The 4D Slip - The Best Of Mega Man!

Keep up the trend of one post a month (at least), here's another entry.

Since I had posted what I consider the worst Mega Man games ever, I figured it's only fair to post on what I consider the best ones. Mega Man has a history of being some of the tightest designed games ever, as well as some of the hardest. But there are some that clearly stand above the rest, and are rightly regarded as classics. Now with the impending release of Mega Man 10, I think talking about these classics is only the right thing to do. Like my other list, I can't rate the RPG seres since I never really got into them and they can't really be compared with the platformers, but if I was going to reccomend one, it would be Battle Network 3.

So let's start at ten and work our way forward!



10. Mega Man

Where it all started. Putting the original on the list might seem strange since it's not quite as polished as the rest, but despite the fact it's not quite as spit shined as the rest doesn't change the fact that it's still a great and inventive action game. There are a few others I might prefer to make the list in it's stead, but the fact that this early NES game is still a blast to play is a testement to it's quality. Mega Man featured only six bosses instead of the eight that would later be featured, has shoddy colision detection, and no save/password feature, yet still has the tight and challenging platforming and shooting you'd expect from a Mega Man game. If you don't want to deal with the technical problems, play Mega Man Powered Up for the PSP instead. It's just as great, but has a seperate mode with new stages, a level creator, and additional playable characters. MMPU shows that despite the flaws of the first, it's still at it's core a great game.


9. Mega Man X4

I personally prefer Mega Man X3 to X4, but couldn't in good conscience put it on the list over X4. Mega Man X4 is simply a much less convoluted and tighter game than X3 is, and showed that the Mega Man X series could really work in this new fangled CD age. Featuring tightly designed levels, a rocking soundtrack, two playable characters, and a steady challenge, Mega Man X4 is inarguably one of the best. My only gripes are minor. The art design is rather plain and empty (the intro level really spoiled everything) and some of the sprites are not as fluid or fast as one would expect from an X game. But those are minor, X4 is easily on par with the SNES trilogy and showed bright days ahead for the X series. (Which unfortunately never came to pass, as since then the only title to live up to X4 was X8)


8. Mega Man Zero 2

Ah, the oft-overlooked Mega Man Zero series. Whether because it's portable, difficult, or starring Zero instead of Mega Man, this series never gets the respect it deserves. The first game was a really difficult but inventive addition to the series, and was the start to probably the highest quality series in the Mega Man canon. But the first game wasn't perfect, you basically had one life, the mission structure was messy, and the game was hard to get used to. Zero 2 is equivelant to the improvements MM2 gave to 1, the difficulty was balanced fairly, the structure was straightforward and not as convoluted, and the game eases you in instead of throwing you into the challenge. Mega Man Zero 2 is simply one of the best Mega Man games despite it's portability, and should be played by any fans of the series.


7. Mega Man 9

Capcom came roaring back with the classic series with Mega Man 9, after around 10 years of silence. Inticreates (makers of the excellent Zero series) crafted the best Mega Man game since the original NES trilogy acting amost as if the weaker games in the NES series never existed (it does feature Proto Man despite not giving Mega Man the slide from 3) and kept the classic simplicity the series is known for as well as featuring one of the best soundtracks in the entire series. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention the soundtracks to most of these games. The entire Mega Man series features perhaps the best music in all of gaming, and 9 is certainly no slouch in that department. The controls are tight and fluid, the challenge is perfectly balanced, the boss weapons are all brilliant and extremely useful, and the game is as perfectly crafted as any of the best Mega Man games. Inticreates should be the only company allowed to touch Mega Man platformers from now on.


6. Mega Man X2

Higher than most would expect, the sequel to the classic series reinvention (or sequel) is actually almost on par with the original. Unlike Zero 2, or MM2, MMX2 does not feature any real improvements in the formula, since MMX was pretty much the first (and only) time Capcom got a series dead on in the first go. Instead it features more of the same with a little bit more. More challenge, more extras, more bosses, and harder to find upgrades. Back when it came out it was kind of seen as a disappointment, but now playing it with fresh eyes, it's hard to argue with it's quality. It's not quite as overstuffed as X3 is, nor as dead simple as X1 or X4. It maintains a great balance of classic X gameplay with some new features to keep the series strong.


5. Mega Man Legends 1/2 (tie)

It was hard to pick one Legends game over the other, so it seemed only fair to include them in the same place. Legends was a new breakthrough for Mega Man, featuring the jump to 3D as it's main selling point. The game had a light atmosphere, great characters, and some great additions to the series. Unfortunately, some people hated this new series and complained how it was too new, obviously forgetting that Mega Man 8 and new X games were still be released alongside this at the time. It was a successful experiment for those who actually gave it a chance, which unfortunately was not many. The sequel improved several aspects such as the controls and the interface, but for all intents and purposes it was simply an extension of the first game. Both games are fantastic additions to the Mega Man series and could definitely use remakes on more current systems in order to flesh out the more rough areas. Rumor has it that Capcom game Lost Planet was made using an engine meant for the Legends series, but nothing has yet to come of it. Shame. This series deserves much more than it gets.


4. Mega Man 2

Wha? Only #4! How can this happen? Mega Man 2 is the best Mega Man game ever, right?!? Well... There's no denying it's not an excellent game and well deserving it's stature, but there are a few reasons why it's not at the top here. The first reason is that I typically look beyond nostalgia when I make my lists, and the games that outrank it are simply better games, second is that the controls are not quite as tight as what was to come, and third is that I just never thought it was the best Mega Man game. Not to say it isn't great. Mega Man 2 features one of the best soundtracks ever, some of the best level design ever to hit the series, and a decent challenge (when not played on the default difficulty). A greatest Mega Man game list without 2 is simply wrong.


3. Mega Man Zero 3

The peak of the great Zero series, Z3 is actually comparable to MM3 in the amount of subtle changes that drastically improve the formula. The level design is one of the best ever in a Mega Man game, the challenge is pinpoint perfect, the variety of moves, unlockables, and powers is the strongest they've ever been, and the bosses are brilliant (the final boss is the best final boss in any Mega Man game), this is one of the best games in the entire canon. For those still unwilling to jump into this series, you missed out on some excellent gaming. Somehow managing to top the ridiculous improvements to the forumla MMZ2 made, MMZ3 is one of the best games the entire series and must be played for lovers of action platforming.


2. Mega Man 3

Yes, even better than 2, somehow Mega Man 3 managed to top 2 to become the best game in the classic series. More stages, tighter controls, better stages, and the introduction of the excellent slide move, Mega Man 3 is not just one of the best Mega Man games, but one of the best games ever. The introduction of series staples Rush and Protoman help to flesh out the universe and add a bit more of a story to the games then players are used to. Endlessly replayable, Mega Man 3 is at the top of the heap in the Mega Man canon.


1. Mega Man X

When Mega Man X came out, the Mega Man series had seen better days. The series had all but dropped out of sight, and with the release of Mega Man 6, people just didn't care anymore. But with Nintendo's Super Nintendo system, suddenly things were looking bright again. Those that picked up the intriguing looking Mega Man X were treated with a fast paced, flashy, and superbly crafted action platformer surpassing what many thought was possible for the Mega Man series. Not only one of the best Mega Man games, but arguably one of the best of all time (and certainly on the SNES). For those interested, Capcom released a remake on the PSP featuring remixed locations for items, different difficulties and Vile as a playable character. But still, Mega Man X was perfect in every area, story, music, sound and graphics, there was nothing it was lacking in. Still regarded as one of the best, if not the best, MMX is certainly as good as it gets in the Mega Man series.



Funny how Mega Man X both had what I consider the best and worst games in the entire franchise, and how Inticreates is so consistently brilliant when it comes to Mega Man platformers. All put together, I'd say the Zero series is the highest quality series, but that's not to say the other series are lacking in any way. Despite a few weak titles, the Mega Man series is still the high standard in action platforming even after being around for over twenty years! Once again, we at TSC salute you for being one of the best, Mega Man!


Note: I would include images, but that's a bit too much of a hassle for this list.