Editing Mega Man 3 (section)

==Gameplay==
[[Image:Megaman3 slide rush.gif|left|frame|Mega Man and [[List of Mega Man characters#Rush|Rush]] in Top Man's Stage. Mega Man is seen using his slide ability.]]
''Mega Man 3'' retains the [[Platform game|platforming]] and [[action game]] elements established by the two ''Mega Man'' games released before it.<ref name="ignrev">{{cite web | author=Thomas, Lucas M. | date=November 10, 2008 | title=''Mega Man 3'' Review | url=http://wii.ign.com/articles/928/928307p1.html | website=[[IGN]] | access-date=January 7, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120817160030/http://wii.ign.com/articles/928/928307p1.html | archive-date=August 17, 2012 | url-status=dead }}</ref> The player controls the protagonist Mega Man as he traverses eight selectable stages. The player's primary blaster weapon is used to fend off the game's numerous enemies. Several [[power-up]]s can be picked up in each stage, including life energy, special weapon ammunition, extra lives, and "E-Tanks", which are stored and can be selected to refill the player's life energy completely. At the end of every stage the player must defeat a Robot Master [[Boss (video gaming)|boss]]: Magnet Man, Hard Man, Top Man, Shadow Man, Spark Man, Snake Man, Gemini Man, or Needle Man.<ref name="nprev"/><ref name="gameprorev"/> Each Robot Master features a unique weapon and stage related to the weapon's power. After defeating a boss, their signature weapon is added to Mega Man's arsenal.<ref name="manual"/><ref name="ignrev"/> The Robot Masters are weak to the weapons of certain other Robot Masters, allowing the player to ease the boss battles by clearing some stages before others.

''Mega Man 3'' is the first ''Mega Man'' game to feature the slide maneuver, which lets the player slip under enemy attacks and low-level barriers.<ref name="ignrev"/> After completing certain stages, Mega Man can access new abilities in his robot dog companion Rush.<ref name="gameprorev"/><ref name="manual"/> Rush's transformations include the "Rush Coil" for jumping higher, the "Rush Jet" for flying around the screen, and the "Rush Marine" for traveling underwater.<ref name="nprev"/><ref name="ignrev"/><ref name="gamesradar">{{cite web | author=Elston, Brett | date=June 30, 2008 | title=The ultimate ''Mega Man'' retrospective | url=http://www.gamesradar.com/the-ultimate-mega-man-retrospective/?page=2 | work=[[GamesRadar]] | publisher=[[Future plc]] | access-date=January 3, 2011 | archive-date=April 11, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411051708/https://www.gamesradar.com/the-ultimate-mega-man-retrospective/?page=2 | url-status=live }}</ref> Throughout the various stages the player encounters Proto Man (as Break Man), a mini-boss who, once defeated, will open passageways for the player to advance.<ref name="nprev"/><ref name="ignrev"/><ref name="grprev">{{cite journal | title=''Mega Man 3'' | journal=[[Game Players]] | publisher=Signal Research, Inc.| issue=Encyclopedia of Nintendo Games Volume Two | author=''Game Players'' staff | year=1990|pages=36–42 | issn=1091-1685}}</ref> ''Mega Man 3'' also expands upon the two preceding games by having additional stages set between the initial eight Robot Masters and the linear stages of Dr. Wily's fortress.<ref name="nprev"/><ref name="gameprorev"/><ref name="gamesradar"/> A [[password (video games)|password]] system can be used to return to the game with most of the stages completed.<ref name="manual"/> The "Doc Robots" are fought after defeating all 8 Robot Masters. The Doc Robots are faced in the Spark Man stage, Needle Man stage, Gemini Man stage, and Shadow Man stage.
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