Mega Man Legends

When you picture Mega Man, you most likely think of lightning-fast 2D running and jumping with an arm transformed into a cannon. Mega Man Legends, however, boldly shattered that image and transplanted the entire brand into full-fledged 3D.

Instead of the classic platformer, Capcom offered an action RPG with a more open world. You play as a young archaeologist-adventurer named Mega Man Volnutt, who explores underground ruins, gathers treasures and ancient technology, and defends the inhabitants against pirate raids. The combat system uses targeting in three-dimensional space, various upgradable weapons and the classic arm cannon, while between the action you visit little towns, chat with the inhabitants and advance the story.

Visually, the game bet on a distinctive, cel-shading-adjacent, cartoonish style that to this day does not feel as dated as many more realistically intended 3D games of the era. The charismatic Bonne family of pirates, led by the unforgettable Tron Bonne, is among the best the series ever gave its characters — Tron even earned her own spin-off.

Legends never reached the sales marks of the big Mega Man installments, and commercially it was more of a cult affair than a hit. All the more ardent, though, is the fanbase the series won for itself. Notorious is the cancellation of the long-awaited third installment, which to this day accompanies this sub-series like a painful memory and a subject of petitions.

Today we look at Mega Man Legends as a bold experiment that showed even a traditional brand can leave the beaten track and find its own, distinctive voice. If you like 3D adventures with lightness, humor and heart, this is a treasure worth digging up.

Why play it: For the bold leap of a classic brand into 3D, likeable characters and a cartoonish charm that ages with grace.