 11
Prologue
I love how intense this prologue theme is. It just keeps building and building, and that wail near the end of the track is spine-chilling.
4/5 Stars
Title
Right behind MM3's title theme as my favorite out of the classic games. The energetic intro that immediately bursts into action, the bopping rave of a chorus, and that absolutely powerful climax with the booming percussion. It hits so hard and the game just started.
5/5 Stars
Another Day In The Lab
A pretty plucky and upbeat opening cutscene track, but it's not all that remarkable beyond that. Still sounds pretty good though.
3/5 Stars
Evil Machinations
A much more tense cutscene track that introduces Dr Wily's fantastic leitmotif in this game.
3/5 Stars
The Courage To Fight
The opening cutscene ends with this nice heroic-sounding piece with a touch of melancholy to make it sound especially Mega Man-y.
3/5 Stars
Stage Select
This is definitely one of the best stage select themes. It's super upbeat and energetic, and it's long too if not the longest. It just keeps going and going as it builds more and more momentum.
4/5 Stars
Block Man
I remember this track very well from playing the demo years ago, it's still a banger. I love the rhythmic tempo and pittering background instruments that really give off the feel that the track is slowly building itself up (like Block Man!), and the track has two drops that both hit incredibly hard, one before the verse and one before the chorus.
5/5 Stars
Acid Man
Acid Man's theme has a tense spy-movie feel to it. The distorting effects and bubbling sounds in the verse are so atmospheric and capture the gross vibe of the stage really well, and the chorus is yet another absolute head-banger with a very powerful finale.
5/5 Stars
Impact Man
Spoiler alert, but this is the only Robot Master theme to not be a 5/5 for me, though it's still really good. The intro is very memorable for how it captures the intense sound of construction, but I think the track just keeps getting better as it goes on, from the whirring drill-sounding bit, to the triumphant pre-chorus, to another stellar chorus.
4/5 Stars
Bounce Man
I really don't get why people find this soundtrack repetitive, each track feels like it fits the Robot Masters perfectly, with Bounce Man's theme sounding super bubbly and, well, bouncy. In the wrong hands, this theme could've easily been the weak link of the soundtrack like with Spring or
Clown Man's themes due to its cutesy nature, but then we get one of the
absolute best drops in the entire game in the second game. The chorus is
so freaking good, it's so dreamy and ethereal, never failing to put me
in a good mood.
5/5 Stars
Fuse Man
The fan favorite track, and easily the best Robot Master theme in the game. Fuse Man's theme is just straight-up eurobeat, it's oozing energy and propulsion throughout, from that iconic and powerful intro to the blistering chorus.
5/5 Stars
Tundra Man
Tundra Man's theme is yet another entry in the pantheon of stellar ice themes in Mega Man games. It's so haunting and cold-sounding, with the easy highlight of the track being the pre-chorus. That brief stop before the track hits you the sound of rushing wind and a melody dripping with melancholy and bleakness is one of the most striking bits in the entire soundtrack.
5/5 Stars
Torch Man
Torch Man's theme is pure chaos, starting with a panic-inducing intro that sounds like it's spiraling out of control. The track quickly regains itself though for one of the most head-banging choruses in the game, with some slick glissandos and a blistering tempo.
5/5 Stars
Blast Man
Blast Man has my second favorite Robot Master theme behind Fuse Man, it's so good. The first half immediately grabs you with its dark and menacing feel, but the track quickly shifts to pure hype mode with an absolute rave of a chorus.
5/5 Stars
Boss Battle
This is my favorite boss theme in a classic Mega Man game too, it's such a big step up from the last two. It's so tense and grim, I love the downward steps in the intro that really put you on edge, and the beeping in the more energetic second half heightens the atmosphere even more.
5/5 Stars
Get A Weapon
Even the weapon upgrade theme is pretty great! It's far and away the longest one in the series, with a catchy central melody and a groovy second half that slots it in nicely with all the other weapon upgrade themes in the series.
3/5 Stars
Shop
Cute shopping music. It's not as good as the Mega Man 9 one, but it has a lot of the same charming energy to it. It almost feels like E-Shop music, which is very high praise, believe me.
4/5 Stars
Regretful Memories
Regretful Memories is basically just the intro again with some minor changes.
4/5 Stars
Gear Fortress Map
I'm not huge on the intro here, but the reprisal of Dr Wily's leitmotif once you let the track play a bit is nice.
3/5 Stars
Gear Fortress
Easily one of my favorite Wily Castle themes. Sure, it's the only one, but it's not like that stopped Mega Man 5. It's got everything that makes the best Wily Castle theme, it's both super energetic and driven, as well as dark and melancholic. The melody is ridiculously catchy, the chorus is climactic and hard-hitting, it's all so good.
5/5 Stars
Gear Fortress Boss
Despite the great intro... I really don't like this theme. This is the one MM11 theme I will not defend, not because it's generic or samey, but because it leans in a dubstep direction that I just find kinda ear-grating.
1/5 Stars
Wily Machine
Thankfully, the actual Wily Machine theme is a big improvement. It's a fun twist on the Dr Wily leitmotif with a very memorable melody and a lovably dramatic chorus.
4/5 Stars
Last Battle
This is a fine final boss theme. It's got a nice menacing intro, but I don't find most of the track all that memorable, especially compared to the theme that came before it.
3/5 Stars
Wily's Last Resort
Dr Wily's leitmotif shows up one last time for the last cutscene track of the game.
3/5 Stars
Staff Roll
The staff roll music is split up into two parts. The first part is more laid-back and melancholic and it's fine, but it's obviously setting the stage for the much more fun and upbeat second part.
4/5 Stars
Game Menu
For a menu theme, this track is really damn solid. The main beat is super catchy, and the sparing usage of pianos really adds to the vibe. There's a fun arcadey feel to the whole track.
4/5 Stars
Challenges
As I said in MM10, the side-mode/postgame themes usually don't stick with me, but the Challenges theme is still quite catchy. The chorus in particular is very fun and has a lot of Jake Kaufmann energy to it.
4/5 Stars
Challenges: Results
For a results theme, this is a pretty good track. It's got the same poppy and arcadey feel as the game menu theme, and the chorus sounds really uplifting.
3/5 Stars
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