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
Japanese version of the first Mega Man featuring Rockman battling six Robot Masters of Dr. Wily. Published by Capcom, released in Japan in 1987. Rockman in side-scrolling view absorbing weapons from defeated bosses, non-linear levels and creative bosses. Original Japanese version of Capcom's first Rockman on Famicom.
Rockman 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 Japanese Famicom version of the first Rockman, Japan-exclusive under this name and more accessible than the Western NES release. The cart features the original Capcom Japan cover of vastly better craftsmanship than the infamous Western illustrations. Intact boxed CIB with cardboard sleeve and illustrated manual is valued by Capcom collectors and by the modern Capcom Town collection, and the Japanese cote climbs steadily.
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 Rockman 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.
