Video Games : Mega Man 3

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from: Capcom

: Mega Man 3

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Binding: Video Game
EAN: 0013388110254
ESRB Age Rating: Everyone
Label: Capcom
Manufacturer: Capcom
Platform: Nintendo NES
Publisher: Capcom
Sales Rank: 3944
Studio: Capcom

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Customer Reviews
Average Rating: out of 5 stars

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars - Mega Man Strengthens His Stranglehold
My first foray into the MM series was with MM 2, the flagship installment of this series. That sent me on a hunt to find MM 1, which did not hold a candle to it's successor. A friend of mine then beat me to the punch (18 years ago) and bought MM3. I was already a huge MM fan after only having played MM2 but MM3 only strengthened my allegiance.

MM3 follows the same basic premise as the previous two installments: beat a robot master and gain his powers to defat the next. The main antagonist is still Dr. Wily (when will he give up?). MM3 is much longer than its predecessor as you are forced to defeat a doppleganger-like robot that takes on the powers of the 8 robot bosses from MM2 in the Spark Man, Needle Man, Shadow Man and Needle Man stages. This is actually pretty annoying, but it was nice to see the old crew again! The 4 extra levels notwithstanding, I thought MM2 was tougher for some reason.

This game continues the high precedent set by MM2 (outstanding gameplay, phenomenal music, etc) and builds upon it by giving the Blue Bomber a slide move, which works to get you into tight places and as a speedier alternative to the standard running. This game also marks the first appearance of MM's dog Rush, and he proves to be very useful. Rush can take on the functionality of a jumping board called Rush Coil, which you are outfitted with from the jump. He also takes on the form of a jet (Rush Jet) and a submarine (Rush Submarine). In this installment, you are allowed a maximum of 9 energy tanks, which is a bit of overkill for the regular bosses but comes in handy in the final stages.

MM3 continues the tradition and there is no deviation in gameplay other than the new slide move. Nothing groundbreaking here, but then again, if you are considering a MM title, you know (and love) exactly what to expect.


Rating: 5 out of 5 stars - One of Mega Man's all time great games on any system, probably even better than Mega Man II
MEGA MAN II is generally considered the breakout game for our titular blue bomber, and for good reason: it fixed all the problems found in the first Mega Man, and was one of the best games for the NES. Truthfully, it's the only Mega Man game I had for the NES in the late 1980s and early 1990s, though I played the first game quite a bit as well. As good as MMII is, is it really the best Mega Man game ever, let alone in the classic series?

If it weren't for MEGA MAN III, I would unequivocally say yes. MEGA MAN III is easily as good as MMII, and opens up the Mega Man gameplay, expanding Mega Man's repertoire.

Major new features introduced in MMIII
*Slide - Mega Man can now slide, creating new possibilities for level design.
*You can now carry up to 9 energy tanks, rather than 4 like MM II
*Due to the introduction of the Doc Robot levels, this is by far the longest of the six NES MM games.
*Rush, Mega Man's iconic robotic dog, makes his debut here.
*Proto Man, masquarding as the mysterious Break Man, debuts as well.
*Another notable feature is this is the first game that has accurate cover art on how Mega Man actually appears in the game. MM is notoriously bad cover art, and MMII's cover art has MM holding a gun rather than his arm cannon. Not bad but not great. This is definitely an improvement over the last two.

MMIII actually has the best story of all six NES titles. Dr. Light and Dr. Wily are working together to build a giant peace keeping robot named Gamma. However, the eight robot masters that the two designed to help keep the peace go beserk, stealing 8 power crystals. The two scientists quickly call Mega Man into action.

Mega Man must defeat the eight bosses to regain the crystals. This set of levels is probably my favorite in any Mega Man game. They're all very well designed, and just flat-out fun to play. The Shadow Man level and Snake Man level are both great.

But wait, there's more. After defeating the eight robot masters, four new levels open up (they are remixed or altnerate versions of four regular levels), and robot masters named Doc Robots are masters of these levels. There are two Doc Robots per level. While all the Doc Robots look the same, they are actually programmed to act like one of the robot masters in MEGA MAN II. When you reach the Doc Robot's lair, the sprite of one of the Mega Man II bosses descends from top of the screen down into Doc Robot, like the spirit of that perspective boss is inhabiting or animating the Doc Robot's body.

Once you defeat the 8 Doc Robot masters, another level opens in the center of the portrait page, entitled BreakMan. It is a simple one screen level, where you must fight ProtoMan. Ultimately, it is revealed Proto Man is Mega Man's brother, and built before Mega Man. Proto Man, who has been kept ambigious throughout the game, has been helping train Mega Man with each fight.

After you finish your training level with Proto Man, you now learn that Dr. Wily has stolen the power crystals Mega Man recovered, and has holed up in a new Skull Castle, intent on activating Gamma and reprogramming him to begin yet another attempt to take over the world via thru the campaign of bloody massacre or pogrom.

Wily's Castle features several cameos or references to the first two games.
*The famous Rock Monster (AKA the Yellow Devil) from the first game makes a return appearance, with a newly designed appearance.
*Gamma looks a lot like Gutsman (who, of all the villains in Mega Man, makes the most cameo appearances in other games, his likeness also appears as a Wiley Castle Boss in MMII).
*The boss guarding the transporter room in the fourth portion of Dr Wily throws rocks like Gutsman.
*Mega Man must fight his clone, just like the original MEGA MAN. This time around, there are three platforms, each with a separate clone. One clone is real, the other two holograms, and the real clone's location constantly changes between the three platforms.

The Dr. Wily stages are fun, although the last incarnation of Dr. Wily is the weakest of all six NES Wily bosses. With a single top spin, you destroy him.

The only two negative things I have to say about the game is this: the story is not really explained, and the inclusion of Top Man.

1. The story is the best in the NES Mega Man Games. With the other titles, you are given some cut scenes to tell what little story there is. In MM III, there are no cut scenes initially, so you don't really know the story. In fact, until you defeat BreakMan and the Dr Wily stage opens up (the Dr Wily levels is proceeded by a cut scene with Dr. Light and Mega Man, revealing Dr Wily is evil), you probably won't even now Dr Wily is supposed to be helping you. Granted, the game is longer than the other titles, so maybe they didn't have the memory to work with on extra cut scenes, given the NES's technical limitations. Still, given how it's the best story it's sad Capcom relied almost entirely on the game manual, which most NES players won't have access too, to advance the story.

2. Top Man. He's the most stupid robot master of the first three games, and his weapon is hard to figure out how to use. Once you do figure it out, its pretty useless with the sole exception of the last boss fight. The whole idea of "Top Man" as a robot master is pretty ridiculous, and is the first indication in the Classic Series that Capcom is beginning to run out of ideas for robot masters. This trend of borderline asinine robot masters would continue thru MM IV and V, and reach the absolute bottom of the barrel in MM VI (really, who the HELL thought of "Plant Man"?) A minor quibble, though, and don't let that distract you from all the game has to offer. It's a more important as an indicator of bad things to come for the series than really effecting this game's quality. Beginning cracks in the foundation, if you will.

Overall, I think this is easily one of Mega Man's best games, and is an essential purchase for NES and retro gamers, as well as Mega Man fans. As much as I like Mega Man II, I really think Mega Man III gives it a run for its money.

Though MMII is more important from a franchise historical pov as it was his first major hit game (MM was more of a sleeper hit), MM IIII takes everything about MMII and improves on it. This one definitely ups the ante, and the next three sequels simply can't compare it its genius or playability.



Rating: 4 out of 5 stars - The series (overall) piqued here!
4/5 stars.

The Men were all pretty cool in 2. But they got even better in 3!

There were the following Men: Magnet, Hard, Top, Shadow, Spark, Snake, Gemini and Needle.

Difficulties are as follows:

Magnet Man - 7
Hard Man - 5
Top Man - 6
Shadow Man - 8
Spark Man - 5
Snake Man - 7
Gemini Man - 8
Needle Man - 5.5

Graphics - 3.5/5
Sound/Music - 4/5
Controls - 6/5
Game Play - 4/5
Overall Difficulty - 4/5

Overall Grade - 4.5/5

*Bonus Information*

Magnet Man is weak to Arm Cannon, Shadow Blade and Spark Shock. He'll be at your knees if you bestow these weapons upon him!

Hard Man can't take Magnet Missles. And if you can somehow beat him before you meet him, LOL, he's weak to Hard Knuckles too!

Top Man is terrified of Hard Knuckles, Top Spin and Needle Cannon.

Shadow Man can't stand the heat if you douse him with a hit of Top Spin, Hard Knuckles and *yawn* Shadow Blade. He is definitely the trickiest to beat otherwise....

Spark Man stays away from Shadow Blade, Needle Cannon and Hard Knuckle like a fish despises scolding water! Give it to him! Take no prisoners!!

Snake Man will leave you alone if you bust a cap! Use your Arm Cannon, Hard Knuckle, Needle Cannon, Spark Blade and Search Snakes.

Gemini Man hits the streets when he sees Snake Man's Search Snakes!! If you haven't taken him down yet, stick with the Arm Cannon, Magnet Missles, Hard Knuckle and the Shadow Blade.

Lastly, Needle Man heads for the hills if he sees Gemini's Gemini Laser, Shadow's Shadow Blade or his own Needle Cannon!

From GameFAQs, posted with permission:

(This section is the in-between, between the defeat of the eight robot masters
in the game, and Dr. Wily's castle. Here, you revisit four stages in the game
(different then they were, and segmented into two parts now), the stages of
Shadow Man, Gemini Man, Needle Man, and Spark Man. In each stage, there are two
Robot Masters from the previous Mega Man game, Mega Man 2... but they aren't
literally there. Instead, a robot called Dark Master encompasses the powers of
each particular robot master from the previous game and uses those powers
against you with great skill.)

This game, among 100 others deserve the recognition it happens to garner!!

Some of the guys in 4 are awesome too, such as Pharoah Man and Toad Man, but they don't compare to the guys in 1, 2 and Part 3.

Graphics - 3.5/5
Sound/Music - 4/5
Controls - 6/5
Game Play - 4/5
Overall Difficulty - 4/5

Overall Grade - 4/5


Rating: 3 out of 5 stars - Not that easy
I had fond memories of Mega Man 2 from my youth, and just recently I played Mega Man 3 for the first time. Having read several other reviews that describe this game as relatively easy, I can't help but voice my extreme disagreement. Here are several of the many annoying things about this game that made me turn it off many times in frustration:

- So what if you can have up to 9 energy tanks instead of Mega Man 2's maximum of 4, when you can go through several levels without a single tank in sight? I'm not even sure there are 9 in the whole game for you to collect!
- An extremely low percentage of enemies yield energy or weapon energy capsules.
- Some special weapons seem to deplete very quickly. This sometimes makes completing the level impossible. If you die while fighting a boss at the end of the level, and you've already depleted the only weapon that works against him, you're screwed, no matter how many lives you have left. Similarly, in a stage where the Rush Jet is required, if you die partway through, it's impossible to continue with what little amount of Rush Jet energy you may have.
- Other than Top Man, the bosses are almost impossible to avoid colliding with.
- If you are hit, there should be a grace period during which you can't be hurt again. Tough luck for you if you access your weapons menu right after getting hit, though. Any grace period is null and void as soon as you access the menu. This has proved deadly more than once while fighting a boss.

There are other annoyances, but these are some of the main hair-pullers that never got in the way while playing Mega Man 2.

Yes, the music is fun, and on balance the game is addictive. But it is NOT any easier than Mega Man 2. I think it is much more difficult, and not in a fun way.



Rating: 5 out of 5 stars - Music!!!


This is a review of the MUSIC on this game! How many people would consider music on an old 8 bit video game as "art"? Yet listen to the opening titles and tell me if that isn;t the perfect example of working within limitations to produce excellent music!

The 8 bit NES was capable of producing only very limited sounds. Yet consider the beauty of the Proto Man theme, especially in the end sequence, with its reference to Mingus' "Goodbye Porkpie Hat"; or the thrilling sound of "Magnet Man" or "Spark Man", the latter of which ought to become a standard for musicians everywhere!

Play this game for the music! The MUSIC!!!

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