I understand where a lot of people stand with this game. It shows its age, yes. As the first game in the series, it was bound to be a bit rough around the edges. The thing is, that doesn't really matter to me. At the time of writing this, this is the only Mega Man title I have finished without save states, and as such, is the one I am most familiar with.

I played this a ton when I was a kid. I also died alot. Was it masochism that drove me forward? I can't say for sure, but I put in a great amount of effort and hours into beating it. This was on the Wii, mind you. Beating this game without save states is still my greatest personal achievement in gaming. I have no doubt that Mega Man 2 is an objectively better game, among others. But I have a soft spot for this one thanks to nostalgia. I probably wouldn't willfully subject myself to another legit playthrough just because it's so tough. But it was a fun challenge while it lasted.