Honestly still my favorite game in the series, even with its rough level design and relative simplicity compared to later games in the series.
There's just an aura of oppressiveness, brutality and hopelessness to the whole game that just isn't present in the sequels. Which, makes sense narratively, but this first game is the only one where you truly feel like the last stand for mankind, fighting back against forces infinitely more powerful than you.
Mega Man Zero in general is the peak of 2D action gameplay, and while this game isn't as mechanically complex as later games, it still stands heads and shoulders above most other games in the genre and is filled with tightly crafted bosses and challenging levels, with a lot of fun movement and combat options (Hint: Don't use the Buster, use Triple Rod instead).
The entire series gets my recommendation, and I have a soft spot for this one. But if it scares you off with its difficulty and general mean-ness, dont worry: The sequels get better with it.
There's just an aura of oppressiveness, brutality and hopelessness to the whole game that just isn't present in the sequels. Which, makes sense narratively, but this first game is the only one where you truly feel like the last stand for mankind, fighting back against forces infinitely more powerful than you.
Mega Man Zero in general is the peak of 2D action gameplay, and while this game isn't as mechanically complex as later games, it still stands heads and shoulders above most other games in the genre and is filled with tightly crafted bosses and challenging levels, with a lot of fun movement and combat options (Hint: Don't use the Buster, use Triple Rod instead).
The entire series gets my recommendation, and I have a soft spot for this one. But if it scares you off with its difficulty and general mean-ness, dont worry: The sequels get better with it.