Why so much hate for Mega Man 5?

[VG_Maniac]

Ok, I guess people don't "hate" Mega Man 5...but most people will say it is one of the weakest entries in the series right along with Mega Man 6. However, it is actually my second favorite Mega Man from the classic series...right behind Mega Man 3. I usually get a lot of sneers and hisses when I tell people I like Mega Man 5 more than Mega Man 2 (with 2 being my third favorite Mega Man)...but I just really like 5. It had one of the best soundtracks in the series, I loved the level design, I loved the super sized Mega Buster, and the game moved at the same faster pace that Mega Man 3 did (faster screen scrolling, and faster ladder climbing than in the other games). The only real thing I didn't like about it was Rush Coil's redesign. Is there anyone out there who likes MM5 as much as I do...or do I just have a very strange and unusual opinion about it?

[Oldskool]

Mega Man 5 is the best Mega Man they ever made.

[Red Warrior]

I'm one of those weird ones. Mega Man 5 is actually my favorite of the NES bunch... and yes... I do like it even more than Mega Man 2. And this coming from someone who played them all in order as they were released.

I just wish Mega Man 9 and 10 would adopt the power slide and super large Mega Buster charge shot that was so awesome in 5.

[TRM]

I think my brother likes 5 as his second favourite, right behind Mega Man 3. Every time I see him playing one of these games, it is either 3 or 5 it seems.

[Aussie2B]

I think people were just getting burnt out on them. Plus most people were moving on to 16-bit systems at that point. I guess some people don't like how silly some of the bosses were getting at that point too, but that's pretty superficial.

Don't listen to people that try to suggest you MUST pick so-and-so game as your favorite. Especially with Mega Man 2-6 considering they're all roughly on the same level of quality. I mean, somebody can't claim that they were getting too derivative and repetitive from all being the same and suggest that there's a vast difference in quality between one and another at the same time.

[A Black Falcon]

5 is pretty good, but it's just too easy... 4 is my favorite. 5 feels a lot like 4, except with way too many 1-ups and bosses that, while cool, I don't like quite as much. It is a great game though for sure, of the NES games only 6 really is weak. (As for 2, the popular favorite, it's definitely great, I'd probably rank it second after 4. 1 and 3 are great too though... it's hard to rank games that are all so good. :) But yes, I do like 5.)

[SplashChick]

IMO:

Top
---
Mega Man 9
Mega Man 4
Mega Man 2
Mega Man 7

Mid
---
Mega Man 3
Meag Man 8
Mega Man
Mega Man 6

Bottom
---
Mega Man 5

I played them all back to back when I made this list to get an accurate comparison, and it's just the truth that MM5 is crap compared to the rest. The level design is uninventive and poorly executed, the bosses were bland, and the weapons are all practically useless. Weapon balance is always important in Mega Man games to keep them interesting, but the weapons in 5 had almost no practical uses outside of the occasional gyro. The only reason I could see people liking it about the others is nostalgia...

[Urzu402]

Mega Man 5 is one of my Favorites.

[Astrosmash]

5 certainly isn't a bad game, but I did always think that it was the blandest of the NES line and seemed like "more of the same" after 4.

However, I do think that 6 is highly underrated and on my personal-favorite list actually would rank it above 1, 4 and 5 (though still below 2 and 3).

[kainemaxwell]

I always thought MM6 was bottom of the bunch.

[SplashChick]

I think 2 and 3 are way overrated. When I directly compared them to the rest they really don't stand out that much. 4 was pretty amazing, though.

[megasdkirby]

Mega Man 5 is one of my Favorites.

Same here.

For me it's:

Mega Man 6
Mega Man 3
Mega Man 5
Mega Man 4
Mega Man 2
Mega Man 1

I really liked Mega Man 5, though it was too easy. The music rocked in some stages too.

I never liked Mega Man 1, mainly because of it's difficulty. I have finished it, but I don't have as much fun playing the first part than the other games.

[kainemaxwell]

Same here.

For me it's:

Mega Man 6
Mega Man 3
Mega Man 5
Mega Man 4
Mega Man 2
Mega Man 1


See I always thought Mega Man 3 was too easy with the way you can exploit the Energy Tanks in the password screen. MM3 is one of my favorites though, and few months ago finally got to finishing 2 via NES emu on my Dreamcast.

[todesengel]

I really like Mega Man 5 as well, even went out of my way to get the Famicom cart for it. My only problem with it like most everyone else is the fact that it's way too easy and the weapons were pretty useless. I do like how they changed up some stuff like being able to jump off of the Rush Coil and how the little hard hat enemies exploded into mini versions when you shot them.

[Push Upstairs]

The kid next door to me had Mega Man 2 and I ended up getting 3 for my b-day, so I was up to speed on those two games.

I rented 4 not that long after it was released and marveled at how mediocre it was compared to 2&3. :-/

[kainemaxwell]

Do you find the second classic MM trilogy easier or harder than the first trilogy with the 2nd trilogy having 2 "final boss castles" rather than just one?

[Yukima]

I liked Mega Man 5, mostly because of the music for Gravity Man, Wave Man and Crystal Man's stages. The game itself is pretty hard, at least to me, especially with the insane timing required to get through half of Crystal Man's stage... ugh... *stupid falling things*

[VG_Maniac]

I didn't think Mega Man 5 was the easiest one...it's difficulty was pretty much right on par with Mega Man 4 and 6. Mega Man 1, and 2 are the hardest...and I thought Mega Man 3 was actually the easiest (aside from a couple of those Doc Robot fights). Mega Man 3 is still my favorite though. Maybe I find it to be the easiest, because I've played it the most out of all of them.


The level design is uninventive and poorly executed,

I have to really disagree there...I thought the level design in Mega Man 5 was some of the best. Riding the jet ski in Wave Man's stage, running along the ceilings upside down in Gravity Man's stage, making your way through a speeding train in Charge Man's stage...I don't see anything uninventive in Mega Man 5's levels.

[Zthun]

My Order from best to worst
==================
Megaman 7
Megaman 9
Megaman 3
Megaman 2
Megaman
Megaman 4
Megaman 8
Megaman 5
Megaman 6

[VG_Maniac]

Here's the order I like them in from favorite to least favorite:

Mega Man 3
Mega Man 5
Mega Man 2
Mega Man 7
Mega Man 9
Mega Man 4
Mega Man 8
Mega Man & Bass (Rockman & Forte)
Mega Man
Mega Man 6

Mega Man 6 is my least favorite. There were a number of things in it that I didn't like. First, they weakened the Mega Buster and made the charged up shot puny in comparison to how it was in 5 (and even 4). Most of the robot bosses in the game were basically just repeats of previous Robot bosses: Flame Man = Fire Man, Blizzard Man = Ice Man, Plant Man = Wood Man, Wind Man = Air Man. I didn't like it how there were "fake" bosses. I didn't like how they got rid of Rush Coil and Rush Jet. I also thought the level design in 6 was pretty bland and boring compared to the previous games (there just wasn't really anything that made the levels stand out). And people complaining about the weapons in Mega Man 5 being too weak...I thought the ones in 6 were the weakest and most useless by far...except for Flame Man's which could melt ice. So basically SplashChick's complaints about Mega Man 5 were pretty much the same as my complaints about 6.

[vivaeljason]

Mega Man 5 isn't all that bad. I definitely prefer 2, 3, and 4 over it, but it's miles ahead of 1 and 6 in my book.

I will say that a lot of the weapons are useless outside of the boss fights and that some (but not all of the levels are bland), but the game's still a lot of fun.

Don't get me started on 6, though. That game's just awful in comparison to the others.

[SplashChick]

I have to really disagree there...I thought the level design in Mega Man 5 was some of the best. Riding the jet ski in Wave Man's stage, running along the ceilings upside down in Gravity Man's stage, making your way through a speeding train in Charge Man's stage...I don't see anything uninventive in Mega Man 5's levels.

They were very poorly executed in my opinion.

MM4 was amazing I think, the weapons were all balanced and useful, and the game's mechanics were all executed very well.

[ryborg]

I never liked Mega Man 1, mainly because of it's difficulty.

This is exactly why it's my second favorite of the NES series (nothing can top MM2). It's the rewarding kind of challenge, unlike the artificial difficulty of Milon's Secret Castle or a bad ROMhack. I don't know why so many people dislike MM1 because of this. Video games aren't supposed to be a walk in the park.

On the other hand, I don't even find MM3 fun because it is so easy. Aside from maybe one or two spots in the Doc Robot stages, it's only slightly more difficult than the Sesame Street or Tigger's Honey Hunt.

[SplashChick]

Yeah, but there's a difference between challenging difficult and stupid difficult. Challenging difficult is good, it challenges the players to overcome obstacles with their skills and wit. Stupid difficult is, as it sounds, stupid, because it makes things difficult through poor level design and/or bugs.

A lot of things in MM1 are stupid difficult, not challenging difficult.

Even with that MM9 is the hardest still.

[TRM]

Even with that MM9 is the hardest still.

Nah, I thought MM9 was so easy...being able to buy 1ups and energies at will...

[Push Upstairs]

Do you find the second classic MM trilogy easier or harder than the first trilogy with the 2nd trilogy having 2 "final boss castles" rather than just one?

I don't know if this is directed at me or not, but I'll answer anyway.

I quit MM games after trying out 4. I was getting tired of the concept and it was getting obvious that weapons types were getting recycled (Skull Man has pretty much Wood Man's weapon).

Plus I got a Sega Genesis later that year, I had other worlds to explore.

[pseudonym]

Mega Man 1 wasn't 'stupid difficult' at all, it was challenging and fun, just like any game should be. What constitutes poor level design or bugs that make the game more difficult? If anything, the well-known Elec Beam/Pause glitch makes the game easier against the only 'stupid difficult' thing I can think of in the game, the Rock Monster/Yellow Devil. I wish I known about that glitch when I was a kid, haha.

ON TOPIC: I like Mega Man 5 well enough, it has some interesting level design as VG Maniac said, I haven't played it in a few years. I'll have to try it again to refresh my memory.

EDIT: Fixed Typo.

[SplashChick]

Stocking up energy tanks is easy in all the Mega Man games, son. Buying 1ups doesn't mean its easy, you're still retrying.

[PresidentLeever]

Mega Man 1 wasn't 'stupid difficult' at all, it was challenging and fun, just like any game should be.

EDIT: Fixed Typo.

I think it is. Besides the memorization aspect:
- Bad hit detection on larger sprites.
- Being unable to pause while your bullets are on-screen.
- Having to save up on certain weapons to beat parts of the game.
- Floaty control compared to the sequels.
- No password.
- Slowdown.


On topic I liked MM5 a lot, I just prefer Mega Man without the charge buster. It slows down the gameplay too much when you have to use it on so many enemies. MM6 is the only game in the NES series that I really didn't care for.

[pseudonym]

I think it is. Besides the memorization aspect:
- Bad hit detection on larger sprites.
- Being unable to pause while your bullets are on-screen.
- Having to save up on certain weapons to beat parts of the game.
- Floaty control compared to the sequels.
- No password.
- Slowdown.


On topic I liked MM5 a lot, I just prefer Mega Man without the charge buster. It slows down the gameplay too much when you have to use it on so many enemies. MM6 is the only game in the NES series that I really didn't care for.

Those are relatively minor issues IMO. I can't argue against some of your points, except for these,

-From what I remember, you need Guts Man's weapon to remove those blocks and defeat Cut Man. Besides that, there's no real need to use his weapon at all. And the Magnet Beam in a few spots. Not that big of a deal. You need Item-1/Item-2 to continue past some parts of Dr. Wily's stages and the Crash Bombs in various places in Mega Man 2 as well you know.

-The controls are a little slippery as I call it, you slid a bit whenever you stop moving. Just jump, or hold back to stop yourself from moving. Not a big deal again.

-Plenty of NES games had slowdown where there are too many things on the screen. I never noticed very much slowdown in MM1 where it detracts from the game.

[PresidentLeever]

^Well apart from the hit detection and control issues, I'll agree that those are minor quirks but they're worth mentioning when comparing it to other MM games.
The main problem for me is the memorization, I mean the game requires more of it because you can't farm for energy/1-ups as easily as in 2 or 3, the lack of passwords and because there are many rooms with annoying flier enemies shooting in 8 directions. It just doesn't have the same flow as later titles.

[vivaeljason]

Nah, I thought MM9 was so easy...being able to buy 1ups and energies at will...

I think MM9 was ridiculously hard; every level has at least one screen that is frustrating to the point of hair pulling (the first time around). Don't get me wrong, it's an incredibly fun game, but it really pissed me off the first time through.

[ryborg]

- Bad hit detection on larger sprites.

This is true, but I've never considered it to be that major of a flaw. It's probably the "worst" thing about this game.


- Being unable to pause while your bullets are on-screen.So? I didn't even know this was true until now. Do you really need to pause the game RIGHT THIS MILLISECOND?


- Having to save up on certain weapons to beat parts of the game.This is only true of the Mag Beam, and if you don't waste it in unnecessary spots, you'll be fine.


- Floaty control compared to the sequels.
- No password.
- Slowdown.All true, but extremely minor points. Who cares about a password? It's a very short game. There's a TON of slowdown in all of the early Mega Man games (and many other NES classics as well. It was just part of the system).


-From what I remember, you need Guts Man's weapon to remove those blocks and defeat Cut Man.

You don't NEED to, it just makes the fight easier. After some practice, it's possible to beat him with just the Mega Buster.

[Arasoi]

Since folks have been ranking their favorite classic series titles, so I'll do the same.

Megaman 3
Megaman
Megaman 2
Megaman 6
Megaman 9
Megaman V (Gameboy)
Megaman 4
Megaman 5
Rockman & Forte (SFC, not GBA)
Megaman 8 (Saturn)
Megaman 7
Megaman I-IV (Gameboy)

Battle and Chase, Rockboard, Super Adventure Rockman, Power Battles/Fighters and etc don't really apply for this list.

The first 3 games have special nostalgic value to me, I played them all at release time in the late 80s/early 90s. MM1 can be cheap, but I think it's difficulty is overrated. There are a few unpleasant spots like fighting Gutsman for the second time, but the game can be beaten without the select trick with a little bit of a practice.

MM3 is my favorite due to to the amount of levels and new things tried, and the inclusion of the Doc Robot levels and MM2 robot masters clinches it for me. It's a tad easy but this never really factored into it for me.

More on topic:

MM5 seems to catch a lot of crap because for many it was when the series started to get stale(some claim this happened at MM4, I think 4 is just a tad overrated). It refined the mega buster from 4 but didn't add much to the series features/item wise, some of the robot master's weapons were kind of lame and the music on the whole wasn't as good as the previous titles. It does however have some fun level design and like all the games is fun to play.

[gdement]

I don't like the charging buster thing. It's just a nuisance that you end up having to use because the game is designed with it in mind.
The slide move I think is silly but I can live with it. It's dumb but not much of a bother.

I'm glad 9 followed the classic formula, but I haven't been able to play it because they won't sell it on a physical disc for older systems.

[Urzu402]

makes you wonder how Mega Man 10 is going to affect people's opinions

[megasdkirby]

I'm glad 9 followed the classic formula, but I haven't been able to play it because they won't sell it on a physical disc for older systems.

I'm still surprised no one has ported it to an NES cart by now.

Sure, it involves doing things by scratch, but I would pressume it's possible, with some effort.

[SplashChick]

There's no way in hell an NES could handle MM9. I believe even Capcom themselves said this.

[SplashChick]

I don't like the charging buster thing. It's just a nuisance that you end up having to use because the game is designed with it in mind.
The slide move I think is silly but I can live with it. It's dumb but not much of a bother.

I'm glad 9 followed the classic formula, but I haven't been able to play it because they won't sell it on a physical disc for older systems.

That's what I liked about 4. It was there, but it wasn't necessary. It was just another tool at your disposal.

[gdement]

There's no way in hell an NES could handle MM9. I believe even Capcom themselves said this.

I haven't played it personally, so I'm not saying it is or isn't doable. But I doubt there's anybody left at Capcom who knows much about the NES. They haven't developed for that system in 15 years.

[Arasoi]

I'd be surprised if they still even had the dev kit for the Famicom. Maybe in some random storage area somewhere...

[SplashChick]

I haven't played it personally, so I'm not saying it is or isn't doable. But I doubt there's anybody left at Capcom who knows much about the NES. They haven't developed for that system in 15 years.

You don't have to know much about a system to know what kind of specs the game you just made require...

[wingzrow]

Everything died in one hit to the charged mega buster. I like my mega man games hard. I would say 6 got a good balance.

[pseudonym]

Maybe it's just me, but I found 6 the easiest Mega Man game after 2.

[kupomogli]

I actually like Mega Man 5. I like all the Mega Man games 1-8 actually. I played the series 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 4, 8, 7, and Rockman/Forte. I actually played them all on their regular systems except 7 which I didn't play until I got the Mega Man Anniversary Collection and Rockman and Forte which I originally played on the GBA then a SNES emulator.

Mega Man 3 > Mega Man 2

Mega Man 2 has some really good level design but it's the level design at the Wily Stages that are just crap. Another thing is that you can spam Metal Blades or Quick Boomerang on enemies all day long and never run out, the two most damaging weapons in the game. Alot of weapons are useless, such as Atomic Fire, Crash Bomb, Time Stopper, and Leaf Shield. These are weapons you will never ever use except during extremely rare, a couple times in the game rare situations. Even Air Shooter gets somewhat minimal use if I'm going through the game not sticking to buster only.

Sure, there are other Mega Man games with worthless attacks, but half of the robot masters carrying situational attacks only? This game has actually dropped down the last time I've played it. The reason it's still so high up is because the great level design against the eight robot masters and the best music in the series.

Mega Man 3
Mega Man
Mega Man 6
Mega Man 8
Mega Man 2
Mega Man 5
Mega Man 7
Mega Man 4
Rockman and Forte/Mega Man and Bass
Mega Man Power Fighters and Mega Man Power Battle(these games suck)

Haven't played Mega Man 9 so I can't place it here. Won't ever play it until it comes on disc.

Also, while not in the original Mega Man series, I want to go off topic to say Mega Man Zero is good. Mega Man Zero 2 on the other hand is terrible and when you don't think the series can get worse, leave it to Capcom to make Mega Man Zero 3 easily being the worst in the bunch. Atleast it seems like Capcom made the ZX games as an apology for the terrible Zero 2 and Zero 3. I haven't touched Zero 4 and am only assuming it'll be worse than the third.

[ryborg]

Another thing is that you can spam Metal Blades or Quick Boomerang on enemies all day long and never run out, the two most damaging weapons in the game. Alot of weapons are useless, such as Atomic Fire, Crash Bomb, Time Stopper, and Leaf Shield. These are weapons you will never ever use except during extremely rare, a couple times in the game rare situations. Even Air Shooter gets somewhat minimal use if I'm going through the game not sticking to buster only.

*All* MM games have weak weapons you won't use often. I actually think MM3 features the most useless weapons in the series. Aside from robot masters, exactly when are you using the Needle Cannon, Top Spin, Spark Shot, Gemini Laser and the Search Snake? That's 5/8 that are utterly worthless.

[Push Upstairs]

I thought Elec Man's weapon was the ass-kicking weapon of the first game.

[SplashChick]

*All* MM games have weak weapons you won't use often. I actually think MM3 features the most useless weapons in the series. Aside from robot masters, exactly when are you using the Needle Cannon, Top Spin, Spark Shot, Gemini Laser and the Search Snake? That's 5/8 that are utterly worthless.

One of the main reasons I put MM4 and MM9 so high is that all the weapons are useful.


Haven't played Mega Man 9 so I can't place it here. Won't ever play it until it comes on disc.

Have fun never playing the best game in the series.

[pseudonym]

Mega Man 2 has some really good level design but it's the level design at the Wily Stages that are just crap. Another thing is that you can spam Metal Blades or Quick Boomerang on enemies all day long and never run out, the two most damaging weapons in the game. Alot of weapons are useless, such as Atomic Fire, Crash Bomb, Time Stopper, and Leaf Shield. These are weapons you will never ever use except during extremely rare, a couple times in the game rare situations. Even Air Shooter gets somewhat minimal use if I'm going through the game not sticking to buster only.

Sure, there are other Mega Man games with worthless attacks, but half of the robot masters carrying situational attacks only? This game has actually dropped down the last time I've played it. The reason it's still so high up is because the great level design against the eight robot masters and the best music in the series.


Situational use and useless are two different things. Three of those are useful besides for defeating specific RMs. Leaf Shield is great against weak enemies, make the shield and you don't have to worry about getting hit or knocked off things like in Crash Man's stage. Crash Bombs you can use to break down those red walls for 1-ups, health, Time Stopper is obviously useful in Quick Man's stage against those beams. Atomic Fire and the Air Shooter are pretty useless outside of pretty much crushing the RBs that are weak against them since you can one-shot kill Wood Man with AF, and three hits with AS for Crash Man.

Also, Mega Man 2 has robotic dog that shoots flames out, Mega Man 3 has a robotic cat that drops yarnballs (?) onto you. Mega Man 2 > Mega Man 3 LOL

[vivaeljason]

Situational use and useless are two different things. Three of those are useful besides for defeating specific RMs. Leaf Shield is great against weak enemies, make the shield and you don't have to worry about getting hit or knocked off things like in Crash Man's stage. Crash Bombs you can use to break down those red walls for 1-ups, health, Time Stopper is obviously useful in Quick Man's stage against those beams. Atomic Fire and the Air Shooter are pretty useless outside of pretty much crushing the RBs that are weak against them since you can one-shot kill Wood Man with AF, and three hits with AS for Crash Man.

Also, Mega Man 2 has robotic dog that shoots flames out, Mega Man 3 has a robotic cat that drops yarnballs (?) onto you. Mega Man 2 > Mega Man 3 LOL

You actually can kill Crash Man in one hit with the Air Shooter if you time it *perfectly.* If you can hit him from underneath with it with all three tornadoes before they separate, you're in for a quick fight.

And Atomic Fire is worthless.

[Osaka]

I really enjoyed MM5 a lot, and I still consider it to be in my top 3. MM2 will always be my favorite, for more reasons then I feel like typing on here :p I do agree with some people that MM5 was pretty weak in the weapons department. I can honestly say I never really use Star Crush, Crystal Eye, Power Stone, Charge Kick, and Water Wave, unless it's for a boss. Does anyone else love Gravity Hold as much as I do? It's my favorite weapon in the game! Especially in parts when all those annoying bastards are floating above you.

This took A LOT of though, but my favs in order:

Mega Man 2
Mega Man 4
Mega Man 5
Mega Man 3
Mega Man 9
Mega Man
Mega Man 8
Rockman & Forte
Mega Man 6
Mega Man 7

This was REALLY hard to make, as the only Mega Man that really sits comparatively below any other for me is MM7. It's just...missing something. It's not the 8-bit factor, cuz I loved 8 and Rockman & Forte, but it's just..something. Anyone else feel this way?

[old_skoolin_jim]

Nah, I thought MM9 was so easy...being able to buy 1ups and energies at will...
Yeah, but the bolts required to buy them were so ridiculously scarce you'd maybe be able to buy one or two on a casual play-through without having to replay levels over & over again.
But on-topic, I always loved MM5. The music was great, levels were cool (except I still HATE Crystal Man's stupid falling rock segments), and the graphics were easily the best in the series. Come on, the screen disintegrated when you chose a boss! That's the ONLY game on the NES you'll find that effect (feel free to prove me wrong).
I will say though, the only downside were the boss's weak weapons. I'll still use the Buster through 95% of the game (with Beat being the other 5%).

[old_skoolin_jim]

...the only Mega Man that really sits comparatively below any other for me is MM7. It's just...missing something. It's not the 8-bit factor, cuz I loved 8 and Rockman & Forte, but it's just..something. Anyone else feel this way?

Yeah, I never bothered to finish MM7. It just felt like watered-down, generic, Megaman 2 but without any of the fun that ran at half the speed.
Heck, I even enjoyed MM8 with Dr. Light sounding like Elmer Fudd.

[ryborg]

And Atomic Fire is worthless.

For 98% of the game, yeah, but it's fun to one-hit-kill Woodman and the Hot Dogs with it. I think it takes out Sniper Joes with one hit when it's fully charged, too, but that's generally not very convenient.

[SplashChick]

For 98% of the game, yeah, but it's fun to one-hit-kill Woodman and the Hot Dogs with it. I think it takes out Sniper Joes with one hit when it's fully charged, too, but that's generally not very convenient.

I still hate having useless weapons more than anything else in Mega Man games.

[pseudonym]

For 98% of the game, yeah, but it's fun to one-hit-kill Woodman and the Hot Dogs with it. I think it takes out Sniper Joes with one hit when it's fully charged, too, but that's generally not very convenient.

I never tried to use Atomic Fire on Sniper Joes. Does it work for the ones in the machine-things later in the game too? That would be very handy.

[Pk116]

Mega Man challenged you a lot, and started the series of course.

Mega Man 2 had amazing direction, it was the creator's favorite interestingly, and not much comes close to its level designs and music. It was the model for Mega Man 9, too, I hear.

Mega Man 3 made for a pretty good sequel. It was a very good game although MM2 was a tough act to follow. Not much could really be improved in the series after MM2, I mean, you make a game rivaling Castlevania and Super Mario Bros. and what then? They could've equaled it I guess, but MM3 just went off on its own course instead, it was longer and more complex than the first two games. I think Mega Man 2 got to where it was through better level design and music than Mega Man 1, not being more complex or longer.

Mega Man 4 was a good sequel. It was pretty much more of the same that people wanted if they were fans.

Mega Man 5 is a good game but I felt a little dip in quality from the others. When I played it I could sense less inspiration and motivation from the creators than MM 1 - 4.

I like all the Mega Mans 1-5, but at the same time I have to pick MM2 as the best. My list (from best to worst):

MM2
MM
MM3
MM4
MM5

I don't hate Mega Man 5, but it did kind of slip into the '7/10 zone' of games. And there are a ton of NES action games in that zone. After 4 Mega Mans I've had enough.

[Pk116]

Mega Man 2 has some really good level design but it's the level design at the Wily Stages that are just crap. Another thing is that you can spam Metal Blades or Quick Boomerang on enemies all day long and never run out, the two most damaging weapons in the game. Alot of weapons are useless, such as Atomic Fire, Crash Bomb, Time Stopper, and Leaf Shield. These are weapons you will never ever use except during extremely rare, a couple times in the game rare situations. Even Air Shooter gets somewhat minimal use if I'm going through the game not sticking to buster only.


Air Shooter takes out the big mecha suits that usually appear before bosses in one hit. Then Quick Boomerangs can take the rider (Sniper Joe?)

I never used leaf shield when I was young but I tried it recently and found it trivialized parts before Crash Man and in Wily's Castle before the orb boss (with the moving platform over spikes). It's pretty good when mobility's low but enemies are coming from everywhere. Top Man's, Star Man's and Skull Man's weapons are all pretty good for this as you get further in the series. I don't think MM1 had anything like it (maybe ElecMan was close). Then again there were only 6 weapons.

Also as far as bosses, Leaf Shield beat Air Man, Air Shooter beat Crash Man.

[GameBoyGeek]

I was unnaware that people hated MM5. Personally MM6 is my all time fave of the nes games. Mainly because it was the first mega man game I ever owned. I loved the levels the boss battles and the story was good too. It was also the first mega man game I ever beat. And Id gladly play it all the way though again any day of the week. MM5 took me FOREVER to even find but when I did it wasnt bad. In fact I really really like it. Here is my order of mm games.

MM6
MM2 & 9 tie for second
MM4
MM5
MM1
MM7
MM3
MM8....ugh....

[SplashChick]

I was unnaware that people hated MM5. Personally MM6 is my all time fave of the nes games. Mainly because it was the first mega man game I ever owned. I loved the levels the boss battles and the story was good too. It was also the first mega man game I ever beat. And Id gladly play it all the way though again any day of the week. MM5 took me FOREVER to even find but when I did it wasnt bad. In fact I really really like it. Here is my order of mm games.

MM6
MM2 & 9 tie for second
MM4
MM5
MM1
MM7
MM3
MM8....ugh....

What, don't you like Dr. Fudd?!?