Mega Man III

Fires a homing missile. Despite its name, it does not have to be fired underwater, fortunately. The missiles home in on their targets with a good degree of accuracy, so you can just fire away carelessly and turn your attentions on dodging.

Fires a drill-shaped bomb straight forward that will detonate the instant it strikes anything. Press the fire button while it is in midair to cause it to explode early. This technique can be used to strike certain enemies that the bomb would otherwise bounce off.

Fires a square chunk of debris straight forward. Not terribly creative, but it does damage a good number of robots which makes it nevertheless a useful weapon to have.

Fires a light blue laser forward. When the laser strikes a solid object it will rebound at an angle. If it strikes an enemy with a glancing blow, it will be shortened but continue to bounce around. In this way it is possible to take multiple hits with a single laser. Only one laser can be on the screen at a time, and it bounces for a time before dissipating.

Fires blades which arc downward and sort of bounce. Not overly useful in the game except against Dr. Wily.

Produces small green snakes that travel across the floor and up or down any walls they encounter. Up to three can be on the screen at once.

Four-pointed ninja stars. These can be aimed much like the Metal Blade, but since they boomerang back, their range is limited.

This is another shield (they’re in practically every other game). But unlike the Leaf Shield, the user can walk around while this is activated. It will vanish if it takes a hit too powerful for it to sustain.

Fires a sphere of energy straight. There is little variation to this one; however, the relatively large size of the sphere makes it pretty easy to use.

Energy pellets refill your life meter. The small ones refill 2 units—not a lot, but it can really add up.

These globes are the same as energy pellets except that more energy is refilled.

The colored pellets are weapon energy. They refill your current weapon or adapter rather than your life energy. Weapon energy changes color according to which weapon you are currently equipped with. Before picking up a pellet be sure to equip a weapon that needs the energy.

These are the same as weapon energy pellets except that more energy is refilled.

Extra lives. If you have one of these when you bite the dust, you’ll be given another chance at the stage, restarting at the furthest continue point that you’d reached.

This is an entire stock of energy that Mega Man can carry around until needed. You use these off the subscreen (select the “EN” option). When used, Mega Man’s energy meter will be refilled completely. Mega Man can carry up to four of these at a time.

This is a springboard which enables Mega Man to leap greater distances. Just call Rush and then jump onto him. You’ll rebound off and soar almost to the top of the screen.

Mega Man can hop onto Rush and ride him, much like a skyboard. This is perhaps the most popular of the Rush modes (the Mega Shows use it extensively).

Mega Man was once a household robot named Rock, but when Dr. Wily turned evil, Rock was converted by his creator Dr. Light into the fighting robot known as Mega Man. This small blue robot is equipped with twin arm cannons and the Weapon Copy system which lets him take weapons from defeated foes.

This is the scientist that started it all, for he was the one who first created revolutionary human-like robots. He was responsible for creating Mega Man and Roll, and he worked with Dr. Wily for a time.

Dr. Wily was once Dr. Light’s partner, but then he turned against his former colleague and tried to take over the world. Even after being defeated repeatedly by Mega Man, he has yet to give up.

Mega Man’s canine companion, this is a robot dog built by Dr. Light to aid in Mega Man’s travels. Rush is always ready to respond to Mega Man’s call; when Mega Man needs use of a Rush form, his dog teleports in, does his thing, and leaves. Any weapon energy you pick up while you have a Rush form equipped (even if Rush isn’t on the screen at the time) goes to that Rush form.

This robot is all spikes and spines, and he uses those to his advantage. Besides tossing Screw Crushers at you, Punk can turn himself into a buzzsaw blade and rocket across the screen. Whatever you do, don’t come into contact with him. Keep on the opposite side of the screen from him and blast from a distance.

Dive Man is at home under the water, and along with sending Dive Missiles to seek out his enemies, he also likes to propel himself headfirst through the water. The Skull Shield works well on him, though it requires direct contact and will be wasted if a Dive Missile hits it. Another alternative is the Dust Crusher.

Drill Man is not very strong or fast, but his Drill Bombs pack a punch, and he is capable of drilling his way underground where you cannot touch him. For best results use Dive Missiles which will seek out their target, letting you worry about dodging.

Dust Man looks as though he has a vacuum cleaner built into his head, and he can use it to suck in his opponent as well as to shoot out debris. His Dust Crusher shots will split into four pieces, but if you jump straight up they will all miss you. Dust Man can be dusted off easily with some Drill Bombs.

Gemini Man is capable of doubling himself and does it often. Usually he and his clone will simply circle the room, bowling over anyone who gets in his way. He won’t fire unless you shoot first, at which point both Gemini Men will freeze, and the one on the ground will return the fire with his plasma cannon. Then they will start to circle again. If you destroy Gemini Man’s clone, his pattern of attack is completely different. This is when he will use his Gemini Laser. Use Search Snakes or his own weapon on him, remembering that he will jump when you shoot so don’t fire too close.

The dreaded Shadow Man will pummel you with a fast and furious attack. He usually tosses Shadow Blades three at a time, and is capable of sliding all the way across the room. Take the Gemini Laser to Shadow Man to have the best chance.

Skull Man’s shield protects him but only for a short time; any other time he is firing his cannons. Hit him with your arm cannon or the Dust Crusher whenever he is not using his Skull Barrier. Skull Man moves around his room in short bursts, and you can’t clear him when his shield is up, but with some maneuvering you can dodge him.

One of the more unusual of the early Robot Masters, Snake Man is decorated as his name suggests, right down to the tail. He sends his small Search Snakes after his opponent or just plain runs him down. Snake Man cannot move very fast or jump really high, but often the layout of his room makes him nevertheless hard to dodge. His Search Snakes can be destroyed with several hits, and Snake Man himself can be destroyed most quickly by use of the Spark Shock.

Spark Man does not have hands or cannons but instead two electrodes capable of producing electrical shocks. He can charge up and fire a larger shot by touching his electrodes to his head and accumulating energy. Spark Man is most easily finished with around seven Shadow Blades.