44. MEGA MAN

Franchise / home series: Mega Man

Notable non-Smash games: Mega Man 2 (1988); Mega Man X (1993); Mega Man 11 (2018)

Mega Man joined Smash 4 as a highly requested third-party character from Capcom. Representing classic 8-bit action platformers, his design is packed with references to Robot Masters and weapons from across the series.

In Smash, Mega Man’s normals are mostly projectiles or disjointed shots, making him feel more like a walking arsenal than a traditional melee fighter. His pellet jab, Metal Blade, Crash Bomber, Leaf Shield, and other weapons give him a unique zoning-heavy playstyle. Rather than standard tilts and aerials, he attacks using iconic tools like Flame Sword, Air Shooter, and Hard Knuckle.

This faithful translation of his power-copying legacy into a single, weapon-packed moveset made Mega Man one of the most fan-pleasing additions. His presence signals Smash’s respect for classic third-party icons and offers a distinctive, projectile-oriented gameplay experience built on nostalgia and clever design.