12.01.03
Mega Man 15th Anniversary Extravegaza Part 1
Mega Man 1, Mega Man 2, Mega Man 3
  
Mega Man 1
  
    The game that started it all. That's the expected line at this point isn't it? 
Fight against 6 robots each with their own kooky theme. The premise was that Dr Light 
had built useful robots but Dr Wiley had turned them evil. Not that a robot that sets 
things on fire is particularly useful. Or worse yet Bomb Man. I suppose maybe he was 
meant to be a mining robot of some sort, though it seems like there might be a more 
efficient way to handle a mining robot than to make one that wears a Mohawk and throws 
giant black ball cartoon bombs. Frankly this game is a little difficult. Mega Man 
controls pretty stiffly and the enemies are fairly unforgiving. All of the bosses 
are pretty easy though assuming you have the weapon they are weak against.
  
Characters Introduced: Mega Man, Dr Light, Dr Wiley, Roll probably
Robot Masters: Cut Man, Guts Man, Bomb Man,
               Fire Man, Ice Man, Elec Man
  
Mega Man 2
  
    It's too bad they didn't add 2 bots to choose from each time there was a new game. 
We'd be up to a pretty huge amount by now. This game was the first to jump up to the 
standard 8-robot scheme. There was also a bit of change in the graphics and the 
controls were generally better this time around. This second set of robot masters 
was one of the better sets and included the likes of a walking dick joke, and a 
giant Zippo. It also included Quick Man. Oh how I hate Quick Man. He was only weak 
against the Time Stopper, which only drained half his life. The guy was still tough 
as shit to kill after that. To make matters worse, he also had the worst level ever. 
The level consisted primarily of rooms you were required to fall through as quickly 
as possible. Shooting in from either side were beams of light that would obliterate 
you on contact and block the path if you were too slow. This type of level has been 
repeated but never to this degree of difficulty. 
  
Characters Introduced: No One Important
Robot Masters: Quick Man, Metal Man, Wood Man, Heat Man,
               Bubble Man, Flash Man, Air Man, Bubble Man
  
Mega Man 3
  
    Don't let anyone fool you, this is the one true "Best Game in the Series". Some 
people will try dangling Mega Man 2 in front of you but further digging always reveal 
they are secretly confusing this game with it's predecessor. One thing makes this 
game rock, it has a TON of new shit added. First we get Proto Man., Mega Man's 
occasionally evil brother. Second, Mega Man gains the ability to slide. Such a great 
new feature won't be topped until X starts leaping off the walls in the sequel series. 
Thirdly, Doc Robot. It's like getting two games in one! This game gives you 8 regular 
levels, then 4 extra just for the hell of it before the final castle. So basically 
you fight though the best set of Robot Masters, then through Doc Robot you fight 
through the second best set (Mega Man 2). Also the game sort of shoot up the standard 
order of weaknesses among the robot masters. Instead of all being weak against a 
different weapon making a loop of 8 robots, there was a set of 5 and a set of 3 with 
Gemini Man, Needle Man, and Snake Man. But wait! There's more! Act now and you get 
Mega Man's faithful canine companion thrown in absolutely free! This game also was 
the first to feature Rush, and Rush with 3 of his more useful forms, Rush Coil, Rush 
Marine, and Rush Jet.
  
Characters Introduced: Rush, Proto "Bruce" Man
Robot Masters: Top Man, Shadow Man, Magnet Man, Hard Man,
               Spark Man, Snake Man, Gemini Man, Needle Man