video game known japan action platform video game developed published nintendo_entertainment_system nes game mega man franchise original video game series released december japan localized north_america december europe respectively produced small team specifically home console market previously focused arcade titles game begins struggle robot player character mad scientist control gameplay lets player choose order complete initial stages robot master boss battle awards player character unique weapon critics praised overall design game commercial success established gameplay story graphical conventions define ensuing sequels spin offs known high difficulty game included game compilations mobile phones console services playstation portable plot year robots developed assist mankind commonplace thanks efforts renowned robot designer light day robots control start attacking populace advanced robots light industrial purposes fire man realizes culprit old rival plots world unsure robot rock having strong sense justice offers converted fighting robot stop plan time defeats robots recovers central confronts pacific based robot factory happens mass producing light robots final showdown defeated returns family initial western release game keeping basic plot significantly changed details original japanese manual version light light assistant turned create robot alongside advanced robots designed benefit citizens place existed original plot grows partner robots aid taking control world light sends defeat fellow creations stop gameplay consists scrolling levels freely chosen player level player character fights enemies obstacles facing robot master boss level end defeating boss player signature attack special weapon arsenal rest game unlike standard robot master powers limited ammunition collecting ammunition cells dropped defeated enemies random enemies drop energy cells health gauge player free proceed game order robot master especially vulnerable specific weapon encourages player complete certain stages player cleared levels weapons taken player able pick platform generator item known stage features scoring system players score points defeating enemies earn extra points collecting power ups fallen enemies clearing stage robot master stages completed seventh stage appears middle stage select menu stage player traverses robot factory chain regular stages linked containing new boss final stages robot masters fought order final confrontation development mega man primarily arcade games console releases ports titles mid-1980s plans develop specifically japanese home console market decided bring fresh young talent small team including artist recent college graduate started street fighter team recalled mega man development team worked extremely hard complete final product project supervisor lead designer sought perfection possible aspect game development team consisted people credited designed illustrated nearly game characters enemies japanese logo box art instruction manual responsible rendering designs graphical form didn lot people drawing character designs actually nintendo stated people weren specialized lot different things people ended characters influenced eponymous protagonist manga mega man designs colored blue nes console technical limitations color shades console limited color palette expanded selection enhance detail credited designing character insists half job creating mentor developed basic character concept arrival basic sprites roll light created joined project designs fire man man process aside normal enemies character inspired american comic book characters artist commented favorite design designs light based respectively character meant represent mad scientist team decided incorporate anime elements game animation explained hand transforms gun actually come arm wanted sure animation motion realistic actually sense perfect blending game character animation ideas gameplay inspired game rock paper project supervisor wanted simple system offered deep gameplay weapon deals large damage specific little effect single weapon dominates originally able team decided players ability determine height onscreen projectiles difficult credited began work mega man scenic backgrounds immediately training proved peers overcoming challenges console limited power use background elements scored credited composed music created sound effects programmed data months sound driver programmed credited musical notes translated computer language challenged creative limits notes available time unable write songs created sound effects production team chose music motif naming characters worldwide recognition music began main characters protagonist original rock sister roll play term rock roll type naming later extended characters series considered names mighty kid rainbow man game localized distribution america changed title game moniker created senior vice president claimed changed merely like original title horrible said came liked games attributed change belief american children interested game title reception critics received game sold poorly described nes version game near perfect blend action challenge audio visual excellence awarded stars highest rating ign described game classic nes noting graphics innovative weapon based platform gameplay music ign editor proclaimed best examples great graphics amazing music near perfect gameplay rolled cartridge gamespot writers identified game winner gameplay granted low key presentation likewise outlined charming slightly rough start series positive negative commonly received difficult ign found game hardest franchise hardest titles nes ign thomas observed combination high difficulty short length hurt according nintendo hard mega man bosses set game apart immediate popular sequels total characterized game frustrating platform nightmare additionally received honors video game journals websites ign listed game number nes games time nintendo_power ranked number best nintendo games time september 100th issue number games february issue included overlooked number nes games list british magazine awarded star player launch pal regions legacy release sales low overall higher expectations blamed game poor performance north american markets region specific cover art elements found game mega man resembles middle aged man boy costume colored yellow blue instead entirely blue holding instead having arm cannon years cover art infamous gaming community considered worst game covers time publications including cancelled featured bad box art mega man playable character alongside classic bit bad box art mega man design playable character little press coverage save page advertisement game sleeper hit overseas spread word mouth large commercial accomplishment company decided allow development team create sequel japanese release design elements cut original included follow game mega man proved success solidified longest running franchises overwhelming demand reissued original north_america september carried bit graphics sprites present original games main series sequels feature complex storylines additional gameplay mechanics better graphics core elements initiated remain series mega man mega man later revert familiar graphical style set forth title scoring system present sequels according gamesradar game feature level select option stark contrast linear games like open world games like legend gamesradar credits level select feature basis mission structure found multi mission open world heavy games red dead redemption remakes releases released times debut version enhanced graphics arranged music included alongside mega man mega man compilation adaptation game released japan playstation complete works series version features arranged music addition special directs player certain portions levels compiled games series mega man anniversary collection released playstation gamecube xbox mobile phone rendition developed released download north_america separate japanese mobile phone release received update adding option play roll mega man nes reissued virtual console service different systems wii europe north_america japan 3ds wii version game available playstation store japan north_america enhanced remake titled mega man powered known japan released worldwide game features graphical overhaul style character models large heads small bodies originally planned look way hardware constraints nes producer stated character models result ratio larger heads characters allowed development team create visible facial expressions concept designs toys wanted cute designs geared little kids kinds characters hanging character designer explained sure tell designers original details wanted proportions movements accurately reflected designs size remake stages proportional original ratio presented developers space fill mega man powered features styles gameplay old style comparable nes version aside updated presentation new style uses entire contains storyline cutscenes voice acting altered stage remixed music difficulty modes stage mode adds new nes version originally intended total cut tight schedule additionally remake lets players unlock play game roll new style stages differ structure old style pathways accessible specific features challenge mode challenges complete level editor creating custom stages option distribute fan levels online service mega man powered received generally positive reviews aggregate scores gamerankings metacritic remake sold poorly retail later released paid download japanese digital store bundled mega man hunter japan north_america additionally translated mega man powered chinese release asia media story arc mega man comic series original game certain artistic liberties robot factory design mega man castle obsessed stopping point having identity crisis light sniper joe controlled man
Mega Man (video game)