Rockman 3 (or Mega Man 3 if you grew up outside Japan) is where the series really starts hitting its stride. You’ve got the usual robot master chaos—eight of them this time, each with their own gimmick—but now there’s this weird tension between Dr. Wily and Dr. Light’s new creation, Proto Man. The soundtrack slaps, the slide move feels surprisingly good once you get used to it, and some of these stages (looking at you, Shadow Man) are brutal in the best way.

Oh, and the Rush Coil? Absolute game-changer for platforming. Just don’t get too comfortable—Wily’s final castle loves throwing curveballs. Still one of the tightest NES action games out there.