Mega Man 3

"Capcom continues the series improvement, and delivers a fun game"

Introduction
I have had a lot of fun playing the NES Mega Man games ever since I first played part 3 all the way back in 1995. Yes, part three was the first Mega Man game I ever played. So, it holds a lot of historical meaning. But the historical meaning of the game is not the only reason that I enjoy playing it. No, I enjoy playing it mainly because it is a very fun game that continues the series improvements. For instance, this game introduced the power buster charger, the slide, and of course Mega Man's now famous ally, Rush the Dog. With all these improvements, and the classic music in the game (like Shadow Man's theme) how can you go wrong? A great game.

Graphics (9/10)
The graphical improvements to the series really started to take place here. Gone are the stale looking backgrounds of the first to games, instead replaced with more vibrant looking backgrounds. Instead of blue backgrounds, you get mechanical designs. It really does look great, and the stage design in the game is top notch because of it. The enemy designs in the game are fantastic, as well, mainly the snake enemies in the Snake Man stage. There are several characters in the game, ranging from Dr. Light to Mega Man himself, and they all look top notch. I especially liked the boss designs in the game, they looked fantastic, and very unique, especially guys like Snake Man and Shadow Man. Overall, the graphics in the game look great!

Music and Sound Effects (10/10)
WOW! The music in the game is simply incredible! As some of you may know, the Mega Man series has been known for outstanding music, and this game fails to disappoint! Just listen to some of the classic music in the game! The boss selection screen sounds wonderful, and I really like the music that plays after you select a stage (and it shows the boss up close). The two music pieces run together very well. Some of the music in the stages in the game sound great also, especially Shadow Man's music, that is simply great stuff! Sound effects in the game are top notch, I especially like the sound of the power buster and special weapons. Overall, the music and sound effects in the game are simply awesome and classic, as expected.

Gameplay and Control (9/10)
Most of you should have a basic idea of what a Mega Man game is like by now. Let me give you a quick rundown: one of the unique things about the Mega Man series is the fairly non linear gameplay that the series features. You start off the game by having a choice of eight stages to go through. Each of the stages is ended with a boss. The order which you beat these bosses is important, because each boss is weak against one other boss's special weapon. One of the most fun parts of the game is trying to figure out this order. Improvements to the series really came to a head in this game, as the game introduced new features such as a sliding command, Rush the Dog, and you can now charge your power buster (main weapon). These improvements are great and already add to a classic series. The control in the game is top notch, as well, especially with the addition of the power buster charger. Overall, the game is fun and features great control. What more could you ask for?

Replay Value: Average
As I mentioned in my Mega Man 2 review, there are so many Mega Man games out there already to play. So why would you want to play an only decent one like this? Regardless, this game is still a lot of fun, and has great replay value when you first play it. Soon, however, the feeling goes away, and you may not want to play it as much anymore. Regardless, the replay value is still okay. Overall, the replay value in the game is decent at first.

Challenge: Medium
The Mega Man series has always been pretty challenging, but this was probably one of the more easier games in the series. Most of the stages were pretty easy to beat, as I had a relatively easy time going through most of the stages in the game. The bosses did not provide much of a challenge, either. Overall, this game is only a decent challenge, nothing more.

Overall (9/10)
Wow! This was the first Mega Man game I ever played, and it is still one of my favorites to this day, even with all of the new games in the series out. The music is fantastic, and the control is sharp, plus the innovations cannot be ignored. I would reccomend purchasing this one.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 07/09/00, Updated 07/09/00