Mega Man 3
System: NES
Release Date: November 1990
Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
Genre: Action
Don your arm cannon once again and head to the mining worlds in Mega Man 3! Dr. Wily has come to his senses and is teaming up with Dr. Light to make the world a better place. They need Mega Man to head to eight different levels and subdue the robot masters before they destroy everything. Can you help them?
There are eight new robot masters for you to defeat and commandeer their weapons. My path was set in stone when I was a small child and decided Magnet Man would be the first to fall prey to my Mega Buster. His level is fairly easy and his battle is easy to win with the use of the new slide mechanic. If you hold down and press the A Button, you’ll slide quickly in the direction you’re facing. I use this often as I feel you move a bit quicker sliding compared to running.
Just like all the other Mega Man games, bosses follow a rock, paper, scissors pattern. One robot master is best at killing another. Magnet Man kills Hard Man, who kills Top Man, who kills Shadow Man, who kills Spark Man. Then Snake Man is a pain in my butt and usually kills me a few times before I remember his pattern. Then Gemini Man, and finishing with Needle Man. The last three stages are the ones that give me trouble. Occasionally during these stages, you’ll run into the biggest problem in Mega Man 3, the slow down. If there’s too much going on screen, you’ll have to deal with a huge frame rate drop.
After defeating the eight Robot Masters, four Shadow Master levels open up. These are really mean remixes of some of the levels you’ve already completed. Spikes are added where they weren’t before. The need for Rush Jet or Rush Marine are intensified. The slowdown in this garbage brick dropping portion exists and makes me incredibly angry. I played through the Anniversary Collection years ago and found this section to be nearly impossible and chalked it up to the emulator, but it exists here, too. Unforgivable. In these levels, you face off against the bosses from Mega Man 2. Hope you figure out what’s best to take them down!
After defeating the Shadow Robot Masters, there is a battle with Protoman, and a truncated Wily’s Castle. These levels are the least of your worries, as you’ll see the rock monster returning, and a boss gauntlet. Afterward, it’s the battle against Dr. Wily and his new robot, Gamma. If you’ve been collecting E Tanks, you’ll have no problem in these battles, because you can refill your health. Rush Jet is your best friend against Wily, and I refuse to use Search Snake against Gamma, but must kill him with Top Spin!
Graphics: 3.0
Graphics haven’t progressed in three entries and the slowdown when too much gets on screen is unforgivable.
Sound: 3.5
The music and sound is great. I don’t put it at Mega Man 2 level, though.
Gameplay: 3.0
A slide has been added, as well as some new Rush forms, but the boss weapons mainly feel like retreads.
Difficulty: 3.0
If you know the order to play the levels, you should be fine, but some of those bosses can be cheap tough.
Fun Factor: 3.5
It’s still a great time outside of the slowdown and with the addition of the Shadow Master levels clocks in longer than Mega Man 2.
Overall Rating: 3.2
Mega Man 3 earns a B+. While not as good as its predecessor, this is still in the upper echelon of NES games and you should definitely play it.