mega man strategy guide
TRANSCRIPT
RETROGAMEWALKTHROUGHS.COM
MEGA MAN 1 STRATEGY GUIDE
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
1. INTRODUCTION 3
2. GAME INFORMATION 3
3. BOSS STAGE ORDER 4
4. CONTROLS, WEAPONS & ITEMS 4
5. GAME WALKTHROUGH 5
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1 INTRODUCTION
Mega Man was released on the NES in December 1987 (May 1990 for Europe) and was published
by Capcom. It is the first game in what has become one of the most well-liked video game
franchises of all time.
With a unique option to select the order of the game’s stages on your own, the original Mega
Man set the stage for the other classic NES Mega Man games to follow. It was a simple formula,
but it worked to perfection.
2 GAME INFORMATION
Mega Man is a side-scrolling platform game where you control a blue character named “Mega
Man”. The game consists of 6 levels with a unique boss at the end of each that must be defeated
in order to complete the stage. After a boss is defeated, Mega Man obtains their particular
weapon for use by Mega Man for the remainder of the game. In addition, each boss is vulnerable
to another particular boss weapon. Throughout each stage, Mega Man encounters enemies and
obstacles that relate in some way to that stage’s particular boss.
The ultimate goal of the game is to complete all 6 stages before working your way through Dr.
Wily’s castle in order to defeat him. Dr. Wily is a scientist who helps Dr. Light create robots for
use by humans to improve their quality of lives. Dr. Wily ends up stealing these 6 robots and re-
programs them to be evil. Dr. Light created 2 robots that worked with him in his lab (one named
Rock and one named Roll). Rock volunteers to go after the evil robots and is transformed into a
fighting robot named Mega Man.
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3 BOSS STAGE ORDER
Mega Man allows the gamer to play the 6 boss stages in any order they choose. Because each
boss is vulnerable to a particular weapon, choosing the right order to defeat the stages is crucial.
I would recommend the following order:
Boss Weapon Weakness Cut Man Rolling Cutter Super Arm
Elec Man Thunder Beam Rolling Cutter
Ice Man Ice Slasher Thunder Beam
Fire Man Fire Storm Ice Slasher
Bomb Man Hyper Bomb Fire Storm
Guts Man Super Arm Hyper Bomb
All of these stages can be played through multiple times during the game. This differs from later
Mega Man games that only allow you to complete a stage one time.
4 CONTROLS, WEAPONS AND ITEMS
4.1 CONTROLS The controls in Mega Man are similar to other side-scrolling platformers of the NES era:
Control Pad – Moves Mega Man.
A Button – Jumps.
B Button – Fires Weapon.
Start – Brings Up Menu.
Select – Pauses Game.
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4.2 WEAPONS
Arm Cannon – Mega Man’s first weapon that shoots from his arm. It is also the weakest.
Rolling Cutter – Obtained via Cut Man.
Thunder Beam – Obtained via Elec Man.
Ice Slasher – Obtained via Ice Man.
Fire Storm – Obtained via Fire Man.
Hyper Bomb – Obtained via Bomb Man.
Super Arm – Obtained via Guts Man.
4.3 ITEMS
Energy Pellet – Yellow ones restore Mega Man’s health (small pellets give less health back than
bigger pellets) and blue ones restore energy back to Mega Man’s weapons.
Yashichi – This is found only once in the entire game (in the 4th Dr. Wily Stage) and refills Mega
Man’s health and all of his weapons energy.
Extra Life (1-UP) – This gives the player another life and appears on the screen as Mega Man’s
head.
Magnet Beam – This is obtained in Elec Man’s stage and allows you to make magnetic platforms
so Mega Man can access areas out of reach. You must have the Super Arm to reach it.
5 GAME WALKTHROUGH
5.1 CUT MAN
Climb the ladder and go to the right while fighting bladers and picking up any dropped items on
the way. Reach the ladder at the end and go up. Defeat the beaks on the next 3 screens and
climb up the ladders until you reach the top of this area. Head right and fight the super cutters
and fleas before encountering some octopus batteries at the end of this section. Defeat them
and go up the ladder to face 3 more screens of octopus batteries. Once you get to the top again
you will face more super cutters before moving right to take on more bladers. Once they are
defeated go down the ladder and face 2 screens of flying shells. These guys fly horizontally across
the screen and shoot bullets in all directions. Mega man dies immediately if he ever hits spikes,
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so be careful going through this area. Once you reach the bottom you will encounter a Big Eye.
This robot takes many hits to defeat so I would recommend trying to run under him when he
jumps very high. Once you get past him move into the boss chamber. In the last hallway before
Cut Man, you will encounter 3 screw bombers that shoot bullets in 3 different directions when
Mega Man gets close. After you clear the area, move into Cut Man’s room.
5.1.1 Boss Fight – Cut Man
Cut Man appears to have a pair of scissors on his head. He uses these scissors as a boomerang
to throw at and damage you. The best strategy here is to get to the right and simply shoot him
with your mega buster while dodging his Rolling Cutter (the weapon that Mega Man will receive
once defeating him). His weakness is the Super Arm so you can use that to throw the rocks by
the door at him, but he is also fairly weak against the Mega Buster, so starting the game with Cut
Man is a smart choice.
5.2 ELEC MAN
The stage begins in a room full of spines that leads to a ladder. Defeat the spines with the Rolling
Cutter and go up the ladder and defeat the spines in the following room and up the next ladder.
Dodge the 2 horizontal electricity beams that shoot from the wall and move up the next ladder.
The next 2 screens consist of numerous watchers. These enemies fly around and shoot both
bullets and multiple electric beams. Defeat them or dodge them and move up the ladder to the
next room. Here is the first time you encounter disappearing blocks in the game. Study the
pattern as the blocks appear and make your way to the ladder on the right and go up. Once again,
study the disappearing blocks and make your way left and go up the next ladder. When you get
to the top make your way to the right and carefully across the blocks and up the next ladder.
When you get to the next room, take the left ladder as you dodge or defeat the watchers and
move up. Defeat the spines in this room with the Rolling Cutter and move up to the next room.
Defeat the watchers and again move up to the next room. Here you will find the Magnet Beam,
but without the Super Arm from Guts Man you will not be able to retrieve it yet. You can come
back to this stage after you defeat Guts Man. Leave this room via the left ladder, defeat the spines
and move up the next ladder. In the next 2 rooms, move up the ladders while dodging the
horizontal wall beams and the fleas until you reach the top. Move to the right and carefully jump
across the blocks and go up the ladder. In the next room, dodge the horizontal electricity beams
that shoot out from the 2 blocks and make your way up the ladder. The last enemy before the
boss chamber door is a big eye. I would again recommend trying to run under him when he
jumps high and avoid a fight. The last obstacles to avoid before reaching Elec Man are multiple
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horizontal electricity beams as you move up a ladder for 2 screens. Once you get past these you
have reached Elec Man’s room.
5.2.1 Boss Fight – Elec Man
Elec Man generally just jumps around and throws his Thunder Beam at you. Luckily he is weak
to the Rolling Cutter, so get that out and 3 hits should take him down.
Now return to Elec Man’s stage again and use the Thunder Beam to destroy the rocks blocking
the Magnet Beam. You will have to defeat the boss again to keep the item moving forward in
the game.
5.3 ICE MAN
As the stage begins, move to the right and defeat the Crazy Razy’s and make your way toward the water
area of this section. In this area you will have to dodge or defeat spines and peng’s as you navigate water
and terrain. The water changes the way Mega Man jumps so caution must be used in this area. Once you
get past the water, grab the yellow energy pellet and drop down to the right and to the next area. Here
you have to make your way up and across more disappearing blocks while avoiding the spine on the
ground floor. Taking the spine out with the Rolling Cutter is a good idea here before attempting the
blocks. Once you get past the blocks drop down to the next level and make your way past another set of
blocks before moving to the right. The next area features a large gap with foot holder and peng enemies.
You can either make your way across using the foot holders or use the Magnet Beam (assuming you went
back and got it) to create a ledge to the other side. Drop down when you reach the end and dodge the
Big Eye (again, by running under him) and enter the boss door. Defeat the Peng enemies in the last hallway
and enter Ice Man’s chamber.
5.3.1 Boss Fight- Ice Man
Ice Man is relatively simple. He jumps quickly up into the air and then falls slowly back to the ground
while shooting 3 Ice Slashers at you, all at different levels (High, Medium & Low). Hit him 3 times with
the Thunder Beam to defeat him and obtain his Ice Slasher weapon.
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5.4 FIRE MAN
On the first screen, move up the 2 ladders while avoiding the screw bombers and make your way to the
right. Move down the next 2 ladders while again dodging the screw bombers. Jump across the lava while
dodging the fire pillar and move up the ladders to the next screen. These fire pillars can be frozen with
the Ice Slasher if necessary. Move up the next 3 ladders to move along to the next screen. If you need
some energy, grab the energy pellets by dodging the fire pillars, or freezing them with the Ice Slasher. On
the next screen, move to the right and take either the lower or upper path. To take the upper path you
will need to freeze the fire pillars with the Ice Slasher to create “stairs” for access. As you move right you
will need to jump from platform to platform while dodging the horizontal fire bolts that appear and
disappear in several spots during this section. When you get close to the end of this section, dodge the
fire pillars and grab the energy pellets before going down the ladder to the next screen. In this area,
dodge both the fire pillars and fire projectiles that then follow you around before taking the ladder down
to the next screen. Make your way to the right and over the gaps in the ground, all while dodging both
fire pillars and fire projectiles, and then make your way up the ladder at the end of this section and up to
the next screen. In here, there is a column that continuously shoots fire balls through it and past the area
that you need to get through to advance to the next screen. You can either try and slip past the fireballs
and advance up the last 2 ladders, or you can use the magnet beam to create a ledge to the ladder at the
top of the screen. This will allow you to bypass the fire balls and advance to the next screen. When you
reach the top, either dodge or shoot the killer bullets (which will explode when shot and can hurt you if
you walk into the explosion) and move to the right. Make your way down the next 2 ladders while dodging
the spines or killing them with the Rolling Cutter, and move to the right. Dodge the fire projectiles as you
make your way across the gaps and avoid the last 2 fire pillars before entering the last hallway before the
boss. In here, dodge or defeat the 4 screw bombers before finally reaching Fire Man.
5.4.1 Boss Fight – Fire Man
Fire Man typically just shoots his Fire Storm weapon at you constantly as he walks back and forth at you.
Simply shoot him 7 times with the Ice Slasher to finish him off. If you do not have enough weapon energy
for 7 shots, be careful to jump over his shots and time it so you are not close to the blast zone when it hits
the wall as this will also damage Mega Man. Once he is defeated you obtain his Fire Storm weapon.
5.5 BOMB MAN
As the stage starts move to the right, making your way over the pits while avoiding or shooting the
bombombs. When you reach the end of this section, destroy the screw bombers, grab the energy pellets
and move up the ladder. On the next screen, dodge or defeat the 4 beaks to the left as you move up the
ladders to the next screen. Here, shoot the Sniper Joe to the right when he lets his shield down or jumps.
If you shoot him while his shield is up your bullets will just deflect off and he will never let his guard down.
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Once he is defeated move to the right and make your way across the pits while avoiding or killing the
beaks and pengs. Make your way past the spines and up the ladder at the end of this section. On the
next screen, carefully jump across the blocks to the left to another ladder and move up to the next screen.
Here, carefully move back to the right across the blocks while avoiding the flying shell. Remember,
anytime Mega Man falls on to spikes it is an instant death, unlike future Mage Man games that allow a
few seconds of invincibility when falling on spikes after being hit by an enemy. When you go up the ladder
to the right fall into the gap next to the Sniper Joe and shoot him each time he jumps until he is dead and
collect the 1-Up. Now drop down to the bottom level and move to the right and defeat the last Sniper
Joe before reaching the area hallway before the boss. Here you will need to carefully descend down a
ladder for 2 screens while avoiding octopus batteries. Once you are past them you will drop into Bomb
Man’s room.
5.5.1 Boss Fight – Bomb Man
Bomb Man simply jumps around the room and will randomly stop and chunk easily avoidable bombs at
you. To defeat him, just dodge the bombs (and there exploding radius) and run under him when he jumps
back and forth at you while you shoot him with the Mega Buster. An easier way to defeat him is with the
Fire Storm. After he is dead you obtain his Hyper Bomb weapon.
5.6 GUTS MAN
As the stage starts, move to the right and defeat the 3 Mets before reaching a moving platform. Jump on
it and move to the right and jump down to the next one. Be careful and jump over the holes as the
platform moves across them. The platform will rotate down and you will slide off if you do not jump in
time. After reaching the third platform, ride it over to the next area and defeat 3 Bladers before claiming
an Energy Pellet. Continue to the right and defeat 4 Picket Men while being careful not to fall into the
gaps. When you reach the end of this area drop down. The next 3 screens contain Bladers as you drop
further into the level. Be careful not land on the spikes on the left side of the 2nd screen. Eventually you
will reach the bottom and have to face a Big Eye before reaching the last hallway before Guts Man’s room.
In this hallway, defeat the 4 Mets and reach Guts Man.
5.6.1 Boss Fight – Guts Man
Guts Man jumps back and forth, causing rocks to fall and freezing you in-place momentarily. When he
grabs a falling rock, he then chucks it at you and it breaks into 3 pieces, each doing damage to Mega Man
if struck by them. The best way to defeat Guts Man is to use the Hyper Bomb for a quick win. The bombs
do not explode immediately, so judge where Guts Man will be a few seconds after the bomb lands so he
can’t get away before the bomb explodes. After he is dead you obtain his Super Arm weapon.
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5.7 SKULL CASTLE – 1
When the stage begins, switch your weapon to the Ice Slasher and shoot the 3 Big Eyes as they jump so
they freeze in the air and you can run under them. Otherwise, defeat them as usual and move to the
right. To access the castle, equip the Super Arm to pick-up and throw the rocks blocking the entrance.
After entering the castle, equip the Ice Slasher and shoot the vertical flames before they go all the way
up and use them as steps to move forward. When you reach the end, move up the ladder to the next
area. Here, carefully cross the gaps to the left without falling into the spikes and move up the next
ladder. Defeat the first 3 Flea’s and continue to the right. Equip the Super Arm again to move the
blocks and go right and down the next ladder. In here, make your way down to the next ladder carefully
while avoiding the Killer Bullet’s. They will move across the screen from the right to left continuously,
regardless of how many you kill. When you reach the bottom, make your way across the spike pit by
jumping on the Foot Holder’s while avoiding their projectiles. When you reach the end climb up the
ladder to the next area, where you will use the Magnet Beam to reach the next ladder. When you reach
the top, move to the right to find the first boss of Skull Castle.
5.7.1 Boss Fight – Yellow Devil
The Yellow Devil is large yellow blob creature that has the ability to transport himself from one side of
the room to the other one small piece at a time. His only weak spot is his eye, so you have to get as
many shots in as possible each time he re-forms before he dismantles and transports himself across the
room again. Normally, you would only get a couple shots in, forcing you to dodge his transportation
move many times. To make this easier, equip the Thunder Beam and aim for his eye. As soon as you hit
him, pause the game. Then un-pause, pause again, etc. Each time the game un-pauses it will register a
hit against him. This will make this fight MUCH easier and advance you to the next stage in Skull Castle.
5.8 SKULL CASTLE – 2
You begin this stage up in the air and must make your way to the right moving from platform to platform
while defeating or dodging the numerous Bladers. When you reach the end and enter the next area, you
will fall through the invisible floor where you will face off with Cut Man. Simply use the Arm Cannon and
shoot him continuously while jumping over his Rolling Cutter. If you keep shooting him, he should get
stuck against the wall making this an easy win. After you defeat him jump through the floor at the far left
of the room to the next area. Again, you are in the air and must make your way from platform to platform,
this time dodging the Screw Bombers, until you enter the next area. This time the invisible floor is close
to the weapon energy pellets. Fall through to face off with Elec Man. Take him out with the Rolling Cutter
and fall through the floor to the left. Again, make your way to the right going from platform to platform,
this time avoiding the Bombombs until you reach the ladder at the end. On the next screen, use the
Magnet Beam to get to the 1-UP to the left and then continue down past the Octopus Batteries. It may
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be necessary to use the Thunder Beam to kill them before proceeding. Descend through 2 more screens
of Octopus Batteries before reaching an area with 4 Beaks. Avoid them and continue down. In here,
defeat or dodge the Octopus Batteries and Beak and drop down into the boss room.
5.8.1 Boss Fight – Copy Robot
This robot will be a direct copy of you, and will even switch weapons when you do. If you fight him with
the arm cannon, his hits will do more damage than yours hits for some reason. A good strategy is to get
on one side of the screen and keep firing at him in an attempt to keep him stuck on the other side of the
screen. If he manages to get close to you, try and get under him and move to the other side of the room
and repeat. This can be difficult. Once again, you can use the Thunder Beam and do the pause/un-pause
trick and it should be an easy fight.
5.9 SKULL CASTLE - 3
Start the level off by defeating the Octopus Batteries and dropping down to the next screen. Descend
through 3 screens while avoiding Octopus Batteries and Screw Bombers until you reach the bottom.
Move to the right and when the hallway turns blue a current a stream of Peng’s and Killer Bullet’s will
move from the right to the left continuously. Defeat or avoid them until you reach the boss room.
5.9.1 Boss Fight – CWU-01P
This fight involves 7 machines coming out of various locations of the walls and ceilings and floating
around the room in a big bubble while shooting little bubbles at you. Each machine moves around the
room faster than the one before it. Mega Man must kill all 7 of them to defeat the boss and move on.
The best thing to do here is kill the first 3 machines with the Arm Cannon and then use the Super Arm to
kill the last 4 with the provided blocks.
5.10 SKULL CASTLE – 4
As the stage begins move up the ladder for 2 screens while avoiding the multiple watchers. In the next
area, use the Super Arm to make your way past the blocks and then head right past several Screw
Bombers (I would suggest using the Thunder Beam to make this easier) and up the following ladders.
The next section features the moving platform that was featured in Guts Man’s stage. Carefully make
your way to the right on the platform (or you can use the Magnet Beam) and grab the 1–Up and the
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Yashichi (this fills your energy and all your weapon energy at the same time) and enter the portal to face
Bomb Man, Fire Man, Ice Man and Guts Man again. Once you defeat them all, enter the portal again
and move to the right. Grab the weapon energy pellet (make sure you have a full Fire Storm and
Thunder Beam) and enter the door to the final boss.
5.10.1 Boss Fight – Wily Machine 1 (First Phase)
The first objective is to destroy the shield protecting Wily in his machine. Use the Fire Storm up close to
the shield so the fire orb associated with it will help destroy Wily’s shield. Do this while carefully avoiding
the projectiles until the shield breaks off.
5.10.2 Boss Fight – Wily Machine 2 (Second Phase)
After the shield breaks, focus your attack on the pink eye—like feature that is now exposed. Break out
the Thunder Beam and shoot until Wily has been defeated.
5.11 ENDING
Once you defeat Wily, he drops to the ground on his knees and begins bowing before Mega Man,
seemingly pleading for his life. The ending text appears on screen and then the credits begin to roll as
Mega Man walks to the left, eventually reaching Dr. Light and Roll. Mega Man jumps into the air and
freezes.