Editing Mega Man (section)

== Reception and legacy ==
[[File:Mega Man 20th Anniversary.jpg|thumb|An artwork from the franchise's 20th anniversary featuring various incarnations of characters named or titled as "Mega Man" for the franchise's 20th Anniversary. From left to right: Zero, Mega Man Volnutt, Mega Man.EXE, Mega Man, Grey, Ashe, Geo Stelar, Vent, and X.]]
According to [[GamesRadar]], the ''Mega Man'' games were the first to feature a [[Nonlinear gameplay|non-linear]] "level select" option. This was a stark contrast to both linear games (like ''[[Super Mario Bros.]]'') and [[open world]] games (like ''[[The Legend of Zelda (video game)|The Legend of Zelda]]'' and ''[[Metroid]]''). GamesRadar credits the "level select" feature of ''Mega Man'' as the basis for the non-linear mission structure found in most open-world, multi-mission, [[sidequest]]-heavy games, including modern games like ''[[Grand Theft Auto]]'', ''[[Red Dead Redemption]]'' and ''[[Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions]]''.<ref>{{cite web |date=October 8, 2010 |title=Gaming's most important evolutions |url=http://www.gamesradar.com/f/gamings-most-important-evolutions/a-20101008102331322035/p-5 |publisher=[[GamesRadar]] |access-date=2011-01-09}}</ref> In ''[[Street Fighter: Assassin's Fist]]'' tenth episode "Raging Demon", [[Ryu (Street Fighter)|Ryu]] and [[Ken Masters|Ken]] were seen playing ''Mega Man 2'' from a gift from Ken's father.

The original Mega Man series was well received, with IGN ranking all six original titles in the top 100 best NES games. Mega Man 2 in particular is widely regarded as the best of the series and one of the finest and most influential platformers of all-time. IGN ranked it as the fourth best NES game, behind only Super Mario and Legend of Zelda titles, calling it "virtually flawless" and its gameplay "oft-replicated and never exceeded".<ref>{{cite web |title=Top 100 NES Games |url=https://www.ign.com/lists/top-100-nes-games/4 |access-date=October 26, 2020}}</ref>

The ''Mega Man X'' series has been positively received. The first Mega Man X game was widely acclaimed by critics since its release. Gaming magazines in the United States and Europe including ''[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]'' (''EGM''), ''[[GamePro]]'', ''[[Game Players]]'', ''[[Nintendo Power]]'', ''[[Super Play]]'', and the German version of ''[[Total!]]'' consistently lauded the game's visuals, audio, control, and overall gameplay.<ref name="ignrev">{{cite web |author=Lucas, Thomas M. |date=August 18, 2008 |title=''Mega Man'' Review - Wii Review |url=http://uk.wii.ign.com/articles/899/899596p1.html |website=IGN |access-date=May 8, 2010}}</ref> ''Game Players'' summarized ''Mega Man X'' as "a near-perfect [[ROM cartridge|cart]] with classic gameplay, excellent graphics and sound and tons of hidden items and power-ups". ''Nintendo Power'' stated that the game had "great control and fun" along with "challenging play".{{Citation needed|date=June 2019}}

Websites such as [[IGN]], [[GameSpot]], [[GamesRadar]], and [[1UP.com]] retrospectively held ''Mega Man X'' as a successful milestone in converting the ''Mega Man'' series from its increasingly stale existence on the NES to the SNES.<ref name="gamesradar">{{cite web |author=Elston, Brett |date=July 3, 2008 |title=''Mega Man 9'' - exclusive interview with the mind behind the machines |url=http://www.gamesradar.com/f/mega-man-9-exclusive-interview-with-the-mind-behind-the-machines/a-2008070217152878013/p-2 |work=[[GamesRadar]] |publisher=[[Future plc]] |access-date=May 8, 2010}}</ref><ref name="ignrev"/><ref>{{cite web |author=Parish, Jeremy |date=May 10, 2007 |title=The ''Mega Man'' Series Roundup |url=http://www.1up.com/features/mega-man-series-roundup?pager.offset=1 |work=[[1UP.com]] |publisher=[[Ziff Davis]] |access-date=April 10, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105203414/http://www.1up.com/features/mega-man-series-roundup?pager.offset=1 | archive-date=November 5, 2012}}</ref> Brett Elston of GamesRadar stated, "''X'' was a total reinvention of the series, a perfectly executed update that had fans anticipating its release with a fervor the franchise hadn't seen since the ''[[Mega Man 2]]'' and ''[[Mega Man 3|3]]'' days."<ref name="gamesradar"/>

''Mega Man X'' received criticism from some publications as well. Ed Semrad, Danyon Carpenter, and Al Manuel of the ''EGM'' review panel all noted that the game may have too low a [[difficulty level]]; Semrad disliked the introductory stage and felt that the game was too short as well. ''Super Play'' editor Zy Nicholson lowered his review score of the game because he found the levels were neither large nor challenging. "A few elementary tricks like repeating easy sections to recoup energy and weapon power will see you through the harder bits," Nicholson explained. "Within the level you'll also find restart points, extra lives, and no harsh time limit to put pressure on your performance. Couple this with a password system that records your level completion, status and weapon accumulation and you'll see we're not looking at a lasting challenge for the experienced player." ''Nintendo Power'' criticized how little the game had changed stating that "the theme remains the same as the Game Boy and NES Mega Man titles." The game's title initially proved a source of some confusion; the gaming media reported that many gamers mistook the "X" for the [[roman numeral]] 10.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Cart Queries|magazine=[[GamePro]]|issue=64|publisher=[[International Data Group|IDG]]|date=November 1994|page=15}}</ref>

''Mega Man X'' was ranked number 58 in ''Nintendo Power'''s "100 Best Nintendo Games of All Time" in its 100th issue in September 1997, number 103 in the publication's "Top 200 Games" list for its 200th issue in February 2006, and the 11th best SNES game of all time in its August 2008 issue.<ref>{{cite magazine |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|title=Top 20 Super NES Games |date=August 2008 |issue=231|magazine=[[Nintendo Power]]|page=72 |publisher=[[Future US]] | issn=1041-9551}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=September 1997 |issue=100 |page=96 |title=Nintendo Power's 100 Best Nintendo Games of All Time |magazine=Nintendo Power |publisher=Nintendo of America |issn=1041-9551}}</ref><ref name="NP Top 200">{{cite magazine |author=''Nintendo Power'' staff |date=February 2006 |title=NP Top 200|magazine=Nintendo Power |publisher=Nintendo of America |issue=200|pages=58–66 |issn=1041-9551}}</ref> Both GamesRadar and [[ScrewAttack]] listed ''Mega Man X'' as the [[ScrewAttack's Top 10|eighth best game in the SNES library]].<ref>{{cite web |author=ScrewAttack staff|date=April 7, 2008 |title=Top 20 SNES Games (10-1) |url=http://www.gametrailers.com/video/top-20-screwattack/32570 |series=''[[ScrewAttack's Top 10]]'' |publisher=[[GameTrailers]] |access-date=December 26, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=GamesRadar staff |title=The 25 best Super NES games of all time |url=http://www.gamesradar.com/25-best-super-nes-games-all-time/?page=3 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130124012057/http://www.gamesradar.com/25-best-super-nes-games-all-time/?page=3 |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 24, 2013 |work=[[GamesRadar]] |publisher=[[Future plc]] |access-date=August 31, 2011}}</ref> ''GamePro'' similarly listed it as the eighth greatest 16-bit video game.<ref>{{cite magazine | author=Noble, McKinley | date=July 27, 2009 |title=The 30 Greatest 16-Bit Games |url=http://www.gamepro.com/article/features/211454/the-30-greatest-16-bit-games-page-4/ |magazine=[[GamePro]] |publisher=[[International Data Group|IDG]] |access-date=December 25, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100425070748/http://www.gamepro.com/article/features/211454/the-30-greatest-16-bit-games-page-4/ |archive-date=2010-04-25}}</ref> ''[[Game Informer]]'' considered it the 120th best game of all time in its own 200th issue in December 2009.<ref>{{cite magazine|date=December 2009 |title=The Top 200 Games of All Time |magazine=[[Game Informer]] |publisher=GameStop |issue=200|pages=44–79 |issn=1067-6392}}</ref> IGN named it the twelfth-best on its own top 100 SNES games list in 2011.<ref>{{cite web |author=George, Richard | year=2011 | title=Top 100 Super Nintendo (SNES) Video Games | url=http://www.ign.com/top/snes-games/12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111102032033/http://www.ign.com/top/snes-games/12 | url-status=dead | archive-date=November 2, 2011 |website=IGN |access-date=August 27, 2011}}</ref>

''Mega Man X'' was a commercial success. The SNES version has sold 1.16 million copies worldwide as of March 31, 2021, making it the 89th best-selling Capcom game of all time.<ref>{{cite web |author=Roper, Chris |date=May 23, 2008 |title=Capcom Releases Lifetime Sales Numbers |url=http://psp.ign.com/articles/876/876334p1.html |website=IGN |access-date=May 7, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Capcom staff |title=Capcom Platinum Titles |publisher=[[Capcom]] |access-date=January 9, 2011 |url=http://www.capcom.co.jp/ir/english/business/million.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150208030840/http://www.capcom.co.jp/ir/english/business/million.html |archive-date=February 8, 2015}}</ref> IGN's Jeremy Dunham speculated that the game's more mature storyline and its inclusion of numerous gameplay extensions over the original ''Mega Man'' series helped create a "unique cadre of fans".<ref>{{cite web |author=Dunham, Jeremy |date=January 5, 2006 |title=''Mega Man X Collection'' - PlayStation 2 Review |url=http://ps2.ign.com/articles/678/678927p1.html |website=IGN |access-date=January 15, 2010}}</ref><ref name="gamesradar"/> A spin-off series, ''[[Mega Man Zero]]'', began in 2002 on the [[Game Boy Advance]] handheld as a result of the immense popularity of the character Zero.<ref name="playmag2">{{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><ref name="gamesradar"/>

The ''Mega Man Zero'' games have earned generally positive reviews. Review sources both criticized and praised the high difficulty level of the game and remarked that they were similar in nature to earlier installments in the Mega Man series. Positive reviews noted the variety of abilities and customization along with an engaging story than compared to its earlier series, while negative reviews focused on the series repetitiveness and lack of originality. Review scores were lower for the last two games in the series, with critics pointing out that the games were just using the same gameplay without introducing anything new.<ref name="metacriticscores">{{cite web |title=Mega Man Zero metacritic scores |url=http://www.metacritic.com/search/process?sb=0&tfs=all&ts=%22mega+man+zero%22&ty=0&x=0&y=0 |publisher=metacritic.com |access-date=2008-04-10}}</ref> When the first game in the series came out, reviewers were quick to hail a return to what they considered "the Mega Man roots", however some fans criticized that the lack of knowing which boss the player will face next was a change for the worse and that it "takes away what made the series unique in the past".<ref>{{cite web |title=IGN: Mega Man Zero Review |url=http://gameboy.ign.com/articles/371/371895p1.html |author=Craig Harris |website=IGN |date=2002-09-23 |access-date=2007-01-27}}</ref>

Overall, the character of Mega Man has been well received by critics. [[IGN]] called him an icon of Capcom.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/12/08/mega-man-returns-in-street-fighter-x-mega-man|title=Mega Man Returns in Street Fighter X Mega Man|date=December 8, 2012|last=George|first=Richard|website=[[IGN]]|access-date=April 20, 2013}}</ref> ''[[Nintendo Power]]'' listed Mega Man as their fourth favourite hero, citing his ability to steal weapons from downed Robot Masters.<ref>{{cite book |title=Nintendo Power 250th issue! |year=2010 |publisher=[[Future US]] |location=[[South San Francisco, California]] |pages=40, 41}}</ref> Mega Man was also listed as the best robot in video games by many sources such [[Joystick Division]], [[UGO Networks]], and ''[[Complex (magazine)|Complex]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.joystickdivision.com/2011/08/the_top_ten_robots_in_video_ga.php|title=The Top Ten Robots In Video Game History|author=Hawkins, James|date=August 25, 2011|publisher=[[Joystiq]]|access-date=April 20, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131006231711/http://www.joystickdivision.com/2011/08/the_top_ten_robots_in_video_ga.php |archive-date=October 6, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ugo.com/games/we-love-these-video-game-robots-even-though-they-cant-love-back?page=8 |title=The 25 Coolest Robots in Video Games |author=Knight, Rich |date=July 17, 2012 |publisher=[[UGO Networks]] |access-date=April 20, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219072950/http://www.ugo.com/games/we-love-these-video-game-robots-even-though-they-cant-love-back?page=8 |archive-date=December 19, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.complex.com/video-games/2012/07/the-25-coolest-robots-in-video-games/mega-man|title=We Love These Video Game Robots Even Though They Can't Love Back|author=Meli, Marissa|date=June 10, 2011|work=[[Complex (magazine)|Complex]]|access-date=April 20, 2013}}</ref> [[GameDaily]] ranked him as the best Capcom character of all time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/galleries/top-25-capcom-characters-of-all-time?page=25&cp=3|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090408020407/http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/galleries/top-25-capcom-characters-of-all-time?page=25&cp=3|archive-date=April 8, 2009 |title=Top 25 Capcom Characters of All Time|publisher=[[GameDaily]]|access-date=April 20, 2013}}</ref> UGO Networks listed Mega Man as one of their best heroes of all time, and called him "one of the most iconic video game heroes of all time".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ugo.com/games/best-heroes-of-all-time?page=7 |title=Best Heroes of All Time |author=UGO Team |date=January 21, 2010 |publisher=UGO Networks |access-date=April 3, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221015640/http://www.ugo.com/games/best-heroes-of-all-time?page=7 |archive-date=February 21, 2014}}</ref> He was included in GameSpot's "All Time Greatest Video Game Hero" contest and reached the "Elite Eight" round before losing to [[Mario]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/greatest-video-game-hero/standings/index.html |title=All Time Greatest Game Hero - The Standings |website=[[GameSpot]] |access-date=April 20, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207210927/http://www.gamespot.com/greatest-video-game-hero/standings/index.html |archive-date=February 7, 2012}}</ref> In a ''[[Famitsu]]'' poll done in February 2010, Mega Man was voted by readers as the twenty-second most popular video game character.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3177896 |title=Snake Beats Mario, Is Coolest Video Game Character Ever |author=Glifford, Kevin |website=[[1UP.com]] |access-date=March 10, 2010 |date=February 10, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120716172411/http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3177896 |archive-date=July 16, 2012}}</ref> The 2011 ''[[Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition]]'' lists Mega Man as the 23rd most popular video game character.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/pressreleases/68759/TOP_50_VIDEO_GAME_CHARACTERS_OF_ALL_TIME_ANNOUNCED_inGUINNESS_WORLD_RECORDS_2011_GAMERrsquoS_EDITION.php |title=Top 50 video game characters of all time announced in Guinness World Records 2011 Gamer's Edition |publisher=Think Services |work=[[Gamasutra]] |date=February 16, 2011 |access-date=April 20, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022093831/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/pressreleases/68759/TOP_50_VIDEO_GAME_CHARACTERS_OF_ALL_TIME_ANNOUNCED_inGUINNESS_WORLD_RECORDS_2011_GAMERrsquoS_EDITION.php |archive-date=October 22, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2012, [[GamesRadar]] ranked him as the 12th "most memorable, influential, and badass" protagonist in games.<ref name=gr>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamesradar.com/top-100-video-game-heroes/|title=100 best heroes in video games|publisher=[[GamesRadar]]|access-date=April 20, 2013}}</ref>

''[[Complex (magazine)|Complex]]'' ranked him as having the tenth best fighting game cameos for his guest appearances in ''[[Street Fighter X Tekken]]'' in 2012.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.complex.com/video-games/2012/03/the-10-best-fighting-game-cameos#2 |title=The 10 Best Fighting Game Cameos |date=March 21, 2012 |last=Amirkhani |first=Justin |magazine=[[Complex (magazine)|Complex]] |access-date=April 20, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426042902/http://www.complex.com/video-games/2012/03/the-10-best-fighting-game-cameos#2 |archive-date=April 26, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Joystick Division]] cited his rivalry with Dr. Wily as seventh of the ten greatest in video games, adding giving "great credit to this rivalry for its open-endedness"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.joystickdivision.com/2010/10/the_top_ten_rivalries_in_video.php|title=The Top Ten Rivalries In Video Game History|date=October 28, 2010|author=Hawkins, James|publisher=[[Joystiq]] |access-date=April 20, 2013}}</ref> and [[GamesRadar]] listed him and [[Proto Man]] as having one of the best brotherly rivalries in gaming.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamesradar.com/best-rivalries-between-brothers/|title=The 8 best brotherly rivalries in gaming|date=May 18, 2012|author=Rubens, Alex|publisher=[[GamesRadar]]|access-date=April 20, 2013}}</ref> UGO Networks have placed Mega Man as the eighth character who most deserves his own movie.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ugo.com/games/paging-uwe-boll-video-game-characters-who-need-their-own-movies |title=Video Game Characters Who Need Their Own Movies |date=July 19, 2011 |last=Meli |first=Marissa |publisher=[[IGN Entertainment]] |work=[[UGO Entertainment]] |access-date=July 27, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927142819/http://www.ugo.com/games/paging-uwe-boll-video-game-characters-who-need-their-own-movies |archive-date=September 27, 2013}}</ref>

[[1UP.com]] described Mega Man as "Capcom's ill-treated mascot", and "one of the most incongruous characters of all time", saying "it wouldn't be completely incorrect to assume that the popularity of the series has almost nothing to do with Mega Man himself", but with "his rivals, his enemies, and their abilities."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.1up.com/features/mega-man-metamorphosis-character-tool|title=Mega Man's Metamorphosis from Character to Tool|author=Dagostino, Francesco |website=[[1UP.com]] |access-date=April 20, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130124052752/http://www.1up.com/features/mega-man-metamorphosis-character-tool |archive-date=January 24, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[IGN]] agreed with his dependency on support characters, saying [[Zero (Mega Man)|Zero]] is "cooler than Mega Man".<ref>{{cite web |title=Player's Wanted: Marvel vs. Capcom 3 |website=[[IGN|IGN Entertainment]] |access-date=2013-04-20 |page=1 |url=http://stars.ign.com/articles/975/975223p1.html |author=Schedeen, Jesse |date=2009-04-20}}</ref> [[Den of Geek]] listed Mega Man's incarnation from ''Street Fighter X Tekken'' as the 15th best cameo in fighting game history due to how it represented Capcom's lack of interest in featuring other games as of 2012, as well as the apparent self-mockery of it due to Mega Man's poor characterization.<ref>{{cite web |title=The 25 Best Fighting Game Guest Characters|date=July 13, 2017 |publisher=[[Den of Geek]] |access-date=2017-09-12 |url=http://www.denofgeek.com/us/games/fighting-games/254746/the-25-best-fighting-game-guest-characters}}</ref> [[Destructoid]] described this Mega Man as "legit" stating it was "an unexpected and interesting creative decision by [Capcom] using this version of Mega Man to represent them in what may be one of their biggest games of 2012".<ref>{{cite web |title=Man up! Pac-Man and Mega Man in Street Fighter X Tekken |website=[[Destructoid]] |date=January 27, 2012 |access-date=2017-09-12 |url=https://www.destructoid.com/man-up-pac-man-and-mega-man-in-street-fighter-x-tekken-220433.phtml}}</ref>

''Mega Man'' series director [[Keiji Inafune]] announced the similarly themed ''[[Mighty No. 9]]'' in September 2013, but after much controversy surrounding delays and mishandling, the game was released in June 2016 to a mixed-to-negative reception. Batterystaple Games released the ''Mega Man X''-inspired ''[[20XX (video game)|20XX]]'' in 2014.