Mega Man 5 starts off with Proto Man—yeah, the guy who’s usually just a mysterious ally—suddenly leading an army to wreck everything. It’s weird, right? Mega Man finds Dr. Light gone, just a note and that signature yellow scarf left behind. So off he goes, buster charged up (thanks to Dr. Cossack’s tweaks) and a new bird buddy named Beat tagging along for backup.

The levels feel classic but with a few surprises—gravity-flipping gimmicks, underwater sections where you’re dodging jellyfish, and bosses that actually make you think before jumping in guns blazing. I remember getting stuck on Wave Man’s stage for way too long because those disappearing blocks are evil. But nailing the perfect weapon order? So satisfying.

It’s not the hardest in the series, but the story’s got this weird charm—like, why is Proto Man suddenly the villain? Dr. Cossack stepping in as a mentor adds a fresh dynamic too. You’ll know by the end whether that twist lands for you.