Mega Man 3 (NES) Playthrough

A playthrough of Capcom's 1990 action game for the NES, Mega Man 3.
The third outing for the Blue Bomber blows away his first adventure, offers a fair amount of improvement and innovation over the already excellent second game, and avoids the generic rehashing of later titles, making Mega Man 3 - in my opinion, at least - the best entry in the original series (and only really rivaled later by the fantastic Mega Man X for the SNES).
I might have a bit of an unfair slant toward this one because it was the first Mega Man game that I had to call my own. The game was brand new when I got it - the Nintendo Power with it on the cover hadn't come yet, so I didn't know that the game even existed until my dad came home with it. He went to the NEX to pick up some stuff for my mom on his way home from work, saw this on the shelf, and thought that I'd like it since we'd rented the first Mega Man so many times.
I believe that's the moment I thought my dad had some sort of psychic power, and I don't think I've ever said thank you quite so many times as I did in the two minutes following his pulling it out of his briefcase and handing it to me. No matter how good X and X4 were, nothing in the series for me ever topped this one, and I obsessed over it.
I seem to remember the first time I ever beat it without dying happening around Christmas of that year. It's funny how still, no matter how much time passes, all I need is five minutes with the controller and it all comes flooding right back. My reflexes don't seem to be quite as good now as they were when I was nine, though.
Once I finished it I freed my sister of her obligation to hold down the left button on the second controller (super jumps!), but she was only five at the time and loved "playing" games with her big brother. Younger siblings are far too trusting, aren't they?
Mega Man 3 ended up becoming one of the few games that I ever came to know as well as the original Super Mario Bros. They were both pretty formative experiences in shaping my tastes.
The game is longer than the first two games were: once the first eight robot masters are defeated, you'll find another set of four remixed stages to plow through before taking on Wily's Castle, and these stages feature the bosses from Mega Man 2. It's much more difficult, too, and I enjoyed the challenge.
Mega Man has also gained a few new item powers (now referred to as Rush Adapters), a slide move, and one of the best eight-bit soundtracks ever written. I used to turn the game on and walk away just so I could hear the title screen music on an endless loop.
As much as I love the game, it has to be said that it sorely lacks polish in a few key areas. There are a few graphics glitches, there's a lot of slowdown, and the weapons aren't balanced very well. Its mid-November release date suggests that Capcom's bean counters wanted it on shelves in time for the holidays, and the game was clearly pushed out the door before it was ready.
But Mega Man 3 is still an otherwise excellent game. Like I said before, I'm biased when it comes to how I look at this one, but I think it would be difficult to deny how well it all manages to come together in the end. It deserved its rave reviews and dedicated legions of fans, 100%.
_____________
No cheats were used during the recording of this video.
NintendoComplete (www.nintendocomplete.com/) punches you in the face with in-depth reviews, screenshot archives, and music from classic 8-bit NES games!

[@NintendoComplete]

Here's my favorite Mega Man game ever. It's not perfect by any means, but that soundtrack! And Protoman! And Rush Jet! And, and, and...!

[@kevinmurphy6679]

Sometimes a game doesn’t have to be perfect in order to be a favorite. I really like MegaMan 3 as well. I don’t know if it’s my favorite, but the new gameplay mechanics, new characters, and music feel more fresh than 2.

[@NintendoComplete]

@@kevinmurphy6679 Yeah, I hear you. I always thought that this one just solidified in a way that's so appealing. I dunno how to describe it, but it's got that X-factor that really sold me on it, no pun intended 😀

[@Mattbuddy0947]

I like too Megaman 3 but the Doc Robots i find this was a Little to much

[@rjcupid]

I always loved Gemini Man and Needle Man’s levels - two of my favourites in the series. The big cats in Top Man’s level were awesome too.

[@workermett6685]

It's still fun to play, but DAMN is it longer on time!

[@purwantiallan5089]

MegaMan 2 and 3 are still legendary till this very day.

[@tupaialoshara]

true. my favorite parts of this game! and this soundtrack!..

[@derekmaullo2865]

Megaman 2 is a masterpiece. Megaman 3 was a rushed game made in a few months, less than a year. Yet it's better than Megaman X6 and X7. Both of those games are equally bad no matter where I see them.

[@brianrich6711]

I could watch this playthrough over and over. This game always brings a smile to my face. ☺️

[@thill1983]

This is my favorite Mega Man game and soundtrack. Not a bad tune anywhere in this one.

[@NintendoComplete]

100% agreed.

[@ashwin.unlead]

mine is still the og one!

[@awang_ir]

Dr. Wily stage 3-4 Snake man stage Spark man stage Shadow man stage Password screen Stage clear screen Dr. Wily starting jingle Proto Man long whistle Ending theme Title theme That's my top 10 Even better than MM2 music IMHO

[@DACH.1356]

That intro music and a notebook to write down passwords ... wow ... such beautiful memories!

[@Jedi_Judo19]

This is hands down my favorite Megaman, the score in this game is God tier!! 🎉😂

[@mattcouture2579]

One of those games that I never get tired of playing, or watching, or listening to. Thanks for sharing, and great job on the playthrough.

[@9b8ll]

One of the perfect mega man games, bar none! An instant 6/5! From shadow man's theme, to the story, to the game play. It's timeless!! Mega man 2 and 3 are perfection IMO

[@cherokeefit4248]

I remember buying this at my local radio shack at the time this game this game was released. Even though it’s not as good as 2, and the developers knew it, the addition of the mega man 2 robot ghosts being a boss was a nice touch.

[@chiarosuburekeni9325]

One of the best NES games. 2 still slightly edges it out for me but still, incredible game.

[@MrHomelessHobos]

2 would be my favourite except for that crash bomb boss the end ruins it for me, what a blemish on an otherwise great game 😢

[@purwantiallan5089]

​@@MrHomelessHobosCrash Man in MegaMan 2 took around 5 retries before finally beating it.

[@BlueAizu_]

@@purwantiallan5089 Not Crash Man himself, he's no worse than any other Robot Master. They meant the Boobeam Trap, the boss right before the final Wily level where you have to perfectly ration almost every Crash Bomb you have to get past.

[@Dusty338]

4:53 Running left to de-spawn the wasp enemies. I remember figuring that out as a kid and being like "WHOA! LOOK AT THIS!"

[@GokoBrago]

Amo este megaman, las horas que nos dejamos con mi primo jugandondolo en verano ❤️

[@rabidrabbitshuggers]

Ladies and Gentlemen…the Copacabana is proud to present the Robot Master with the greatest name of all time: HARD MAN.

[@joascsantos3839]

Hahahahah, muito boa

[@magoid]

This game soundtrack was so good, it made me to record it in a cassete, the worst way possible (because what a kid know?), using the internal mic from a small boombox. It didn't matter. I worn out that cassete anyway. Thanks to the internet, later I discovered I wasn't the only one who did it.

[@therealseanw.stewart2071]

Mega Man 3, if ain't broke, don't try to fix it. Here, probably the biggest changes to the gameplay are the introduction of Mega Man's loyal robot dog, Rush, who permanently takes the place of those boring unnamed gadgets he used in 2, and the sliding maneuver which you can use to make MM glide along the ground to squeeze through tight spaces or dodge certain projectiles. Aside from that, it's the classic Mega Man we know and love, and what a classic it is. I'd say that the soundtrack is phenomenal, but saying that a Mega Man game has an amazing soundtrack is like saying water is wet. Still, there's something special about Snake Man's theme in particular. It remained stuck in my head since childhood. The weapon get theme is an absolute banger as well, I could listen to it for hours! I love how abstract they went with some of the stage theming this time around too. Oh, and also we meet Proto Man, Mega Man's mysterious, estranged older brother! There's definitely a little bit more of a plot here than the first two games, but not much. These games were never exactly storytelling powerhouses. Heck, we barely if ever see half of the supporting cast in many of these games. Poor Roll is just so underutilized! Yeah, it's Mega Man 3. It's mega-nostalgic. It's another masterpiece. It's one of the very best the NES had to offer. And the world would be an even worse place without its existence!

[@Loader2K1]

I'd like to think that Capcom ripped off Proto Man from Racer-X from _Speed Racer_ , but I have no evidence to support that beyond the similarities to the two characters.

[@bigdave95]

My favorite Mega Man game!

[@simonmejia6896]

Favorite original entry right here! Introducing for the first time Mega Man's faithful dog companion, Rush, the slide ability, and finally but not least, the very first Robot Master ever created in the series' lore, his elusive brother.... Proto Man, who in this game was intially called Break Man.

[@thecowboy2]

That relationship was maintained in the original Mega Man animated series, with Proto Man voiced by the brilliant Scott McNeill. He always referred to Mega Man as "little bro".

[@johnnnyh]

I've beaten this probably a couple hundred times and never get tired. Absolutely the best nes game out there!

[@LordSephleon]

Ah yes... as much as I will always love MM2, this game stands out as the only one to be its equal (for me) in the entire NES series. Especially in music. :)

[@thiagofoliveira]

Really cool, man. And thanks for sharing your family history with us. It was a very interesting reading. Back in the day, I would place some weight above control 2. ;)

[@avedis31]

Puff the satisfaction of seeing a game you couldn't finish as a kid being completed

[@thecowboy2]

Hard Man. One day I'll be mature enough to say that without snickering - but today isn't that day. 😄

[@NintendoComplete]

*Nods in agreement while stifling a giggle*

[@stephenn77]

Just saying the word “Hard”! 🤣

[@cspetronilho]

And there's also Top Man 😂

[@thecunninlynguist]

The intro theme here is my favorite of the nes ones....it's so somber

[@RyneMcKinney]

Apparently this game was actually rushed. Yet it still feels so good to play

[@franciscocuellar5714]

If I had to choose this would be my second favorite. With mega man 2 being top one for me

[@UrLocalSergioalberto.207]

32 years Before

[@gamet2004]

I always loved this one and Rockman 5 for one specific reason... Blues (Protoman). He is such a great character

[@Dorian_Scott]

Proto Man is what Shadow the Hedgehog wishes he was. He's *actually* cool and not just a "try hard!"

[@SonicTheHedgehog17]

@@Dorian_Scott He was "try hard" in Shadow the Hedgehog game only (and Rise of Lyric). He was cool and badass in SA2, Heroes, Sonic 06...

[@PETRIXXXX]

@@Dorian_Scott protoman is more like knuckles or tails, bass is shadow

[@beefgoat80]

I remember playing this game on Saturdays. The controller would rotate to the next kid after someone died. I also don't remember the game seeming this easy. 🤣🤣🤣

[@HenriqueSozares]

Até hoje este é o melhor Mega Man. E a trilha sonora... um espetáculo!👏👏👏

[@OakleyGamer-17]

I love how you ended with Needle Man. He is my favorite man out of all the games and I agree best mega man game. The beginning music and I love the wily stages 2 music

[@SamtheBravesFan]

Fantastic music. Although it's a boss tune I like less, the music package has aged extremely well.

[@WeissVogel]

Ill never forget mom coming home one night in August 1991 telling me she bought me a copy of the Nintendo Power January 1991 issue with MM3 as the cover feature. IIRC the Hard Man stage was the first one the NP team handled. My cousins and I played this a few months before and I somehow knew the second controller hack

[@rossdavis428]

@39:31 The Capcom developers definitely screwed-up that wall-spike hit-box-register because your jump accuracy was spot-on.

[@NintendoComplete]

I'm glad it wasn't just me then :) that one felt a bit cheap

[@rjcupid]

This game was impossible to find when it came out. My uncle bought it for me at the time (never told me where) and it was just the cartridge in a brown cardboard box with no instructions, sleeve, nothing. To this day I imagine he bought it in a shop like where they found Gizmo in Gremlins. For me this game has the best intro song of all time.

[@persona83]

Funny and touching personal story, NC. Nice to see a person talking about a game with such a passion. And great gameplay, as always. 👍👍

[@coolbluelights]

I love. this game. so much. I first played this during a heatwave in 1992 when it was too hot to go outside

[@blasthornet7179]

All Boss Fights: 1:28 Proto Man 3:14 Magnet Man 6:42 Proto Man 7:20 Hard Man 10:53 Top Man 12:08 Proto Man 13:55 Shadow Man 16:51 Spark Man 20:59 Snake Man 26:37 Gemini Man 29:37 Needle Man 31:49 Doc Robot (Metal Man) 33:19 Doc Robot (Quick Man) 35:34 Doc Robot (Air Man) 38:47 Doc Robot (Crash Man) 41:01 Doc Robot (Wood Man) 42:31 Doc Robot (Heat Man) 46:57 Doc Robot (Flash Man) 49:11 Doc Robot (Bubble Man) 49:23 Break Man 52:33 Kamegoro Maker 54:56 Yellow Devil MKII 58:07 Hologram Mega Mans 59:48 The Robot Master Rematch Section 1:03:53 Willy Machine 3 1:04:55 Gamma

[@KoolKatBeatz]

i made a sick beat outta the intro... it was DOPE

[@m.a.packer5450]

Ah yes, I had neat forgotten about the endless glass seas of marijuana in Top Man's stage

[@riverradaok2347]

good moves megaman and protoman

[@AlexandRich89]

Всегда поражался (в хорошем смысле этого слова) игровому навыку автора. Это потрясающе! Сколько терпения надо иметь, чтобы проходить такие непростые игры, лично я не представляю. Мне всё в ролике понравилось и претензий нет никаких.

[@NintendoComplete]

Tyvm! That's kind of you to say :)

[@awang_ir]

Yes, I agree that the gameplay skill is way above average but still fun to watch, unlike any other perfect no damage speed run playthrough. Probably because it's also his favorite game. Wonderful

[@Dorian_Scott]

The entry that *_I_* think is the best in the classic Megaman series (Yes, even better than Megaman 2). It does share one thing in common with its predecessor: An amazing soundtrack. But the Slide, Rush, Proto Man's debut appearance and the superb difficulty balancing make this one a little better in my eyes. Could do without those Doc Robot levels though. It's just padding.

[@curiousguy6472]

My all time favourite megaman game, it's ost are still by far best in all nes games.

[@thecedex]

Shadow Man's collision detection spike death got you to eh ? 🤣

[@Elias991000]

I'll be honest, I love this more than Mega Man 2 because this just extended the gameplay even more and the music is really good. Also I feel like the gameplay is even better. Don't get wrong, Mega Man 2 is still good but I think 3 plays even better

[@dontaywashington8298]

I love these MegaMan and MegaMan zero games so much

[@JeanGamer50]

Uff the best classic megaman

[@turboterminator7]

Nice Playthrough

[@woodoyoy]

played together with my best friend at the time, maybe 16 years ago. This is the best game for me, the soundtrack probably heavily influenced my musical taste

[@stephenn77]

50:17!! Great music!

[@MrMangaboy321]

Best Mega Man game ever

[@TheNei]

Pretty Game! I love Megaman 2 and 3

[@superdave3093]

God this game is sooo good! And man the music still slaps! Spark mans theme is so metal and love shadow mans music too! Oh and Gemini Man and Wily Stage 1 and... I was 9 years old when I first played this. Craazy 😛😎

[@Hamzachebbi137]

Nice gameplay walkthrough ❤️😍💪

[@NintendoComplete]

Thank you 👍

[@awang_ir]

​@@NintendoComplete hopefully you are willing to play the revamped version of MM3. Unlike any other wrong hacks, this version is kinda fun and exciting

[@nimaiiikun]

MM3 has the best ending in the series

[@spoonshiro]

Yo, one of my favorite games of all time!

[@darryltanasychuk]

Loved this game! The music, the characters, being able to fight bosses from MM2 with MM3 weapons - the best of the bunch for sure! Also if you held down right on controller 2 you could jump super high and, if you timed it right, you could exploit a glitch in the game where you could take infinity hits without dying!

[@IHATEDRIVING2]

One of the best Megaman of all times, maybe the only weak point is the fact that become too easy to beat after you get used to the game. For example there are bosses that are weak to many weapons. And weapons that are strong against many bosses.

[@Loader2K1]

I was 9 years old when this game was originally released, and I just turned 41 a few days ago, LOL. Man, how time has passed. I wouldn't see the Doc Robots in action until much later in my life, and I loosely remember a childhood friend beating the final boss using Search Snake; we had no idea how OP the Top Spin could be on Shadow Man and the final boss back then. Anyway, nice playthrough, but why did you decide to to do another replay video on _Mega Man 3_ !? @39:31: That death there was BS. You were nowhere near that spike.

[@ThatRedHusky]

MM3 Wily music > MM2 Wily music, i don't care what anyone says.

[@NintendoComplete]

I'm with you.

[@ilikegoats2118]

This is my second favorite Megman game, my favorite being Megaman 2. The reason I love this one so much is because it had an actual story, going from "KILL ROBOT, KILL ROBOT GOOD!!!" to an actual storyline.

[@VahanNisanian]

Unfortunately, it seems Capcom was in a rush. This game doesn't have a proper intro. That said, the slide, Blues, and Rush are fine additions. Snake Man's theme is the best.

[@Loader2K1]

The story goes that a staff member had tripped over the computer being used to design and program _Mega Man 3_ during developement, which led to Keiji Inafune having to create the game from scratch and what he remembered before the accident happened.

[@VahanNisanian]

@@Loader2K1 Where did that story come from?

[@Loader2K1]

@@VahanNisanian: It's a story that I've read online from various unconfirmed sources, not to mention it was revealed in some KZbin videos on the history of the _Mega Man_ franchise as a whole.

[@sofiakoopa2006]

The best Game

[@retro3188]

Awesome!

[@LuisAlonso07]

Este es mi favorito :)

[@bigduke5902]

I used to say I preferred Mega Man 3 to Mega Man 2, and I probably did when this stuff was all new, but today I'm not so sure. I like the addition of the slide a lot and the gameplay is definitely tighter, but I think I prefer the more varied level design of the second game, especially the crazy Wily stages. In any case, I think 3s soundtrack alone does a great job of drawing a clear line between the NES of the 80s and NES of the 90s. Things were starting to even SOUND different, even in Mega Man.

[@Hamzachebbi137]

Very nice video ❤️😍💪

[@nalberdiazzz3589]

6:42 Man, that little boss whistle is nostalgic, I always whistled along

[@samejorjo6216]

missing these old day

[@ibezag0]

My childhood relived

[@castellotheleon1671]

I hadn't listened this intro song (or the fantastic stage songs - shadow man was one of my favorites) for 30+ years... this was the one mega man game for me, had my dad rent it many many times, I even accidentally discovered a cheat pressing second controller buttons would make you super jump, I used a cookie bowl on top of it. Everything up to the last wily fight was in my memory... I wonder if I never finished, or just don't remember because I did it few times...

[@fuhyfelax8218]

I just found my old Nintendo and I never played all the old games. I’m wondering if the original mortal Kombat games are on the NES? Can anyone here confirm for me if they are cause I’d love to play one of those. Thanks!

[@NintendoComplete]

Nothing official. Just some really janky bootlegs.

[@fuhyfelax8218]

@@NintendoComplete damn that’s a shame still a lot of stuff to play tho so it’s all good

[@reptilrrudy2389]

When I Mega Man 3, here's my boss order 1. Snake Man (my favorite robot master in Mega Man 3) 2. Top Man 3. Shadow Man 4. Spark Man 5. Needle Man 6. Magnet Man 7. Hard Man 8. Gemini Man

[@feiwong3634]

My all time favorite MM game, it was my first one on the NES and loved the franchise since then. BTW how do you record NES games? you use real hardware like Famicom, NES, Retroduo etc, or emulator?

[@NintendoComplete]

I emulate them. You get a much cleaner picture that way.

[@THEREALGAMEMASTER-gz5xg]

this game is better than MM2 fight me

[@omarhammad129]

Man you are literally missing out and blind MM2 IS BETTER

[@rickn4301]

Still like MM2 (and MMX) a tad better but what a game and soundtrack

[@Cedrclovesutube]

Music was awesome in this game

[@jeremysmith3358]

I actually think that Mega Man 3 is better than Mega Man 2. I remember playing this one more than Mega Man 2.

[@Harmthuria]

A6, 9 energies.

[@abmDLC]

Yes i discovered that code by accident when was a kid.. imagine my reaction 😂 😮

[@renegade77892]

Love mega man, but I always thought that the robot masters from mega man 2 we're ghosts looking for revenge.

[@cspetronilho]

Hard Man and Top Man... 🗣💀

[@jannyegaxherd9376]

@NintendoComplete this is a non proffessional walkthrough, nice, like that, good job. it's different when it comes to longplays 🙃

[@impotenceaura]

Kinda bummed I never got this back in the day. We had megaman 2 but didn't get many games after that.

[@Zontar82]

how exactly you change weapons? qhewn i am on inventory i can only choose rush even ftaer defeating two bosses already

[@NintendoComplete]

You just highlight the one you want and unpause

[@mr.g4990]

But most importantly, do you still have your original cartridge?

[@NintendoComplete]

Unfortunately not. I have a mint complete in box copy, but it's not the same one as I had way back. I sold all my childhood games when I was in college 😬

[@mr.g4990]

Ow! Hurts...but understandable. I'm glad I kept the handful of NES games I had back then. Cheers, til next playthrough!

[@erichaugen8411]

Nothing can touch Mega Man 2, but this one is the closest

[@abmDLC]

This game was my very first megaman game and love it.. still my favorite..

[@Dr.Vinny05]

Ah so this is the game I would play on that shitty fake NES plug n play system that I was horrible at

[@dudujencarelli]

For a minute I thought this was going to be a damage-free run. I can play without dying, but damage-free? Not a chance against the likes of Hard Man and the MM2 ghost robot masters.

[@NintendoComplete]

Yeah no way hahaha. I've beaten it without dying, but never without being hit. Not even close.

[@awang_ir]

​@@NintendoComplete even no die playthrough is impossible for me, let alone no hit one. Anyway, pardon me for being out of topic, have you voted for Mega Man in Capcom survey? The poll should be closed by tomorrow if I'm not mistaken

[@SeedhaManaw]

Press select button while playing....never die

[@isd8894]

It's funny; Mega Man 2 was the first Mega Man game that I played/owned, and one of my first NES games overall. Shortly thereafter, I acquired Mega Man 3, which had just come out, and it became my favorite NES game, by a signifcant margin. Today, though, I actually prefer Mega Man 2 -- I loved the Doc Robot stages and Proto Man in 3, but the Wily Castle was *much* too easy, and really sort of anticlimactic. The Wily Castle in 2 is far more interesting; a stiff challenge, but not a crazy one like the original Mega Man. Whichever order you put them in, though, I think it is hard to argue for the best Mega Man game not being either 2 or 3. To me, X is its own thing; it's fine, and great fun in its own right, and of course technically far superior given the improved hardware, but it lacks the charm of the NES series.

[@eugenehills8371]

Metal Man and Quick Man Flash Man and Bubble Man Wood Man and Heat Man Air Man and Crash Man

[@wiltisdabest]

Wtf is the chart that comes after you beat the bosses?

[@NintendoComplete]

That's your password.

[@petrikorpela3221]

Spark man watar you doing ?

[@gaoutlaw]

This was the first one in the series that I ever played

[@ruthkatz1998]

I don't hate this game but I never feel like playing it again

[@esdrascamachocuevas944]

Mega man 3 este titulo no lo conocí en su tiempo ya que lo conseguí en agosto del año 2016 en cartucho de Familly game junto a Ninja gaiden con el Nombre original en Japón como Rock Man 3 el final del Doctor willy y este titulo lo acabe bastante rápido y hasta dia de Hoy aún lo conservo y lo he jugado mas de una vez ya que mega man 3 tiene una Calificación de 4.75 estrellas debido a que es el único juego de la serie que se aumenta mas tiempo en terminarlo debido a los Robots Masters de Mega Man 2 ya que se dice durante el desarrollo del Juego se iba a agregar un 4 ítem donde Rush la mascota de Mega man Se convertirá en un Taladro que al final se descartó esa opción y se agregaría un pájaro Robótico que al final si paso en Mega Man 5 lanzado en el año 1992 y también hay diferencias tanto en Japón como en estados unidos de este juego y tiene los famosos Gritches que algunos son buenos y otros no tanto

[@eugenehills8371]

Megnet man Hard man Top man Shadow man Spark man Needle man Sneak man Gemini man

[@kutaybaalsafadi227]

You couldn’t shoot that fast with the real controller, your fingers would break by the end of each level. Still, one of my best all time games.

[@NintendoComplete]

Sure you can, but not with your thumbs. I hold the controller so that my index finger is on B and my middle finger is on A. Try it out.

[@billy8561]

nice Nintendo