Questions
Who created Mega Man and when did the first game come out?
Mega Man launched December 17, 1987 on the NES, developed and published by Capcom. The original concept came from director Akira Kitamura, with character design by Keiji Inafune.
Why is he called Mega Man and not something else?
In Japan he is known as Rockman. Capcom Senior Vice President Joseph Morici renamed the franchise Mega Man for North America because he reportedly just did not like the original name.
What is the deal with the names Rock and Roll?
The characters follow a music theme. The hero Rock and his sister Roll together reference rock and roll.
Why is Mega Man blue?
Mega Man’s blue color was chosen because cyan had the most shades in the console’s 56-color palette, which helped add visual detail.
Where did the character designs come from?
Inafune drew inspiration from Osamu Tezuka’s Astro Boy. Dr. Light’s design borrowed from Santa Claus imagery, while Dr. Wily was an archetypal mad scientist reportedly inspired by Albert Einstein.
How big was the team that made the original game?
The original team was just six people. Inafune recalled doing pixel-by-pixel dotting work himself because the crew was too small for anyone to specialize.
Who wrote the music for the first Mega Man?
The composer was Manami Matsumae, credited as "Chanchacorin Manami." The background art came from Naoya Tomita, credited as "Tom Pon."
How does Mega Man get his weapons?
He copies abilities by defeating a Robot Master. The original bosses include Fire Man, Ice Man, Guts Man, Cut Man, Elec Man, and Bomb Man.
Is there strategy to which boss you fight first?
Yes. The system draws from rock-paper-scissors, where certain bosses are weak to the weapons taken from other bosses.
What is the weapon on his arm called?
Players fire the Mega Buster, a cannon attached to his arm. His hand transforms into a gun.
Who is the villain?
Dr. Wily is the person responsible for the robotic enemies’ destructive acts, and Mega Man confronts him at his fortress.
How well has the series sold?
The franchise has sold 44 million units worldwide as of May 2026, and Mega Man 11 from 2018 is currently the best-selling entry.
What are the big Mega Man spin-off series?
They include Mega Man X (1993) on the SNES, Mega Man Legends (1997) on PlayStation, Mega Man Battle Network (2001) on Game Boy Advance, and Mega Man Zero (2002).
Has Mega Man shown up in Super Smash Bros?
Yes. In 2014 he appeared as a playable character in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U, and returned in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
Is there a new Mega Man game coming?
Mega Man: Dual Override was announced at The Game Awards 2025 as the twelfth mainline classic entry, releasing in 2027.
