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Remembering the blue bomber

I miss Mega Man. You probably do too. He's all but vanished from the gaming scene today. He lives on in the newest Super Smash Bros. game and was also featured in Mega Man Legacy Collection recently. While Capcom has dropped him off the face of the earth, fans still love him and his games. Mega Man games are frantic and fun (also really tough). Facing a tough boss can be exhilerating, and getting new weapons is always awesome. 

So let's travel back in time and reminisce about ALL the great Mega Man games that were released. Mega Man didn't just have a few games, he had multiple series, all of which felt a little different. He was in a total of seven different series, which is simply amazing! So let's look at each series and see what set each one apart from the next. And feel free to share your Mega Man memories down below. 

The Original Series

Years: 1987-1996, 2008, 2010

Number of games: 10, including Game Boy & Game Gear ports: 6

Consoles: NES, SNES, PS1, Saturn, Game Boy, Game Gear, Wii

The original series spans more time and consoles than any other Mega Man series. It all started in 1987, when the first Mega Man game was released (known as "Rock Man" in Japan) for the Famicom/NES. It was an action game starring a little blue robot. It was a good game, but not a break-out hit. However, Mega Man 2 was. The first six games were released on Nintendo's incredible NES console. The formula for these games was the same: choose a stage, defeat each robot master, use gained weapons to beat the other bosses, and fight Dr. Wily (usually) at the end. Besides a sliding move in MM3 and the charge shot in MM4, not much changed in these games. The formula was most perfected in MM2 and 3. 

While Mega Man 7 and 8 had updated graphics and sound, they brought nothing new to the table, and are considered the worst in this series. Oldschool fans have tons of nostalgia for the classic MM games, which is why Capcom decided to bring the beloved NES games back with Mega Man 9 (2008) and Mega Man 10 (2010) for the Wii's WiiWare lineup. These games perfectly capture the look and feel of these classic games, which is nothing short of astounding. Mega Man 9 may even rival the awesome Mega Man 2. 

The X Series

Years: 1993-2004

Number of games: 11

Consoles: SNES, Game Boy Color, PS1, PS2, GCN

By 1993, the original series was getting a little long in the tooth, so Capcom started a new Mega Man series. The X games were a little darker with more attitude. Instead of the robot masters, Mega Man (called "X") now faced the Mavericks, a group of rebellious animal robots. These new robots helped set the two series apart, but the other big change was the fact that you could find optional armor upgrades and heart containers to improve X's power and health. This gave the series a more explorative feel. 

As with the original series, the X series went a little too long. The first Mega Man X and Mega Man X4 (PS1) are considered the best in the series. This series also introduced us to Zero, who would later go on to have his own series. It's also worth pointing out Mega Man X: Command Mission, which was a turn-based RPG! Released at the end of the series, it was a fitting way to end everything, with a game that took a different approach to the world of Mega Man X. 

The Legends Series

Years: 1997-2000

Number of games: 3

Consoles: PS1, N64

This series was completely different from previous games, mostly because it was an honest-to-goodness 3D Mega Man game. The story involves Mega Man Volnutt exploring a flooded earth. He is a "digger," one who investigates ruins. Along the way, he'll encounter the Bonne family, a group of air pirates who are the game's goofy villains. The 3D gameplay was a huge welcome to the franchise and remains the only 3D MM series to this day. 

Legends was received with much praise. It received a sequel, Mega Man Legends 2, which was actually a prequel to the game. It also got a spin-off game in The Misadventures of Tron Bonne, which focused on the young and sassy female air pirate. Fun, goofy, and completely different, this game cemented Tron as one of the most endearing characters in the Mega Man universe. Sadly, this was the end of the Legends games. Mega Man Legends 3 was planned for the 3DS, but was cancelled. Still, these Legends games have quite...well, a legacy. 

The Battle Network Series

Years: 2001-2005

Number of games: 8

Consoles: GBA, DS, GCN

This series changed up everything by being an RPG. You played as a boy named Lan in the real world, and Mega Man would interact with viruses in the cyber world. The game actually had random encounters, and in battle mode, Mega Man would fight on a grid. He would then use chips in order to perform attacks. It really was a great series for Nintendo's Game Boy Advance, which would become home to many wonderful RPG series. 

Starting with the third game, the games would be split into two versions (just like what Pokemon had done on Game Boy). Mega Man Battle Network 3, 4, 5, and 6 all had two versions to choose, each one offering new enemies and unique characters. The third game for GBA is considered the best in the series. As with previous series, this one went a little too long, but it was great to have a series which was fresh and different. 

The Zero Series

Years: 2002-2005

Number of games: 4

Console: GBA

This series is most notable for being developed by Inti Creates, who was behind Mega Man 9 and 10, and who is also working on the long awaited Mighty No. 9. The series is action-based. In the first game you do not choose a stage, but rather fight your way through a big, interconnected world (similar to the Castlevania games). However, later games would allow you to choose the order in which to play each stage. As Zero, you can use your main weapon along with a secondary weapon. You can also level up your weapons the more you use them. 

As the series went on, new things were introduced, such as EX skills in MMZ2, the addition of cyberspace in MMZ3, and the weather system in MMZ4. While successful, this series is also famous for being brutally difficult. In fact, it may the most difficult of all the Mega Man series. This would also explain why Mega Man 9 is so tough. Apparently, Inti Creates doesn't mess around! 

The ZX Series

Years: 2006-2007

Number of games: 2

Console: DS

After the Zero series, Inti Creates went on to do this new series. In the first game, you choose to play as a male (Vent) or female (Aile). At any time, you can megamerge into Mega Man Model X and also revert back to human form. The newest addition would be the biometals, which can be found and then used to gain new abilities. So the game has a lot of transformations in it. Levels are in the form of missions which can be chosen from the computer. 

The second game, Mega Man ZX: Advent, is notable for having a large cast of characters, most of which become playable after defeating. These characters include Mega Men and Psuedoroids. As in the previous game, you can also change back to your human form in order to crawl and swim. While it was short-lived, the ZX series was successful, although the high difficulty continued from the previous series. 

The Star Force Series

Years: 2006-2008

Number of games: 3

Console: DS

This series is the spiritual successor to the Battle Network series. The concept is very similar: you play as a boy who is Mega Man's owner and friend. This time, though, if danger occurs, the two fuse together to fight. The battle is a real time strategy one, and like BN, it happens on a grid; however, this time you can move left and right in a behind-the-back perspective. Throughout the adventures, you will encounter other FM-ians (that's what they're called) who must be defeated. 

Like the previous series, these games were broken up into different versions. The first game was actually in three versions, whereas the others had two each. While the games are good, anyone who's played the previous series would tell you that the Battle Network games are better. This series was just too similar to the other to really offer anything new or fresh. 

Spin-Off Games

In addition to these seven series, Mega Man was also in a whole host of spin-off games. And why not? After all, at one time he was Capcom's top mascot, loved by some fans as fiercely as Mario was loved. Here are just a few of his spin-off games. 

Mega Man Soccer is the only MM sports game. In this SNES game, you could take to the field with Mega Man and many of the robot masters from the first four games. Robots playing soccer? Now I've seen everything!

Japanese arcades received two Mega Man fighting games in the form of Mega Man: Power Battle and Mega Man: Power Fighters. Here you could play as Mega Man, Proto Man, or Bass, and fight a host of Robot Masters from various games. 

Mario had Mario Kart, and Mega Man had his own cart racer: Mega Man Battle & Chase for Playstation. The Racers included Mega Man, Proto Man, Roll, Bass, Duo, Dr. Wily, and a few of the Robot Masters. It was a fun racer, but no Mario Kart. 

Mega Man Universe is a cancelled game which would have been released for Xbox Live in 2010. Sad, indeed, because this game would have allowed players to created their own levels in the vein of the classic NES games and customize their own characters. It would have been a "Mega Man Maker." 

In all, Mega Man has well over 50 games to his credit, and we haven't even included all of his gaming appearances, such as the Marvel vs. Capcom games, SNK vs. Capcom: Card Fighters Clash, and even in Super Smash Bros. for 3DS/Wii U. He's truly a legendary character, and here's hoping that he'll return soon in all his glory.