You'll probably notice that some very popular tracks from the legendary Mega Man 2 are missing from this list! Wily's Stage 1 Theme and the Intro Theme are already so well known... They stand on their own so well that it feels unnecessary to stack other songs against them!
#10 - Tengu Man Stage (Rockman & Forte, Super Famicom Version)
I love the easy-going pace of this song - it's really easy to get into and the bass line is very satisfying. It sort of reminds me of something you'd hear on the beach of a Mario Kart game!
#9 - Nitro Man Stage (Mega Man 10, WiiWare/XBLA/PSN)
Running down the city streets to this music made Nitro Man's stage the most memorable for me in Mega Man 10. It builds, and it's exciting, but it's also got a certain melancholy to it that's hard to explain. It really says 'night time in the city' to me.
#8 - Magnet Man Stage (Mega Man 3, NES)
What I love about the tracks from Mega Man 3 is how exciting they are and how much is going on. There are melodies on top of melodies in these tracks and it's so invigorating! I've always felt like this song perfectly portrays what Mega Man music is supposed to be about!
#7 - Crash Man Stage (Mega Man 2, NES)
I was apprehensive putting this one in here because it's from Mega Man 2 ... and it's generally understood that Mega Man 2 features some of the greatest video game music of all time, so there's no real need to call attention to them. But still, Crash Man's stage is definitely one of my personal favourites so I guess it should be on this list. I still remember when my friend Diego and I learned how to play this on guitar. Good times. This song goes all over the place and back again. It's always rising and getting more intense. Incredibly appropriate, considering Crash Man's level design.
#6 - Needle Man Stage (Mega Man 3, NES)
What can I say except that I love the Mega Man 3 soundtrack? I always play Needle Man's stage first just to hear this song! A good opening track will get you in the mood to play any game! The beat for this one in particular drives me crazy. I must look ridiculous playing Mega Man games, but I can't help but move my shoulders and my head in time with the music... Thanks, Needle Man, for making me look like an idiot.
#5 - Wave Man Stage (Mega Man 5, NES)
I'm just overly-compelled to move my head with the music. Just... just listen to the bass line. They're like waves! It's incredible! The rest of the instruments ride on top of the bass line... like waves. I'm really fond of this level because you can go through most of it without charging or firing your Mega Buster... meaning you get to appreciate all of the music without cutting out one of the sound channels. I wish the rest of Mega Man 5's soundtrack was this fun to listen to. Not that it's bad, but you know... Wave Man's music is incredible!! By the way, at 0:44, listen to what's going on behind the melody, on top of the bass... it's like a guitar part... do you hear it? How cool is that!?
#4 - Sheep Man Stage (Mega Man 10, NES)
The first time I played Mega Man 10, my friend Mike and I started with Sheep Man - the Mega Man 10 coverage in Nintendo Power sort of made it seem like you should fight Sheep Man first - and the first thing we both said to each other was "Really? This is it?" I'm not sure why I wasn't impressed with Sheep Man's music the first time I heard it, but it grew on me really quickly! If you're unsure, just listen to what's going on underneath the melody... it's incredible! Especially from 0:40 on... wow!
#3 - Frost Man Stage (Mega Man 8, PS)
The melody instruments in most of the Mega Man 8 songs blend into the other instruments so seamlessly that most people tend not to recall most of the songs. I've heard people say that 8 has some of the least memorable music, but it might be more accurate to say that it had the most organic music - they didn't tend to stand out and the absence of the classic tinny chip tunes the series is known for didn't help. In a vacuum, however, the music of Mega Man 8, Frost Man's stage in particular, is just as strong as the rest of the series. The melody and atmosphere of Frost Man's stage is a brilliant example of how Mega Man music would sound with more sophisticated digital instruments. Tell me you don't love that beat and that bass line. You can't. That would make you a liar.
#2 - Galaxy Man Stage (Mega Man 9, WiiWare/XBLA/PSN)
I'm convinced lately that the more recent Mega Man games, made in the classic 8-bit style, have more polished and balanced soundtracks than their predecessors. This is probably evident by the number of tracks on my list from the newer games. I imagine that an expectation has been established for a certain quality of Mega Man soundtrack by the fans, and Capcom has undoubtedly delivered. Galaxy Man's stage features some high energy music with a compelling melody and bass line as well as a fast-paced beat. The transitions are natural and exciting. This song really prepares you for the modern masterpiece called Mega Man 9! When this song takes off, it really gets you going! Go, Galaxy Man!!
#1 - Ending Theme, Pre-Credits (Mega Man 2, NES)
And in first place ... of course a track from Mega Man 2! But not one that a lot of people talk about... as a kid, when I had finally beaten Wily, I was surprisingly treated to a bittersweet scene of Mega Man walking down a road, the seasons changing before him, until, suddenly, he vanishes, leaving his helmet behind on a grassy hill, the scene of a peaceful village nestled in the mountains behind him - this music was playing during that scene. How can I describe the eerie, melancholic feeling I had back then? I felt my heart swell with emotion for a video game character for the first time. This song will forever be my number one Mega Man and video game track. I hope other people appreciate this one as much as I do.
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