Editing Mega Man 3

{{Short description|1990 video game}}
{{about|the Nintendo Entertainment System game|the Game Boy game|Mega Man III (1992 video game)}}
{{Good article}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Mega Man 3
| image = megaman3 box.jpg
| caption = North American box art by Greg Winters
| developer = [[Capcom]]
| publisher = {{vgrelease|JP/NA|Capcom|EU|[[Nintendo]]}}
| director = Masayoshi Kurokawa
| producer = [[Tokuro Fujiwara]]
| designer = {{ubl|Masayoshi Kurosawa|[[Keiji Inafune]]|Yoshinori Takenaka}}
| programmer = Tadashi Kuwana
| artist = {{ubl|Keiji Inafune|Yasuaki Kishimoto|Akemi Iwasaki|Miki Kijima}}
| composer = {{ubl|[[Yasuaki Fujita]]<ref name="mm9arrange">{{cite web | author=Jeriaska | date=December 2, 2008 | title=Interview: The Story Of The ''Mega Man 9'' Arrange Soundtrack | url=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/21294/Interview_The_Story_Of_The_Mega_Man_9_Arrange_Soundtrack.php | work=[[Gamasutra]] | publisher=[[UBM plc]] | access-date=January 3, 2011 | archive-date=September 30, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180930170223/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/21294/Interview_The_Story_Of_The_Mega_Man_9_Arrange_Soundtrack.php | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="ippoyamada">{{cite web|author=Jeriaska |date=October 4, 2008 |title=''Mega Man 9'' music interview with Inti Creates' Ippo Yamada |url=http://www.siliconera.com/2008/10/04/mega-man-9-music-interview-with-inti-creates-ippo-yamada/ |publisher=Siliconera |access-date=March 25, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716071526/http://www.siliconera.com/2008/10/04/mega-man-9-music-interview-with-inti-creates-ippo-yamada/ |archive-date=July 16, 2011 }}</ref>|[[Harumi Fujita]]}}
| series = ''[[Mega Man]]''
| released = {{collapsible list|title=September 28, 1990|'''Famicom/NES'''{{vgrelease|JP|September 28, 1990<ref name="r20">{{Cite book|isbn=978-1-897376-79-9 |date=January 6, 2010 |title=Mega Man: Official Complete Works|publisher=[[Udon Entertainment]] | pages=16–21}}</ref>|NA|November 1990<ref name="NintendoList">{{cite web |url=https://www.nintendo.com/consumer/downloads/nes_games.pdf |publisher=Nintendo of America |access-date=August 9, 2015 |title=NES Games |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140611225644/http://www.nintendo.com/consumer/downloads/nes_games.pdf |archive-date=June 11, 2014 }}</ref>|EU|1991}}'''PlayStation'''{{vgrelease|JP|September 14, 1999<ref name="completeworks">{{cite book|isbn=978-1-897376-79-9 |date=January 6, 2010 |title=Mega Man: Official Complete Works|publisher=[[Udon Entertainment]] | pages=98–99}}</ref>}}'''Mobile phone'''{{vgrelease|JP|April 1, 2005<ref name="jpmobile">{{cite web | author=GPara staff | date=April 1, 2005 | title=ダンテ降臨！Vodafoneに『デビルメイクライ』出現 | trans-title=Dante's Descent! The Vodafone "''Devil May Cry''" appearance | url=http://www.gpara.com/news/05/04/news200504017997.htm | publisher=GPara | language=ja | access-date=January 8, 2011 | archive-date=September 30, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930044923/http://www.gpara.com/news/05/04/news200504017997.htm | url-status=dead }}</ref>|NA|August 19, 2008<ref name="namobile">{{cite web | author=Buchanan, Levi | date=October 27, 2008 | title=''Mega Man 3'' Mobile Review | url=http://wireless.ign.com/articles/924/924154p1.html | website=[[IGN]] | access-date=January 1, 2009 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081215200157/http://wireless.ign.com/articles/924/924154p1.html | archive-date=December 15, 2008 }}</ref>}}'''Android, iOS'''{{vgrelease|WW|January 5, 2017<ref>{{cite web|last1=Dotson|first1=Carter|title='Mega Man' 1-6 Releasing for iOS and Android on January 5th|url=http://toucharcade.com/2016/12/30/mega-man-1-6-releasing-for-ios-and-android-on-january-5th/|website=Touch Arcade|access-date=December 30, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161231141830/http://toucharcade.com/2016/12/30/mega-man-1-6-releasing-for-ios-and-android-on-january-5th/|archive-date=December 31, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>}}}}
| genre = [[Action game|Action]], [[Platformer|platform]]
| modes = [[Single-player]]
| platforms = {{ubl|[[Nintendo Entertainment System]]|[[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]]|[[Mobile phone]]|[[Android (operating system)|Android]]|[[iOS]]}}
| arcade system = [[PlayChoice-10]]
}}

'''''Mega Man 3'''''{{efn|Known as {{nihongo|'''''Rockman 3: Dr. Wily no Saigo!?'''''|ロックマン3 {{ruby|Dr.|ドクター}}ワイリーの{{ruby|最期|さいご}}!?|''Rokkuman 3 Dokutā Wairī no Saigo!?''|"Rockman 3: The End of Dr. Wily!?"|lead=yes}} in Japan}} (stylized as '''''Mega Man III''''') is a 1990 [[Action game|action]]-[[Platformer|platform game]] developed and published by [[Capcom]] for the [[Nintendo Entertainment System]]. It is the third installment of the [[Mega Man|original ''Mega Man'' series]] and was originally released in Japan on September 28, 1990. The game was released in North America later in 1990 and in European regions by [[Nintendo]] a year later. Taking place after the events of ''[[Mega Man 2]]'', the plot follows the [[Mega Man (character)|titular hero]] as he helps his creator, [[List of Mega Man characters#Dr. Light|Dr. Light]], and a supposedly former enemy, [[List of Mega Man characters#Dr. Wily|Dr. Wily]], collect parts for a peace-keeping robot by defeating several [[List of Mega Man characters#Robot Masters|Robot Masters]] that have gone haywire.

''Mega Man 3'' follows the same format set forth by its two predecessors. The player, as Mega Man, must complete a series of stages in any order. Defeating a stage's boss will earn the player its special weapon, which can be selected and used at will throughout the rest of the game. ''Mega Man 3'' introduces new gameplay elements such as Mega Man's canine sidekick [[List of Mega Man characters#Rush|Rush]] and the ability to slide along the ground. Unlike the first two installments of the series, artist and designer [[Keiji Inafune]] has considered the creation of ''Mega Man 3'' to be very stressful due to time constraints and his own increased responsibilities during its development.

Following the success of ''Mega Man 2'' released two years earlier, ''Mega Man 3'' has sold 1.08 million copies and has been positively received in critical reviews. Its presentation and gameplay have been especially praised, although many sources found the game to be too [[difficulty level|difficult]]. Like other titles in the series, ''Mega Man 3'' has been re-released several times on other gaming platforms, on [[mobile phone]]s, and as part of various ''Mega Man'' franchise compilations.<ref name="IGN">{{cite web|title=Capcom releases Lifetime sales numbers|date=May 23, 2008|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2008/05/23/capcom-releases-lifetime-sales-numbers|access-date=July 26, 2017|archive-date=July 30, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170730130026/http://www.ign.com/articles/2008/05/23/capcom-releases-lifetime-sales-numbers|url-status=live}}</ref> A sequel, ''[[Mega Man 4]]'', was released in 1991.

==Plot==
''Mega Man 3'' takes place during an unspecified year during the 21st century (20XX). 2-3 months after [[Mega Man 2|''Mega Man 2'']], the mad scientist [[List of Mega Man characters#Dr. Wily|Dr. Wily]], having twice had plans for world domination dashed, claims to have reformed and begins work with [[List of Mega Man characters#Dr. Light|Dr. Light]] on a project to build a peace-keeping robot named "Gamma".<ref name="nprev">{{cite magazine | author=''Nintendo Power'' staff| title=''Mega Man III''| date=January 1991 | issue=20 | pages=8–27, 85|magazine=[[Nintendo Power]] | publisher=Nintendo of America | location=Redmond, Washington | issn=1041-9551 | url=https://archive.org/details/NintendoPower1988-2004/Nintendo%20Power%20Issue%20020%20%28January%201991%29/page/n7/mode/2up}}</ref> [[List of Mega Man characters#Robot Masters|Robot Masters]] &ndash; Top Man, Shadow Man, Spark Man, Magnet Man, Hard Man, Snake Man, Gemini Man, and Needle Man &ndash; in charge of a set of "mining worlds", however, go berserk and make off with Gamma's eight power crystals.<ref name="gameprorev">{{cite magazine | author=Tobar the 8 Man| title=ProReview: ''Mega Man 3'' |magazine=[[GamePro]] | issue=Video Game Greatest Hits |pages=20–3 | publisher=Infotainment World, Inc. |date=August 1991 | issn=1042-8658}}</ref> Mega Man is called into action, this time with a canine companion named Rush, to retrieve the crystals from the sites.<ref name="manual">{{cite book|title=''Mega Man 3'' Instruction Booklet |date=November 1990 |publisher=[[Capcom|Capcom U.S.A., Inc.]] | pages=6–12 | id=NES-XU-USA}}</ref> Throughout his mission, the protagonist continuously encounters and spars with Break Man, a masked foe who has abilities comparable to Mega Man's own.<ref name="nprev"/> After Mega Man destroys the eight Robot Masters, he then revisits four of the mining sites to face off against eight "Doc Robots", who possess the abilities of the Robot Masters from Mega Man's [[Mega Man 2|previous mission]]. Once the crystals are retrieved, Wily reverts to his evil ways, steals Gamma, and retreats to his new fortress. To stop Wily's newest plan to conquer the world, Mega Man turns Gamma into scrap metal and defeats Wily in a final confrontation. As the fortress begins to crumble, Break Man appears in enough time to save Mega Man but is too late to save Wily, who is seen being crushed under the rubble. When Mega Man regains consciousness in Dr. Light's lab, his creator informs him that Break Man is actually his older brother [[List of Mega Man characters#Proto Man|Proto Man]].<ref>{{cite video game|title=Mega Man 3|developer=[[Capcom]]|publisher=Capcom|date=November 1990|platform=Nintendo Entertainment System|quote='''Dr. Light:''' Mega Man, you've regained consciousness. I found you lying here when I arrived. I wonder who brought you here... This whistle... It must have been Proto Man!}}</ref><ref name="steps">{{cite web | author=Thomas, Lucas M. | date=February 16, 2010 | title=The 10 Steps to ''Mega Man 10'' | url=http://wii.ign.com/articles/106/1069184p2.html | website=[[IGN]] | access-date=January 7, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120422055712/http://wii.ign.com/articles/106/1069184p2.html | archive-date=April 22, 2012 | url-status=dead }}</ref>

==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.
{{Clear}}

==Development==
Development on ''Mega Man 3'' began at [[Capcom]] over a year after the release of ''Mega Man 2''. [[Akira Kitamura]], the lead supervisor for the first two games quit his job at the company during that gap of time.<ref name="r20"/> Artist [[Keiji Inafune]], credited as "Inafking", considered ''Mega Man 3'' as one of his least favorite entries in the series due to "[...] what went into the game and what was behind the release of the game."<ref name="gamesradar"/><ref name="inafuneinterview">{{cite magazine | title=Power Profiles: Keiji Inafune | date=October 2007 |magazine=[[Nintendo Power]] | author=''Nintendo Power'' staff | publisher=[[Nintendo|Nintendo of America]] | issue=220 |pages=79–81 | issn=1041-9551}}</ref> He had "preset notions" about successful development because of the team's good experience with ''Mega Man 2'' and found that his new superior "didn't really understand ''Mega Man'' the way his predecessor did".<ref name="r20"/> During the game's production, the developers lost the main planner, so Inafune had to take over that job for its completion.<ref name="inafuneinterview"/> Inafune recalled the final two months of development as particularly turbulent, when he had to take responsibility for assessing and dividing up tasks among the team members who were not meeting deadlines.<ref name="r20"/><ref>{{cite journal| journal=CFC Style Fan-Book | volume=3 | author=Inafune, Keiji | year=1997 | title=''Rockman'' 10th Anniversary Celebration Plans | publisher=[[Capcom]] | language=ja | page=24 }}</ref> The team was forced to put ''Mega Man 3'' on the market before they thought it was ready, releasing it in September instead of the series' usual arrivals in December. Inafune concluded, "I knew that if we had more time to polish it, we could do a lot of things better, make it a better game, but the company said that we needed to release it. The whole environment behind what went into the production of the game is what I least favored. Numbers one and two – I really wanted to make the games; I was so excited about them. Number three – it just turned very different."<ref name="inafuneinterview"/>

''Mega Man 3'' brought new characters and gameplay mechanics to the franchise. Though Inafune considers the gameplay to have lost some of its simplicity, he felt Mega Man's slide ability was successfully implemented to enhance the player's control while battling enemies.<ref name="r20"/> Mega Man's sidekick dog Rush was designed by combining the functionality of three support tools from ''Mega Man 2'', which would ease the player's navigation of stages.<ref name="r20"/> In addition to the Marine and Coil modes, Rush was originally intended to have a "drill" mode that would allow Mega Man to tunnel underground.<ref name="r20-2">{{cite book |isbn=978-1-897376-79-9 |date=January 6, 2010 |title=Mega Man: Official Complete Works|publisher=[[Udon Entertainment]] | pages=120–121}}</ref><ref name="tgs07">{{cite web | author=Niizumi, Hirohiko | date=September 23, 2007 | title=TGS '07: ''Mega Man'' celebrates 20th anniversary | url=http://www.gamespot.com/news/6179759.html | work=[[GameSpot]] | publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] | access-date=May 25, 2010 | archive-date=December 16, 2012 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20121216073332/http://www.gamespot.com/news/6179759.html | url-status=live }}</ref> Another new character, Proto Man, was introduced in a way that the player would be unable to tell if he was an ally or an enemy to Mega Man.<ref name="r20"/> His design was influenced by [[anime]], and he was given both a scarf and shield to make him appear "tougher" than Mega Man.<ref name="r20"/> The design team wanted Proto Man to sport uncovered hair, but they instead opted for an open-faced helmet illustration for both the television commercials and instruction manual.<ref name="r20-2"/> Proto Man's original Japanese name, Blues, was changed by Capcom's North American division despite Inafune's protests. Capcom did this not only to be consistent with Rockman's English name, but because they thought that the name Blues made no sense. Inafune attempted to defend it due to the name's [[Blues|musical connotation]] to character names in the series.<ref name="playmag">{{cite magazine |magazine=[[Play (UK magazine)|Play]] | date=April 2004 | author=Hoffman, Chris | title=The Best Damn ''Mega Man'' Feature Period | volume=3 | issue=4 | publisher=[[Imagine Publishing]] | issn=1747-7859}}</ref> Though Rush and Proto Man were created solely by the developer, Capcom sought ideas from fans for the creation of the game's Robot Masters as they had done with ''Mega Man 2''.<ref name="tgs07"/> The team received around 50,000 design submissions for ''Mega Man 3'', only eight of which were used in the game.<ref name="r20"/><ref>{{cite magazine | script-title=ja:ロックマン3 |trans-title=Rockman 3 |magazine=[[Famitsu|Weekly Famitsu]] | author=Famitsu staff| date=June 22, 1990 | issue=103 | page=214 | publisher=[[Enterbrain]], [[Tokuma Shoten]] | language=ja}}</ref> [[Harumi Fujita]], credited as "Mrs. Tarumi", was the initial composer of the game, but she only completed a few songs before giving birth and having to drop off the project.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vgmonline.net/harumifujitainterview/|title=Harumi Fujita Interview: Ghosts, Goblins, and Gargoyles|publisher=Video Game Music Online|last1=Greening|first1=Chris|date=August 15, 2015|access-date=August 19, 2015|archive-date=April 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190412065348/http://www.vgmonline.net/harumifujitainterview/|url-status=live}}</ref> She composed the songs ‘Needle Man’, ‘Gemini Man’, and ‘Staff Roll’.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bravewave.net/artist/harumi-fujita/|title=Harumi Fujita|website=Brave Wave Productions|language=en-US|access-date=July 20, 2017|archive-date=January 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170107210702/http://www.bravewave.net/harumi-fujita|url-status=live}}</ref> Capcom composer [[Yasuaki Fujita]], also known as "Bun Bun" was then assigned to complete the soundtrack and created the majority of the score.<ref name="mm9arrange"/><ref name="ippoyamada"/>

==Reception==
{{Video game reviews
|Allgame={{rating|4.5|5}}<ref name="allgame">{{cite web|url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=285&tab=review|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141211123434/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=285&tab=review|title=Mega Man 3|access-date=June 10, 2016|last=Weiss|first=Brett Alan|archive-date=December 11, 2014}}</ref>
|Dragon={{rating|3|5}}<ref name="Dragon168">{{cite magazine|title=The Role of Computers|last1=Lesser|last2=Lesser|last3=Lesser|first1=Hartley|first2=Patricia|first3=Kirk|magazine=[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]|issue=168|date=April 1991|publisher=[[TSR, Inc.]]|pages=47–54|issn=0279-6848}}</ref>
|EGM=9 out of 10<ref name="egm">{{Cite magazine| author=''Electronic Gaming Monthly'' staff |magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]] | title=Nintendo Player: ''Mega Man 3'' | issue=15 |date = December 1990| page=64 | publisher=Sendai Publications | issn=1058-918X}}</ref>
|EuroG=9 out of 10<ref name="eurogreview">{{cite web | author=Whitehead, Dan | date=November 17, 2008 | title=Virtual Console Roundup Review | url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/virtual-console-roundup_8_9 | website=[[Eurogamer]] | access-date=October 29, 2011 | archive-date=March 16, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130316090710/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/virtual-console-roundup_8_9 | url-status=live }}</ref>
|Fam=23 out of 40<ref name="famrev">{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/stream/bi-weekly-famitsu-no.-111-october-12th-1990/Bi-Weekly%20Famitsu%20-%20No.%20111%20October%2012th%201990%20%28Compressed%29#page/n16/mode/1up |magazine=[[Famitsu|Weekly Famitsu]]| publisher=[[Enterbrain]], [[Tokuma Shoten]] | author=Famitsu staff| date=October 12, 1990 | title=Cross Review | issue=111 | page=17 | language=ja}}</ref>
|GamePro=24 out of 25<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://retrocdn.net/images/f/f5/GamePro_US_016.pdf |title=Nintendo ProView: ''Mega Man 3'' |author=Tobar the 8 Man |magazine=[[GamePro]] |date=November 1990 |pages=78–80}}</ref>
|IGN=9.5 out of 10<ref name="ignrev"/>
}}
''Mega Man 3'' has enjoyed a positive reception from print and online sources. Lucas M. Thomas of [[IGN]], Christian Nutt and Justin Speer of [[GameSpot]], Hartley, Patricia, and Kirk Lesser ("The Lessers") of ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'', Dan Whitehead of [[Eurogamer]], Edward J. Semrad of ''[[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel|The Milwaukee Journal]]'' and ''[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]'' (''EGM''), and the staff of ''[[Nintendo Power]]'' all mutually found the game to have impressive graphics, enjoyable music, and challenging gameplay.<ref name="ignrev"/><ref name="egm"/><ref name="eurogreview"/><ref name="gamespot">{{cite web |author1=Nutt, Christian |author2=Speer, Justin |name-list-style=amp |title=The History of ''Mega Man'' |url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-history-of-mega-man/1100-6076983/ |work=[[GameSpot]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |access-date=January 1, 2011 |archive-date=October 26, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131026090646/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-history-of-mega-man/1100-6076983/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=<nowiki>'</nowiki>''Mega Man''<nowiki>'</nowiki> as good as they come |author=Semrad, Edward |newspaper=[[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel|The Milwaukee Journal]] |publisher=[[Journal Communications]] |date=September 25, 1990 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=C58aAAAAIBAJ&sjid=HCwEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7143,1081986&dq=mega-man-3&hl=en |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120711114130/http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=C58aAAAAIBAJ&sjid=HCwEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7143,1081986&dq=mega-man-3&hl=en |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 11, 2012 |access-date=December 27, 2009 |issn=1082-8850 }}</ref><ref name="np20th">{{cite magazine | author=''Nintendo Power'' staff | date=August 2008 |title=Nintendo Power – The 20th Anniversary Issue! |magazine= [[Nintendo Power]] |issue=231 |page=71 |publisher=[[Future US]] | issn=1041-9551}}</ref> Nutt and Speer summarized ''Mega Man 3'' as a "top-notch game" and Capcom's "pinnacle of NES effort".<ref name="gamespot"/> IGN's Colin Moriarty argued the game as a major improvement over the original ''[[Mega Man (1987 video game)|Mega Man]]'' and that it even surpasses the critically acclaimed ''Mega Man 2'' in quality. Moriarty justified this claim with the third installment's attempt at better storytelling, its longer length than any other classic ''Mega Man'' game, and its inclusion of all eight ''Mega Man 2'' Robot Masters in addition to its own.<ref name="ignbest">{{cite web | author=Moriarty, Colin | date=April 4, 2010 | title=''Mega Man 2'' isn't the Best ''Mega Man'' Game | url=http://wii.ign.com/articles/115/1159328p1.html | website=[[IGN]] | access-date=December 15, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120123173615/http://wii.ign.com/articles/115/1159328p1.html | archive-date=January 23, 2012 | url-status=dead }}</ref> Brett Alan Weiss of [[AllGame]] described it as doing what "a great sequel is supposed to do by recapturing the fun, spirit and excitement of its predecessors while adding new levels, characters and challenges."<ref name="allgame" />

Some critics found ''Mega Man 3'' to be [[Nintendo hard|excessively difficult]].<ref name="eurogreview"/><ref name="famrev"/><ref>{{cite news |title=''Mega Man 3'' is here, and its tough |author=Carter, Chip and Jonathan |newspaper=[[Boca Raton News]] |publisher=South Florida Media Company |date=February 21, 1991 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=JsoPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=oYwDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5259,3013553&dq=mega-man-3&hl=en |access-date=December 27, 2009 |archive-date=August 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210824021332/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=JsoPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=oYwDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5259,3013553&dq=mega-man-3&hl=en |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="gamepro8bit">{{cite magazine | author=Noble, McKinley | date=June 15, 2009 | title=The 24 Greatest 8-Bit Games Ever Made | url=http://www.gamepro.com/article/features/210859/the-24-best-8-bit-games-ever-page-4/ | magazine=[[GamePro]] | publisher=[[International Data Group|IDG]] |access-date=May 10, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090622041611/http://www.gamepro.com/article/features/210859/the-24-best-8-bit-games-ever-page-4/|archive-date=June 22, 2009}}</ref> ''[[GamePro]]'' contributor McKinley Noble comically stated that actions such as "pulling teeth, lifting a car over your head or performing open-heart surgery" are all significantly easier than beating ''Mega Man 3''.<ref name="gamepro8bit"/> Whitehead noted, "Leaps must be precise, enemies must be dispatched rapidly and accurately, and there's a constant state of delicious near-panic as you wait to see what vicious demands the next room will place on your platforming skills."<ref name="eurogreview"/> The Lessers additionally saw considerable [[Flicker (screen)|flicker]] when too many sprites appear onscreen at once. The writers mentioned that it detracted from the normally crisp graphics the few times it was noticed.<ref name="Dragon168"/>

Since its 1990 release, ''Mega Man 3'' has sold over one million copies worldwide.<ref name="sales">{{cite web|url=https://www.capcom.co.jp/ir/english/business/million.html#tab5|title=Capcom, Platinum Titles|website=Capcom|date=June 30, 2024|access-date=August 12, 2024}}</ref> ''EGM'' listed ''Mega Man 3'' as "The Best Sequel to an Existing Game" in its 1991 Video Game Buyer's Guide.<ref>{{Cite magazine| author=''Electronic Gaming Monthly'' staff |magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]] | title=The Best (and Worst) of 1990 | issue=15 |date = December 1990| publisher=Sendai Publications | page=16| issn=1058-918X}}</ref> The readers of ''[[Nintendo Power]]'' voted it the third-best game of 1990 in the magazine's "Nintendo Power Awards" for that year.<ref>{{cite magazine | author=''Nintendo Power'' staff| title=Nintendo Power Awards '90| date=May 1991 | issue=24 | page=32 |magazine=[[Nintendo Power]] | publisher=Nintendo of America | location=Redmond, Washington | issn=1041-9551 | url=https://archive.org/details/NintendoPower1988-2004/Nintendo%20Power%20Issue%20024%20%28May%201991%29/page/n31/mode/2up}}</ref> The publication listed ''Mega Man 3'' as the 11th best NES video game in their 20th anniversary issue in 2008.<ref name="np20th"/> IGN included it at number 16 on its "Top 100 NES Games of All Time".<ref name="igntop100">{{cite web | author=IGN staff | year=2010 | title=16. ''Mega Man 3'' | url=http://www.ign.com/top-100-nes-games/16.html | website=IGN | access-date=December 15, 2011 | archive-date=December 8, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111208114622/http://www.ign.com/top-100-nes-games/16.html | url-status=live }}</ref> Finally, ''GamePro'' ranked ''Mega Man 3'' as the third-greatest 8-bit video game of all time.<ref name="gamepro8bit"/>

==Legacy==
''Mega Man 3'' has seen releases on many consoles and other devices since its 1990 debut on the NES. In the United States, it was made into a stripped-down, handheld [[Liquid crystal display|LCD]] game by [[Tiger Electronics]].<ref>{{cite book |editor=Tiger Electronics |title=''Electronic'' Mega Man 3 ''LCD Game instruction manual''|year=1991 |publisher=[[Tiger Electronics]] | id=Model 7-834}}</ref> It is the only ''Mega Man'' game in Nintendo's [[PlayChoice-10]] [[Arcade game|arcade]] library.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/mega-man-3/|title=Mega Man 3 – Hardcore Gaming 101|access-date=February 15, 2020|archive-date=February 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200216231007/http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/mega-man-3/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=PlayChoice 10 – Videogame by Capcom | url=http://www.arcade-museum.com/game_detail.php?game_id=9043 | work=[[Killer List of Videogames]] | publisher=International Arcade Museum | access-date=January 3, 2011 | archive-date=November 15, 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101115145425/http://arcade-museum.com/game_detail.php?game_id=9043 | url-status=live }}</ref> ''Mega Man 3'' was [[video game remake|remade]] in 1994 for the [[Sega Genesis]] game ''[[Mega Man: The Wily Wars]]'', featuring updated graphics and sound.<ref name="gamesradar"/> ''Mega Man 3'' was released on the [[Sony Computer Entertainment|Sony]] [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]] in the ''[[Rockman Complete Works]]'' line in Japan in 1999. This version has arranged music, artwork galleries, and a "navi" mode for beginner players.<ref name="completeworks"/><ref>{{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-28.html| work=[[GameSpot]]| publisher=[[CBS Interactive]]| access-date=January 22, 2011| archive-date=June 28, 2011| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628235210/http://www.gamespot.com/features/6076983/p-28.html| url-status=live}}</ref> The NES edition of the game was also part of a North American compilation of ten titles in the series called ''[[Mega Man Anniversary Collection]]'', which was released for the [[PlayStation 2]] and [[GameCube]] in 2004, and the [[Xbox (console)|Xbox]] in 2005.<ref>{{cite web | author=Adams, David | date=June 23, 2004 | title=''Mega Man Anniversary Collection'' Ships | url=http://ps2.ign.com/articles/525/525848p1.html | website=[[IGN]] | access-date=January 1, 2011 | archive-date=May 25, 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100525231013/http://ps2.ign.com/articles/525/525848p1.html | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | author=Adams, David | date=March 15, 2005 | title=''Mega Man'' Collection Ships | url=http://xbox.ign.com/articles/596/596170p1.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050316135640/http://xbox.ign.com/articles/596/596170p1.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=March 16, 2005 | website=[[IGN]] | access-date=January 1, 2011}}</ref> Also in 2005, ''Mega Man 3'' was bundled alongside other Capcom games as part of a [[Jakks Pacific#Plug It In & Play TV Games|Plug It In & Play TV Games]] peripheral by [[Jakks Pacific]].<ref>{{cite web | author=Outsiders in Gaming | date=March 9, 2005 | title=JAKKS Pacific Offers TV Games GameKey For Classic Capcom Games | url=http://toynewsi.com/news.php?catid=115&itemid=6360 | publisher=Toy News International | access-date=January 7, 2011 | archive-date=July 11, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200711160633/https://toynewsi.com/news.php?catid=115&itemid=6360 | url-status=live }}</ref> ''Mega Man 3'' was released by Capcom on [[mobile phone]]s in Japan in 2005 and in North America in 2008.<ref name="jpmobile"/><ref name="namobile"/> The NES version made its way to the Nintendo [[Wii]]'s [[Virtual Console]] service worldwide in 2008.<ref name="vcjapan">{{cite web | title=<nowiki>Wii | バーチャルコンソール 現在配信中のタイトル(ファミリーコンピュータ)</nowiki> | trans-title=<nowiki>Wii | List of Virtual Console titles Distribution (NES)</nowiki> | author=Nintendo staff | url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/wii/vc/fc.html | publisher=[[Nintendo]] | language=ja | access-date=December 27, 2009 | archive-date=February 9, 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100209014624/http://www.nintendo.co.jp/wii/vc/fc.html | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="vcna">{{cite news|title=Two WiiWare Games and One Virtual Console Game Added to Wii Shop Channel|author=Nintendo staff|url=https://www.nintendo.com/whatsnew/detail/UIu1VJEn-pwWGnHLeS8kKvUo-G4zzW1H|date=November 10, 2008|publisher=[[Nintendo]]|access-date=November 11, 2008|archive-date=December 18, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081218003317/http://www.nintendo.com/whatsnew/detail/UIu1VJEn-pwWGnHLeS8kKvUo-G4zzW1H|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="vceurope">{{cite web | title=''Mega Man''™ ''3''| author=Nintendo staff | url=https://www.nintendo.co.uk/NOE/en_GB/games/vc/mega_mantm_3_10131.html | publisher=[[Nintendo]] | access-date=December 18, 2011}}</ref> The ''Complete Works'' version was released on the [[PlayStation Network]] (downloadable on [[PlayStation 3]] and [[PlayStation Portable]]) in Japan in 2010 and in North America in 2011.<ref name="psnetwork">{{cite web|title=ロックマン3 Dr.ワイリーの最期!?|trans-title=Rockman 3: The End of Dr. Wily!?|url=http://www.jp.playstation.com/software/title/jp0102npjj00341_000000000000000001.html|publisher=[[Sony Computer Entertainment]]|date=April 28, 2010|author=SCEI staff|access-date=September 7, 2011|language=ja|archive-date=May 20, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190520082232/https://www.jp.playstation.com/software/title/jp0102npjj00341_000000000000000001.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="psnna">{{cite web | author=Ishaan | date=March 7, 2011 | title=''Mega Man 3'' Slides To PsOne Imports This Week | url=http://www.siliconera.com/2011/03/07/mega-man-3-slides-to-ps-one-imports-this-week/ | publisher=Siliconera | access-date=March 13, 2011 | archive-date=August 9, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170809131455/http://www.siliconera.com/2011/03/07/mega-man-3-slides-to-ps-one-imports-this-week/ | url-status=live }}</ref> ''Mega Man 3'' was made available for download on the [[Nintendo 3DS]] Virtual Console in Japan on September 26, 2012.<ref name="3dsjp">{{cite web | author=Ishaan | date=September 24, 2012 | title=''Mega Man 3'' Slides To 3DS Virtual Console In Japan This Week | url=http://www.siliconera.com/2012/09/24/mega-man-3-slides-to-3ds-virtual-console-in-japan-this-week/ | publisher=Siliconera | access-date=October 3, 2012 | archive-date=August 9, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170809133348/http://www.siliconera.com/2012/09/24/mega-man-3-slides-to-3ds-virtual-console-in-japan-this-week/ | url-status=live }}</ref> ''Mega Man 3'' and its prequel ''[[Mega Man 2]]'' are included on the Super Retro-Cade collection, a dedicated console released in 2018 that comes with 90 arcade, NES and Super NES video games.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 25, 2018 |title=Retro Gamer: Super Retro-cade |url=https://www.pressreader.com/uk/retro-gamer/20180125/283390537273019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210810213604/https://www.pressreader.com/uk/retro-gamer/20180125/283390537273019 |archive-date=August 10, 2021 |access-date=May 6, 2020 |website=PressReader }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://retro-bit.com/super-retrocade|title=Retro-Bit Super Retro-Cade|website=retro-bit.com|access-date=May 6, 2020|archive-date=June 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200625085630/http://retro-bit.com/super-retrocade|url-status=live}}</ref>

Many of the features introduced in ''Mega Man 3'' have been carried on by the series. These include the characters Proto Man and Rush, the player's ability to slide, and extra stages set between the initial eight Robot Masters and Dr. Wily's fortress.<ref>{{cite web | author=Thomas, Lucas M. | date=October 10, 2008 | title=Retro Remix: Top 10 Unreleased NES Hits | url=http://wii.ign.com/articles/918/918501p1.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081014071930/http://wii.ign.com/articles/918/918501p1.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=October 14, 2008 | website=[[IGN]] | access-date=January 9, 2011}}</ref> With the release of ''[[Mega Man 9]]'' in 2008, however, some of these elements and others implemented in the third through eighth installments were forgone in favor of the more basic aspects of ''Mega Man'' and ''Mega Man 2''.<ref name="steps"/><ref>{{cite web | author=Parish, Jeremy | date=July 14, 2008 | title=''Mega Man 9'' Interview | url=http://www.1up.com/previews/mega-man-9_2 | work=[[1UP.com]] | publisher=[[Ziff Davis]] | access-date=January 3, 2011 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629032728/http://www.1up.com/previews/mega-man-9_2 | archive-date=June 29, 2011 }}</ref> The producers of ''Mega Man 9'' have referred to the ninth game as "the new ''Mega Man 3''" because they wanted to surpass what they accomplished in ''Mega Man 2''.<ref>{{cite web | author=DiMola, Nick | date=August 5, 2008 | title=''Mega Man 9'' to Include Screen Flicker and Slowdown Options | url=http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/16526 | publisher=Nintendo World Report | access-date=January 3, 2011 | archive-date=April 26, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426023858/http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/16526 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine | author=''Nintendo Power'' staff |magazine=[[Nintendo Power]] | publisher=[[Future US]] | date=August 2008 | issue=231 | title=Wii Channels: True Blue | pages=20–2 | issn=1041-9551}}</ref>

The game was adapted into the [[Archie Comics]] [[Mega Man (Archie Comics)|Mega Man series]] over an extended period, with Gamma being introduced and having its power source stolen in the "Redemption" arc while the full adaptation takes place in "Legends of the Blue Bomber" and "The Ultimate Betrayal". One of the biggest differences was that ''[[Super Adventure Rockman]]'' was adapted into the continuity prior to this game; as such, the ''Mega Man 3'' Robot Masters debut in that adaptation. This also results in Shadow Man's ruins of origin being made the Lanfront Ruins of ''Super Adventure Rockman'' and connecting his history to that of Ra Moon; a flashback featured in the "Legends of the Blue Bomber" arc reveals that his history is also connected with the mysterious robot who fights Duo in the beginning of ''[[Mega Man 8]]''. Additionally, there is but a single "DOC Robot" featured in the game, equipped with the weapons and personality data of the ''Mega Man 2'' Robot Masters.

==References==
{{notelist}}
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book |last=Pane |first=Salvatore |title=Mega Man 3 |date=September 26, 2016 |publisher=[[Boss Fight Books]] |location=Los Angeles |isbn=978-1-940535-14-2}}

==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}}
*{{mobygames|/mega-man-3}}

{{Mega Man series}}
{{Authority control}}
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