Mega Man III (1992 video game)
{{Short description|1992 action-platform video game published by Capcom}}
{{Redirect|Mega Man III|the third game in the Nintendo Entertainment System Mega Man series|Mega Man 3}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Mega Man III
| image = Megamaniiibox.jpg
| caption = North American cover art
| developer = Minakuchi Engineering
| publisher = Capcom
Nintendo (EU)
| producer = Tokuro Fujiwara
| artist= Keiji Inafune
| composer= Kouji Murata{{cite web | title=これまでの仕事 / Works | url=http://www.100v.jp/~yagiyama/works/index.html | publisher=Murata, Kouji | language=Japanese | accessdate=August 18, 2011 | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110902195232/http://www.100v.jp/~yagiyama/works/index.html | archivedate=September 2, 2011 }}
| series = Mega Man
| platforms = Game Boy
| released = {{vgrelease|NA|December 1992{{cite web| title=Game Boy (original) Games | url=https://www.nintendo.com/consumer/gameslist/manuals/dmg_games.pdf | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615005225/http://www.nintendo.com/consumer/gameslist/manuals/dmg_games.pdf | publisher=Nintendo | archivedate=June 15, 2011 | accessdate=September 24, 2011}}|JP|December 11, 1992{{cite book|isbn=978-1-897376-79-9 |date=January 6, 2010 |title=Mega Man: Official Complete Works|publisher=Udon Entertainment | page=67}}|EU|June 19, 1993{{cite journal| author=Overton, Wil | title=Viva Le Mega Man | journal=Super Play| issue=30 | publisher=Future Publishing | date=April 1995 | pages=30–1 | issn=0966-6192}}}}
| modes = Single-player
}}
Mega Man III{{efn|Known in Japan as {{nihongo|Rockman World 3|ロックマンワールド3|Rokkuman Wārudo Surī|lead=yes}}}} is an action-platform video game by Capcom for the Nintendo Game Boy. It is the third game in the handheld version of the Mega Man series. The game follows the title character Mega Man as he fights the evil Dr. Wily, whose latest attempt to conquer the world involves sucking energy from the Earth's core to power a new machine. Along with foes from his past, Mega Man must contend with the next robot in Wily's line of "Mega Man Killers", Punk. Like its two consecutive predecessors on the Game Boy, the game combines elements from two previously released Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) titles: Mega Man 3 and Mega Man 4. In 2013, Mega Man III was made available on the Virtual Console of Japan's Nintendo eShop for the Nintendo 3DS. It was later released in the North American and PAL region{{Cite web |url=http://www.capcom-unity.com/brelston/blog/2014/06/09/virtual-console-update-gba-titles-breath-of-fire-and-more |title=Virtual Console update: GBA titles, Breath of Fire and more |access-date=2014-07-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170809131059/http://www.capcom-unity.com/brelston/blog/2014/06/09/virtual-console-update-gba-titles-breath-of-fire-and-more |archive-date=2017-08-09 |url-status=live }} eShops the following year. In 2024, the game was added to the library of Game Boy games available through the Nintendo Classics service.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVbuHPyM3VA |title=Game Boy – June 2024 Game Updates – Nintendo Switch Online |date=2024-06-06 |last=Nintendo of America |access-date=2024-06-07 |via=YouTube}}
Plot
The story of Mega Man III consists of the hero Mega Man battling the evil scientist Dr. Wily, who is using a converted oil platform in the middle of the ocean to draw energy from the Earth's core to power a new machine.{{cite book |editor=Capcom |title=Mega Man III Instruction Booklet |date=December 1992 |publisher=Capcom Entertainment, Inc. | pages=6–13| location=Santa Clara, CA | id=DMG-W3-USA}}{{cite magazine |magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly | title=Review Crew: Mega Man 3 | issue=42 | date=January 1993| publisher=Ziff Davis | page=38 | issn=1058-918X}} After annihilating eight robots whom Wily had previously used, Mega Man makes his way to Wily's lab, where he encounters the mad doctor attempting to escape. A powerful robot designed specifically to destroy the hero, Punk, confronts Mega Man but is defeated. Mega Man chases Wily onto the oil platform (which emerges from the water as Wily's latest fortress) and halts his enemy's plans once again.
Gameplay
File:Mega man iii gameplay.jpg and Mega Man 4. Shown here is Snake Man's stage.]]
Mega Man III shares the action and platform gameplay set forth the NES Mega Man games. The player is able to choose between 4 stages that are immediately available.{{cite magazine | title=Mega Man III| date=January 1993 | issue=44 | pages=72–5|magazine=Nintendo Power | publisher=Nintendo of America | issn=1041-9551}} Mega Man's primary method of attack is his "Mega Buster", which can fire an unlimited number of small shots or can be charged by holding the down the button and then releasing a larger and more powerful blast. Beating the Robot Master boss at the end of each stage allows the player to add its unique weapon to Mega Man's arsenal.
The player can also gain access to Mega Man's dog Rush, who can transform into a "Coil" mode to let the player jump higher or a "Jet" mode for flying large distances across the screen. Another companion robot, Flip Top Eddie, will appear in certain stages to randomly lend the player health, weapon power, extra lives, or storable Energy Tanks for completely refilling health. Mega Man III features four Robot Master adversaries from Mega Man 3 (Snake Man, Shadow Man, Spark Man, and Gemini Man) and four from Mega Man 4 (Dive Man, Drill Man, Skull Man, and Dust Man).
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Development
Series contributor Keiji Inafune stated Capcom outsourced the development of Mega Man III (known in Japan as Rockman World 3) and the rest of the Game Boy titles to the same company that worked on Mega Man: Dr. Wily's Revenge due to a bad experience with the one that worked on Mega Man II. "I decided to look at World 3 as a fresh new start, and I remember digging into it with renewed zest," Inafune claimed. "Punk, in particular, was a favorite of mine and I used my sway as the producer to have him included in Mega Man Battle Network."
Reception and legacy
{{Video game reviews
| Allgame = {{rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web | author=Huey, Christian | year=1998 | title=Mega Man III - Review | url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=11821&tab=review | publisher=Allgame | accessdate=September 24, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141115141624/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=11821&tab=review | archive-date=November 15, 2014 | url-status=live | df=mdy-all }}
| Fam = 21 out of 40{{cite magazine|author=Famitsu staff| date=1992 | magazine=Famitsu | publisher=Tokuma Shoten | script-title=ja:クロスレビュー | trans-title=Cross Review | language=Japanese | url=https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title_review&title_id=13391 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190324155250/https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title_review&title_id=13391 | accessdate=March 24, 2019 | archive-date=March 24, 2019}}
| ONM = 7.2 out of 10{{cite magazine |magazine=Nintendo Magazine System | publisher=EMAP | date=April 1993 | issue=7 | title=Review: Mega Man III | pages=46–7 | issn=0965-4240}}
}}
Mega Man III was given a positive review from the North American Electronic Gaming Monthly, which noted its use of familiar gameplay and a large amount of visual detail. In contrast, the United Kingdom's Nintendo Magazine System called it "a prime example of flogging a dead horse. Not really bad, but made unplayable by the sheer frustration level." Power Unlimited gave a score of 85% summarizing: "Of all the game series, the Megaman games are probably the most similar. The funny thing is that despite that, they are all very fun. You have to decide for yourself whether you keep playing them or whether you get bored with them."{{Cite web |title=Power Unlimited Game Database |url=http://www.powerweb.nl/database/index.php?&query%5border%5d=datum&ending=DESC&query%5bstart%5d=3980 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030827070312/http://www.powerweb.nl/database/index.php?&query%5border%5d=datum&ending=DESC&query%5bstart%5d=3980 |archive-date=August 27, 2003 |access-date=April 29, 2025 |website=Power Unlimited}}
The editors of GameSpot consider Mega Man III a rare find because it was never re-released in budget form likes the two games before it.{{cite web |author1=Nutt, Christian |author2=Speer, Justin |name-list-style=amp |title=The History of Mega Man |url=http://www.gamespot.com/features/6076983/p-26.html |website=GameSpot |accessdate=April 17, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091212191035/http://www.gamespot.com/features/6076983/p-26.html |archive-date=December 12, 2009 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }} Mega Man III was made available on March 13, 2001, for the Nintendo Power cartridge service in Japan alongside the other four Game Boy Mega Man games.{{cite web | script-title=ja:ゲームボーイ用のアクション系ソフト：4 | url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/n03/gb/npaction/page4.html | publisher=Nintendo | language=Japanese | accessdate=June 3, 2003 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20030203112653/http://www.nintendo.co.jp/n03/gb/npaction/page4.html | archivedate=February 3, 2003}} All five games were to receive an enhanced remake compilation on the Game Boy Advance in 2004, but the project was ultimately cancelled.{{cite web | author=IGN staff | date=February 4, 2004 | title=Mega Man Mania Change | url=http://gameboy.ign.com/articles/490/490142p1.html | website=IGN | accessdate=June 1, 2003 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613194123/http://gameboy.ign.com/articles/490/490142p1.html | archive-date=June 13, 2011 | url-status=live | df=mdy-all }} A redesign of Punk was featured in the spin-off game Mega Man Battle Network 3.{{Cite book|isbn=978-1-926778-12-9 |date=March 29, 2011 |title=Mega Man Battle Network: Official Complete Works|publisher=Udon Entertainment|page=74}} A stage featuring the boss Punk was part of the downloadable content for Mega Man 10 in 2010.{{cite web | author=Moriarty, Colin | date=April 28, 2010 | title=Mega Man 10's Second Wave DLC | url=http://ps3.ign.com/articles/108/1086639p1.html | website=IGN | accessdate=June 4, 2003 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100503025352/http://ps3.ign.com/articles/108/1086639p1.html | archive-date=May 3, 2010 | url-status=live | df=mdy-all }} On July 18, 2013, it was confirmed that Mega Man III is planned for release on the 3DS Virtual Console,{{Cite web |url=http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2013/07/classic_game_boy_mega_man_titles_coming_to_3ds_virtual_console/ |title=Classic Game Boy Mega Man Titles Coming To 3DS Virtual Console |date=18 July 2013 |access-date=2013-07-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130721130547/http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2013/07/classic_game_boy_mega_man_titles_coming_to_3ds_virtual_console |archive-date=2013-07-21 |url-status=live }} which came out on October 9, 2013, in Japan, in North America on May 8, 2014,http://www.nintendo.com/eshop/mega-may {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502013619/http://www.nintendo.com/eshop/mega-may |date=2014-05-02 }} Nintendo and in the PAL region on August 14, 2014.
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References
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External links
{{Portal|Japan|Video games|1990s}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20120611112612/http://www.capcom.co.jp/rockman/ Official Rockman website] {{in lang|ja}}
{{megaman}}
Category:Eco-terrorism in fiction
Category:Mega Man spinoff games
Category:Minakuchi Engineering games
Category:Nintendo Classics games
Category:Side-scrolling video games
Category:Single-player video games
Category:Superhero video games
Category:Video games developed in Japan