Mega Man World (series) (2025)

Mega Man World (series) (1)

The Mega Man World series, known as Rockman World (ロックマンワールド Rokkuman Wārudo) in Japan, is a series of side games in the classic Mega Man series released on the Nintendo Game Boy. While not officially referred to as World games in the English release of the games, instead being numbered with Roman numerals rather than regular numbers to separate them from their NES counterparts (though some NES games had Roman numerals in their title screens), unused graphics in the game's files suggest the English release was planned to use the subtitle, and the games are referred to as such in the Mega Man Through the Ages video. All of these titles were available for download on the Nintendo 3DS eShop until its closure in March 2023. As of June 7, 2024, the entire Mega Man World series is available on Nintendo Switch Online worldwide.[1][2]

Contents

  • 1 Overview
  • 2 Continuity
  • 3 Gameplay
  • 4 Games in the series
  • 5 Development
  • 6 Cancelled remake collection
  • 7 Videos
  • 8 Trivia
  • 9 References

Overview[]

With the exception of Mega Man V, the World games reuse Robot Masters and enemies from the NES games that preceded the respective Game Boy title; i.e. Mega Man: Dr. Wily's Revenge uses bosses from the original Mega Man and Mega Man 2. However, they use all new levels and soundtracks instead of copying the ones featured in the NES game, as well as a new end game and final boss exclusive to each title. Each game also introduces a new boss that, before Mega Man 10, were exclusive to that game in the form of the Mega Man Killers and Quint, while Mega Man V features an entirely new experience with the introduction of the Stardroids.

While not a part of the series, Mega Man for the Game Gear follows the series' formula of using Robot Masters from two NES games to create a new game, though it uses the same bosses from Mega Man 4 and Mega Man 5 as Mega Man IV does, with the exception of Wave Man.

Continuity[]

While considered canon to the main timeline of the franchise, the events of the World games are never mentioned or referenced in the main numbered Mega Man games, and official placement of when each game takes place in the timeline is not confirmed. In Mega Man 9, when Mega Man confronts Dr. Wily about his numerous attempts at conquering the world and shows him footage of all his defeats at the hands of Mega Man, including , none of the World games are shown, putting their canon-status into question. The only continuation or reference to the events of the Game Boy titles are in the Mega Man & Bass database and in . The former has entries for the Mega Man Killers, Quint, the Stardroids and Tango, with Pluto's entry mentioning that Slash Man was based on him, while the latter continues the events of Mega Man II and features a prototype of Quint, Rockman Shadow, as the main antagonist, though the events of Mirai Kara no Chōsensha are arguably non-canon as well.

The Mega Man Killers and Tango also appear in Mega Man 10, with the Mega Man Killers acting as bosses in the Special Stages, which depicts Mega Man's escape from the Wily Castle after the main story. [3] While it means that these characters do exist in the main timeline, the same consideration cannot necessarily be extended to the World games.

Generally, due to the Robot Masters in them, it is thought that Mega Man: Dr. Wily's Revenge takes place after Mega Man 2, Mega Man II takes place after Mega Man 3, Mega Man III takes place after Mega Man 4, and that both Mega Man IV and Mega Man V take place sometime between Mega Man 5 and Mega Man 6.

Gameplay[]

The Mega Man World games feature gameplay akin to their NES counterparts, but feature special gameplay elements exclusive to their games. Mega Man V is the most notable in that it features an entirely new charged attack for the Mega Buster in the form of the Mega Arm.

Due to the smaller data capacity of a Game Boy cartridge compared to an NES cartridge, the Game Boy games feature some quirks exclusive to them. Firstly, due to them being released on the original Game Boy, all five titles are in black and white, though limited color can be given to them artificially when played on a Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, or a Super Game Boy. Secondly, multiple objects and enemies on the screen can cause several glitches during gameplay, namely the game will slow significantly and enemies and objects can disappear.

Games in the series[]

  • Mega Man: Dr. Wily's Revenge - Released in December 1991
  • Mega Man II - Released in February 1992
  • Mega Man III - Released in December 1992
  • Mega Man IV - Released in December 1993
  • Mega Man V - Released on September 10, 1994

Development[]

Development of the World games were all outsourced to Minakuchi Engineering except for World 2, though Keiji Inafune still did the illustrations and art work. Inafune stated that the team leader of the first game was a big Mega Man fan and understood the series well, if not better than some of Capcom's own team. [4] World 2 was outsourced to Biox and was stated by Inafune to be a “nightmare”, and that the company did not understand the series like the first game's developer. It made Inafune realize how important it was for those working on the games to understand the franchise, [5] resulting in Capcom returning to Minakuchi Engineering for World 3 and beyond and refusing to hire any other company. Minakuchi Engineering maintained a schedule of pushing out a World game once a year. [6] Despite previous World games combining elements from two NES games to create a new game, By the time World 5 was in development only Mega Man 6 was left, and as such an original game was created. Because of this, World 5 took the most time to develop. [7] Inafune stated that they had fun working on the series. [8]

The Mega Man Killers were created to give the games unique bosses, though the musical naming was not intentional at first. [4] Tango was also created to give the World games a support character unique to the World games. [9] These characters later appeared in the mainline title Mega Man 10.

Inafune was adamant that the main illustrations of the World games had landscapes in the background, despite the mainline games did not feature any. Hayato Kaji had difficulties having his backgrounds approved. [6]

Cancelled remake collection[]

Main article: Mega Man Mania

Mega Man World (series) (2)

A companion game for the home console version of Mega Man Anniversary Collection, originally known as Mega Man Mania before sharing its name with the console version, was a planned remastered collection game for the Game Boy Advance that would have included all five of the Game Boy titles in full color with extras. While planned for a release in 2004, the title never saw release and was quietly cancelled.

Videos[]

Game Boy – June 2024 Game Updates – Nintendo Switch Online

ファミリーコンピュータ & スーパーファミコン & ゲームボーイ Nintendo Switch Online 追加タイトル -2024年6月7日-

Dive into the world of Mega Man with Nintendo Switch Online!

Trivia[]

  • The name of the UK trailer announcing that the World games were coming to Nintendo Switch Online seems to make a reference to the World subtitle of the series, as the video was named “Dive into the world of Mega Man with Nintendo Switch Online!”.

References[]

  1. Rockman World - Nintendo Switch Online (Nintendo JP site)
  2. Mega Man: Dr. Wily's Revenge - Nintendo Switch Online (Nintendo USA site)
  3. page 364
  4. 4.0 4.1 Mega Man Official Complete Works page 101
  5. Mega Man Official Complete Works, page 102
  6. 6.0 6.1 Mega Man Official Complete Works page 103
  7. Mega Man Official Complete Works page 105
  8. Mega Man Official Complete Works page 112
  9. Mega Man Official Complete World page 106
Mega Man World (series) (2025)

References

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