The Weapons of Megaman - And How They Compare To Their Robot Masters (Megaman 1-3)

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With the first game released in 1987, Megaman has become one of the most successful franchises for Capcom.

Of course with the original series, as well as that of the spinoff Megaman X and most other games, Megaman has accumulated quite the arsenal of weapons. This lens takes a look at those weapons and also compares them to their original robot masters. I've always found the weapons of Megaman interesting, but also wanted to take a look at how "fair" Capcom was with the weapons. Whenever I played Megaman, there always seemed to be a feeling of "unfairness", or that the weapons Megaman acquires are inferior to their original version.

So what you'll find below are comparisons of Megaman's special weapons acquired by defeating Dr. Wily's robots from Megaman 1, 2, and 3 compared to their original robot master version. Visitors may have noticed this lens has shrunk a little. Due to the massive number of robot masters and weapons, I've created a separate lens dedicated to Megaman 4-6 which you can find by clicking here. But this lens is still lengthy, so please please use the table of contents to navigate to the Megaman weapon you're interested in. Have fun, and please rate this lens if you like it and visit my lensography too!

Super Arm 

Acquired by Defeating Gutsman - Megaman 1

The weapon Megaman acquires is somewhat similar to the one used by Gutsman. The Super Arm is also very powerful, able to defeat a few bosses (i.e. Cutman) with a few hits.

Unfortunately, Megaman is limited to using the Super Arm in areas where there are blocks to throw. Meanwhile Gutsman seem to be able to use the Super Arm at will, stomping on the ground to create boulders and stone to throw at Megaman even in areas devoid of any kind of blocks.

Rolling Cutter 

Acquired by Defeating Cutman - Megaman 1

The first of many boomerang type weapons Megaman acquires, the Rolling Cutter shoots out for a short distance and returns to Megaman. If it does not destroy an enemy upon contact, the Rolling Cutter can inflict multiple hits as on an enemy as it returns to Megaman.

The Rolling Cutter Megaman uses differs slightly from the one Cutman uses. While both return to their respective owners, Cutman can throw his Rolling Cutter across the entire screen and at any direction he desires. Meanwhile Megaman is limited to throwing the Rolling Cutter a short distance and only in front of him. However, Cutman's Rolling Cutter can't inflict multiple hits, while Megaman's can.

Thunder Beam 

Acquired by Defeating Elecman in Megaman

The Thunder Beam Megaman acquires and uses is far superior to the one Elecman uses. While Elecman is limited to shooting his Thunder Beam in front of him, Megaman's Thunder Beam shoots to the front, as well as above and below him. This makes the Thunder Beam useful to hit elevated or "out of reach" enemies that can't be hit with Megaman's mega buster, making it one of the most useful weapons in Megaman.

The only drawback, the Thunder Beam Megaman uses is underpowered compared to Elecman's Thunder Beam.

Hyper Bombs 

Acquired by Defeating Bombman - Megaman 1

The Hyper Bombs Megaman uses are far different from the one Bombman throws. Megaman's Hyper Bombs seem to have a 3 second fuse. This does make using Hyper Bombs to attack enemies #*$#* annoying as Megaman can't use any other weapons until the bomb detonates. Furthermore, Megaman only throws the bombs a short distance in front of him, further restricting its use.

In contrast, Bombman seems to have no problem throwing HIS bombs across the screen. Not to mention, his bombs also have contact triggers, meaning they explode on contact with ANYTHING, including the ground. Not sure why when Megaman acquired his weapon he didn't acquire the contact triggers either as it would have made the Hyper Bombs far more useful than they are in the game.

Fire Storm 

Acquired by Defeating Fireman - Megaman 1

Megaman's Fire Storm is...unique. Unlike the other weapons he acquires in Megaman which have some semblence to the weapons used by their respective robot master, Megaman's Fire Storm is radically different.

Fireman's Fire Storm is simply a series of rapid fire flame shots that can cause additional "burn" damage if Megaman is hit and stays in the same place.

But when Megaman acquires the Fire Storm, his respective flame shot is smaller and he can only fire it one at a time. However, Megaman also gets a temporary flame shield for about a second or two and useful for destroying weak enemies or in areas you expect to be hit.

Ice Slasher 

Acquired by Defeating Iceman - Megaman 1

Megaman and Iceman's Ice Slashers are very similar to one another. The only difference is that Iceman is able to shoot three at once, and at varying heights.

Meanwhile Megaman can only shoot one Ice Slasher at a time, but is also able to freeze enemies in place.

Atomic Fire 

Acquired by Defeating Heatman - Megaman 2

Like Fireman's Fire Storm, Megaman's Atomic Fire is drastically different from anything Heatman uses.

Heatman's primary attack is to lob fireballs in a parabolic arc at Megaman. If these hit, they then temporarily expand into a firewall. Heatman also has a counterattack that if he's hit, he'll turn into a fireball to attack Megaman.

However, the Atomic Fire acquired by defeating Heatman is simply a fireball shot in the direction Megaman is facing. Megaman can also charge the Atomic Fire up to three levels, which drastically increases its firepower. It's useful in certain situations (namely taking out Woodman quickly), but takes an enormous amount of weapon energy.

Air Shooter 

Acquired by Defeating Airman - Megaman 2

When Airman uses his Air Shooter, 5-6 small tornados appear in front of him to serve as a temporary shield against Megaman's attacks. He then uses his fan to "push" these tornados toward Megaman.

Of course, the Air Shooter Megaman acquires is inferior to the one Air Man uses. Megaman's Air Shooter simply shoots three small tornados upward. Not really that useful considering another weapon in the game (i.e. the Metal Blade) can do the same thing and with better accuracy too.

Quick Bommerangs 

Acquired by Defeating Quickman - Megaman 2

Those who remember, Quickman was fast, annoying, and his stage probably elicited their share of #*$&@ words. Not only that, he threw his boomerangs with pinpoint percision at Megaman. Quickman's boomerangs would divide into three, stop, re-acquire Megaman, and then attack again.

But once acquired, Megaman's version of the Quick Boomerang is much more mild. Megaman's version only shoots Quick Boomerangs in a small circle in front of Megaman. This version has none of the targeting and re-acquisition effects of the original. Although the firing rate is faster than Quickman's version, all in all Megaman's Quick Boomerangs are simply a faster version of the Rolling Cutter.

Leaf Shield 

Acquired by Defeating Woodman - Megaman 2

Both Woodman and Megaman's versions of the Leaf Shield act similar, but Woodman's is far more superior. While both Megaman and Woodman can not move while using the leaf sheild, Woodman's version deflects nearly everything Megaman can throw at it, the sole exception being Crash Bombs.

And while Megaman's version is still very useful for destroying small enemies, it would have been nice to have invulnerability with the shield activated. Anybody except me find it funny that small "bullets" seem to penetrate the leaf shield while bigger, "solid" enemies do not?

Crash Bombs 

Acquired by Defeating Crashman - Megaman 2

Suffice to say, both Crashman and Megaman's versions of the Crash Bomb are the same. Both are highly destructive and can cause "splash" damage on detonation. Both also have a small delay, unlike Bombman's Hyper Bombs, Crashman's bombs also have a short delay after he throws one.

Which brings me to my only gripe. Why the #*$*@ can Megaman only hold 7 at any time? Considering how important the weapon is toward the end of the game, it would have been nice if he could have held more.

Metal Blade 

Acquired by Defeating Metal Man - Megaman 2

Arguably the most versitile and useful weapons in the series, the Metal Blade allows Megaman to throw blades across the screen in all eight directions. The Metal Blade Megaman uses is for all intents and purposes, the same one that Metal Man throws, although Metal Man can throw them to a slightly higher degree of accuracy than Megaman can.

Time Stopper 

Acquired by Defeating Flashman - Megaman 2

Flashman's Time Stopper seems to work very well for Flashman. By stopping time he can freeze Megaman and subsequently use his own arm cannon to lay a barrage against the temporarily frozen Megaman.

However, once Megaman acquires the Time Stopper, for some reason Megaman CAN NOT use his own arm cannon when time is stopped. Never mind the arm cannon is on HIS ARM...and that he can still MOVE.

In addition, Megaman can only use the Time Stopper once, and must recharge it after each use. In contrast, Flasman can use the Time Stopper at will and freeze time as many times as he wants.

Bubble Lead 

Acquired By Defeating Bubble Man - Megaman 2

In contrast to the name of the weapon, Bubble Man's version of the Bubble Lead is anything but "lead". His bubbles bounce across the floor acting in a more ball-like motion.

Megaman's version is more similar to the name. Megaman's Bubble Lead does not bounce. It instead rolls across the ground. While Megaman's Bubble Lead is unable to go uphill, it goes downhill and continues to travel until it hits and enemy or an insurmountable obstacle.

Needle Cannon 

Acquired by Defeating Needle Man - Megaman 3

When Needle Man uses his cannon, he shoots four rapid fire small needles at Megaman. Megaman's version is only slightly different from this with a larger sprite. Furthermore, Megaman can only fire three needles at once compared to Needle Man's 4. The mechanism of action is similar to the Quick Boomerang, but the Needle Cannon is superior in that it can cover the whole screen and seems to be slightly more powerful than the Mega Buster.

Gemini Laser 

Acquired by Defeating Gemini Man - Megaman 3

There are close to no differences between the Gemini Laser Megaman uses and the original version. Both are powerful weapons, both can only be fired one at a time, and both reflect at 45 degree angles when they hit a wall or other obstacle.

But as you can see from the picture, Gemini Man's laser is slightly smaller than the one fired by Megaman.

Magnet Missile 

Acquired by Defeating Magnet Man - Megaman 3

Like the Gemini Laser, there are few differences between the Magnet Missiles that Megaman uses and those of Magnet Man. Both versions can seek out and home in on an enemy once by making a single 90 degree turn (they won't re-acquire after the turn though). Both are fairly powerful too.

However, Megaman can only fire two Magnet Missiles at once, while Magnet Man can fire three.

Top Spin 

Acquired by Defeating Top Man - Megaman 3

Top Man's spin attack is limited to the ground. After he throws his "tops", he attacks by spinning on the ground.

With such a simple attack, how is it that Megaman's version is inferior to the original? First, Megaman can not use the Top Spin on the ground like Top Man. He can only use the Top Spin in the air. Second, Top Man's spin can go through enemies. But when Megaman uses the Top Spin, if he doesn't destroy the enemy he's likely to take damage after the attack. Not to mention, a collision glitch that can drain nearly all the energy of the Top Spin in one use. If not for its usefulness in Dr. Wily's castle, the Top Spin (IMHO) may rank as one of the most useless weapons Megaman ever acquires.

Hard Knuckle 

Acquired by Defeating Hard Man - Megaman 3

When Hard Man uses his Hard Knuckles, it almost makes Magnet Man's missiles seem obsolete. Not only can his knuckles fairly fast, they can reacquire Megaman as he avoids them!. Unlike Magnet Missiles which must make a 90 degree turn, Hard Man's knuckles seem to have no problem whatsoever of acquiring and re-acquiring Megaman at any angle!

Megaman's version is much inferior to the original. Megaman's Hard Knuckles are a lot slower, take time to accelerate, and can only be fired one at a time (Hard Man can fire two). Megaman's Hard Knuckles can not re-acquire an enemy, instead Megaman can slighly adjust the elevation of the knuckles by pushing up or down on the control pad.

Shadow Blade  

Acquired by Defeating Shadow Man - Megaman 3

Shadow Man's throws his Shadow Blades two at a time. The first travels parallel to the ground while the second splits and travels upward at a 45 degree angle.

When Megaman acquires the Shadow Blade, it's much different than Shadow Man's. In a sense, Megaman's Shadow Blade is an inferior version of the Metal Blade. Unlike Shadow Man, Megaman can throw the Shadow Blade at any angle from 0 to 180 degrees. Unfortunately, he can not throw under him. Furthermore, the range has been reduced, going about 1/3 of the screen wherease Shadow Man can throw his across the entire screen. But in place of this is a "boomerang" effect, meaning if the blade initiall misses, it wil return along its original path and possibly hit an enemy on its return.

Spark Shock 

Acquired by Defeating Spark Man - Megaman 3

Just take a quick look at the thumbnail to see the difference. Spark Man's version is much larger (and more impressive), and he can throw one in any direction.

Megaman's version is radically different. Megaman can only "attack" with the Spark Shock in one direction, forward. And the Spark Shot doesn't do any damage, it only stuns the enemy, similar to the Ice Slasher. However, unlike the Ice Slasher, you can't switch weapons to destroy a stunned enemy. The Spark Shock has its uses though, and if another enemy touches a stunned one, it becomes stunned as well.

Search Snake 

Acquired by Defeating Snake Man - Megaman 3

Both Megaman and Snake Man's versions of the Search Snake are identical. Both can only fire two at once, and both versions of the Search Snake follow the countour of the ground until they hit and enemy, or go off screen.

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