The first Mega Man on NES: revolutionary concept of choosing boss order. Elevated difficulty, colorful visuals, memorable music. Some growing pains, but foundational to an entire saga.
Your verdict
Category
Action1 player7+
Description
Action platformer featuring Mega Man battling six Robot Masters of Dr. Wily with their copied weapons. Published by Capcom, released in Europe in 1987. Mega Man in side-scrolling view absorbing weapons from defeated bosses, non-linear levels and creative bosses. First Capcom Mega Man on NES, founding the series.
Mega Man review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
MAX
Music
★★★★★
"Legendary"
1/5
Story
★★★★★
"Anecdotal"
A founding act, Capcom's music immediately imposes nervy, melodic electronic themes, tailor-made for each Robot Master. Each stage pulses with a galvanising energy that sticks to the millimetric action. This pioneering sonic identity laid the foundations of one of the greatest musical sagas in video games.
The European PAL NES edition of the first Mega Man, with late distribution and a short print. The PAL cover is famous for what many consider one of the most awkward illustrations in gaming history, which gave it cult status distinct from the content. PAL boxed CIB with that original cardboard box has become a European grail, and the cote rises steadily, independent of the game's availability through the Legacy Collection.
Memorable bosses
The saga's founding act, the assault on the six Robot Masters establishes the cult rock-paper-scissors principle: each stolen weapon fells another master. The Yellow Devil, a colossus that reassembles piece by piece, remains a dodging nightmare. Boss rush, patterns to memorize and catchy themes lay the foundations here of a combat craft that would mark the genre for good.
Is Mega Man still worth playing in 2026?
Mega Man, the very first entry, lays the foundations of a cult saga with its revolutionary boss-order choice and weapon-stealing concept. The difficulty is noticeably stiff, the graphics colourful and the music memorable. A few youthful rough edges, including the absence of passwords and slightly stiffer controls than the sequels, but Capcom's title remains an essential founding work. Still a classic to know today to understand the whole franchise.
