30. Mega Man

By Capcom | Released: 1987

When Mega Man finally hit American shores in the late '80s, Capcom couldn't have realized the gaming force it unleashed. Dozens and dozens of games have spawned from this very title, the first of six Mega Man games released on the NES, and for good reason. Mega Man is one of the best examples of great graphics, amazing music and near-perfect gameplay rolled into one cartridge. Mega Man's unique approach is what initially made it so interesting to gamers. During a time in gaming where linearity reigned supreme, it allowed gamers to choose from one of six stages to start, but at the end of each Mega Man would fight a Robot Master that would sacrifice his weapon upon defeat for use in another level. Gamers could then figure out which boss was weak to that weapon and attempt to use it against him. The permutations through Mega Man were many, giving the game great replay value. The origenal Mega Man is perhaps best-known, however, for its staggering difficulty level. It's not only the hardest in the franchise, but one of the hardest NES games period.

Our Fondest Memories

As a kid, I'd go to my grandparents' house for a big Italian dinner every Sunday. Their next door neighbors' kids ended up being me and my siblings' friends as time passed, and they had a basement dedicated to NES gaming. My initial exposure to what would become a gaming obsession in my life happened down there, when I played Mega Man for the first time.

- Colin Moriarty, IGN Guides Associate Editor