Rockman 3: Winternight

Levels: Good

Graphics: Excellent

Music: Excellent

Enemies: Excellent

Bosses: Good

Weapons: Good

Castle: Good

Difficulty: EASY-MEDIUM (final level can be rough)

Comments: Rounding out the Maestro’s speed-enhanced trilogy is Winternight, perhaps the speediest, most refined hack of the lot. There’s a big pro and con to this game, stemming from the same source: experience. If this is your first Burst Chaser-type game (where Mega Man is sped up), Winternight is positively perfect, throwing a bunch of fun tricks at you along with beautiful levels and great tunes. If this is your third (technically fourth) BC hack however, it’ll feel very much like a “been there, done that”, especially since it barely modifies Speed Bound (its base). I think after finishing it I still prefer Speed Bound to Winternight, but that’s largely because I like how evil Speed Bound can get at certain points. Winternight on the other hand rushes you along but is gentle with you, although the bosses might give you grief if you haven’t encountered them before. Nevertheless, Winternight proves that Maestro has never stopped learning, and its perhaps their most impressive masterpiece yet.