For a 1987 platforming side-scroller Mega Man hits the lofty heights of Super Mario Bros. and Castlevania. The game oozes personality with a cutesy aesthetic similar to Osamu Tezuka's Astro Boy.
Mega Man also has a great level select formula with boss fights that benefit from Mega Man's ability to utilise enemy weapons upon defeat - just like a game of Scissors, Paper, Rock.
I feel the original is unfairly pitted against Mega Man 2 and 3 which yes, greatly streamline the experience and build the real gauntlet of Wily Stages as well as Robot Master Gauntlets (it exists here, but is fairly relaxed).
Mega Man also has a great level select formula with boss fights that benefit from Mega Man's ability to utilise enemy weapons upon defeat - just like a game of Scissors, Paper, Rock.
I feel the original is unfairly pitted against Mega Man 2 and 3 which yes, greatly streamline the experience and build the real gauntlet of Wily Stages as well as Robot Master Gauntlets (it exists here, but is fairly relaxed).