Hack Showcase: Mega Man 3 Revamped Hack (NES)

Posted on by

Hack Showcases and RPG Hack Showcases are a series where I show off various game and rpg hacks. I try to stick with hacks that improve gameplay or add quality of life features, completely or partially change the plot and characters, along with additional content, dialogue, graphical and sound improvements. Non-rpgs I try to give a full run to, or at least enough for a solid review. Rpgs I will stick with titles that have enough changes in the beginning to show off, and when I can, show parts later in the games where more differences appear. There may be spoilers in the reviews and videos. Some of these I may stream fully in the future or play on my own. Reviews are open to later revisions due to bug and content updates or me playing them and finding anything new I wish to bring up.

Released by TheSkipper1995, this hack is a combination of work from KujaKiller’s Mega Man 3 Improvement Hack, along with other improvements and editions from DangerDoodle, DurfarC, and MartsINY. This hack builds upon the changes from the Improvement hack with some new enemy ai, level designs, graphics and more. The changes from the Improvement Hack are still intact like the new opening, the top spin being useful, weapon selecting with the select button, etc. Others includes:

  • Liberal changes to level design to make more interesting and engaging use of enemies, hazards, and stage gimmicks; most notably longer Dr. Wily stages with over 40 screens of additional, challenging content!
  • Improved utility to Hard Knuckle which can be aimed much faster, Needle Cannon which has a much faster auto-fire rate, and Gemini Laser which doubles its speed after ricocheting once!
  • Significant added graphical detail to many stages and cutscenes including Top Man, Hard Man, Snake Man, Gemini Man, and Spark Man!
  • Additional fixes to several stray bugs that went unnoticed in Mega Man 3 Improvement!
  • A restructured story line that keeps Break Man’s secret hidden until the final act!
  • Changes to boss hitboxes and a.i. to be both less frustrating and more challenging!

Version 1.1 Update:

  • Updated bug fixes from Kuja Killer’s latest Improvement patch version 2.2.2
  • Very minor tweaks to level design and damage value balancing based on feedback.

SO HOW IS IT? I absolutely love this hack. This turns MM3 from a bit of a mess into what could be the definitive version. This hack builds on the Improvement hack with a lot of other changes. Changes from the Improvement Hack include many quality of life changes like cycling weapons with the select button, and the better energy management for weapons and glitch removals were needed. The Top Spin no longer drains out when you use it and connect with an enemy anymore! I mean the Top Spin is trash anyway and only has like 2 uses, but still. Some people may complain about the boss life bar being on the right (like in the X series) instead of on the left next to Mega Man’s, but I honestly don’t mind it. i really like the improvements to the Hard Knuckle and being able to control it better for long distance attacks!

I do enjoy the new opening graphics, sure it’s a bit long and copied from the manual, but being the only game aside from MM1 without an opening was kinda glaring. It can be too long and I see why it was removed, but it’s nice to be there and i do like the graphics in it, especially Mega Man flying off on Rush at the end. The graphic of Mega Man on the title screen was from the Japanese version. The extra graphics are a nice touch and make certain backgrounds not look so static, like the glowing planet on the surface of the Gemini Man’s stages, and I do like Dr Wily rising above the cityscape in his UFO before you go to his castle!

Speaking of new graphics, some of the new level designs look great as does some of the new Robot Master’s ai! The long gaps remain in the Doc Robot Gemini and Needle Man stages, but seem more manageable. The new level designs in some spots are well thought out and make use of the stage gimmicks. Another new feature is an alternate path in one of the Wily Castle stages too. Getting through the redesigned screens with the spikes and floating platforms in Wily Stage 3 could be rough. Sometimes there’s more than one way to get through a screen, either by using an item or by using the stage’s gimmicks. That said, Wily Stage 2 and 3 are pretty long and rough. You may find yourself asking “Am i there yet?” a lot.

I highly recommend this hack to anyone who loves the Mega Man games, or MM3 in general. It’ll feel like a bit of a new experience!

I GIVE MEGA MAN 3 REVAMPED HACK 5 OUT OF 5 ENERGY TANKS!!

GAMEPLAY VIDEO:

LINK:
https://www.romhacking.net/hacks/4773/ – MM3 Revamped Hack on RHDN
https://www.romhacking.net/hacks/992/ – MM3 Improvement Hack on RHDN

If you enjoy reading any of my content and hearing of my nerdy adventures, feel free to share my posts on social media or leave me a comment. I would be forever grateful if you supported me via my Cash App or buy me a coffee via Ko-Fi. All donations are very welcomed and appreciated. I earn no income from this blog and this will help me continue in providing content and fulfilling my dreams. Thanks!