1980s
Mega Man
1987 · Platform / Action · NES
Overview
Mega Man is a classic 1980s platform / action game developed by Capcom for NES.
Deep Dive
Mega Man is a classic 1980s platform / action game developed by Capcom for NES.
Developer Story
Mega Man was designed by Akira Kitamura at Capcom in 1987. The core innovation was the stage-select screen allowing players to tackle six Robot Masters in any order — each defeated boss surrendered their weapon, usable against other bosses with specific vulnerabilities. Kitamura designed each Robot Master with a clear thematic identity (Cut Man, Bomb Man, Guts Man) that communicated their attack patterns visually.
Did You Know?
- Players could complete the six Robot Master stages in any order — a non-linear structure rare in 1987 action games.
- Each Robot Master weapon was specifically effective against one other Robot Master, creating a rock-paper-scissors chain that rewarded discovery.
- The original Mega Man sold poorly — Capcom nearly cancelled the series. The sequel's success after fan petitioning turned it into Capcom's most enduring franchise.
- Mega Man's visual design — blue colour, arm cannon, helmet — was created by Keiji Inafune, who went on to become the series' creative director.
- The slide ability was added in Mega Man 3 after players requested more movement options — Capcom incorporated player feedback directly into sequel design.
