Mega Man X3 on SNES is that perfect middle ground between classic Mega Man and the later, flashier X games. You still get the tight controls and tough-as-nails platforming, but now with these chunky ride armors that feel like piloting a mini mech—some let you dash through spikes, others hover over pits. First time I played, I got wrecked by Neon Tiger's stage until I realized you can actually find hidden upgrades if you explore off the beaten path.

The weapons you steal from bosses actually feel useful this time around—Triad Thunder clears rooms, Acid Burst melts certain walls. And that soundtrack? Pure 16-bit adrenaline, especially when you hit the Sigma stages. Just don't expect the Zero playable rumors to be true unless you're using cheat codes. Still one of the best-looking games on the system, with those detailed sprite explosions and parallax cityscapes.

It's not as polished as X1, but the challenge and secrets make up for it. I still hum the intro stage music in the shower sometimes.