Mega Man Zero 3

Keeping alive the 2D platform on the little handheld that could make a retro junkie like me all warm and fuzzy inside, and it's an excellent throwback to the days of the 16-bit era where robots were ass kicking machines and a wrong step would have you plunging to your death, impaled through your metal chassis on a pit of spikes.

All in all, the game is pretty tight. The graphics are bright and crisp, and Zero's moves are butter-smooth.

Like its predecessors, it's an action-platforming player's dream come true. The action is fast and intense, and it doesn't often let up. Those who have played and enjoyed the first two games in the series will find this third installment just as much fun, although just a hair less difficult.

Easily the most diverse and accessible Mega Man game yet...If you've enjoyed Mega Man games in the past or have been waiting for one that's a little less punishing, Mega Man Zero 3 is the game to get.

There's a fine line between encouragement and frustration in a game like this, and Zero 3 hits it right on the sweet spot.

I'm also still not crazy about only earning new moves through Zero's hunter ranking, since so much of the experience is trial and error, and you'll likely be humbled quickly. [Oct 2004, p.91]

Despite being yet another recycled GBA title, Mega Man Zero 3 hasn't gotten stale and old in his third iteration. It comes awful close, but the new levels and enemies, updated gameplay, and better difficulty tweaks keep the series up there in the "recommended" status.

Between the Armor Chips, Cyber Elves, and EX Skills, there are tons of ways to customize Zero to best fit your fighting style and to get past the ample challenges along your adventure. This is what makes Zero 3 so great. It takes the well thought out level design and spot-on control from the old school Mega Man games and adds more dept thanks to all these new abilities.

Gamers who have been burned by the obscene difficulty of the first two Zero titles might be expecting number 3 to be more torture, not realizing that this time, they're actually given a fair opportunity to win. Zero is sorry he hurt you.

A very good game, but a difficult one. Fans of the series will have no problem pummeling their way through the various settings, until they unlock the harder difficulties, but new or less skilled players may have a bit of trouble with it.

A high level of difficulty will frustrate novice players. [Dec 2004, p.152]

A no-holds-barred shoot-a-thon that'll give its audience exactly what it wants - even more punishing robot chaos. [Dec 2004, p.164]

The short levels, enormously goofy bosses, and the typical scenarios are just what the Mega Man fan ordered. The game is super-sized with new weapons and character actions.

8 / 7 / 7 / 6 - 28 [Vol 802; 30 Apr 2004]

If you're unfamiliar with the series then the bombardment of characters and names that will greet you could be a little intimidating, but if you just push the veil of the complex storyline aside, it's simply a good, solid platform game like its predecessor and a fine example of the genre. [Nov 2004, p.121]

The problem with the game isn't the level design or the gameplay both are brilliant. It is just that the game is too much of the same. [JPN Import]

I feel that this game is definitely well above average, but it's lack of freshness and high frustration level that keep it from getting a higher score.

Mega Man Zero 3 is not really a new game, it's the result of a refinement process based on a popular gameplay style. If you can't seem to get enough of Mega Man Zero 3 will satiate your hunger.

While Zero is still a sweet character, this game is just too much of the same, and virtually inaccessible to anyone who doesn't want to memorize every inch of it. [Oct 2004, p.147]