[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/mm7.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350: ''"[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tS7n8jWPOQY My name is Mega Man]]''. ''[[RunningGag I kicked Wily's ass once again...]]"''[[note]]'''Clockwise from bottom-left:''' [[BeastMan Slash Man]], [[SentientVehicle Turbo Man]], [[SpringCoil Spring Man]], [[AnIcePerson Freeze Man]], [[HavingABlast Burst Man]], [[OurVampiresAreDifferent Shade Man]], [[ExtraOreDinary Junk Man]], and [[{{Cumulonemesis}} Cloud Man]]\\\
'''Center:''' [[FriendlyShopkeeper Auto]][[/note]]]]
->''"In The Year Of 20XX AD... The world cheered Mega Man when at long last he captured and imprisoned Dr. Wily. But... Dr. Wily knew his schemes might end in failure and had planned for just such an occasion. Four robots had been hidden away and after six months without being contacted by [[AccidentalMisnaming Dr. Willy]], they activate and begin searching for their master..."''
-->-- '''{{Narrator}}'''

The 7th entry and one of only three games (''VideoGame/MegaManAndBass'' was a case of NoExportForYou before its [[Platform/GameBoyAdvance GBA]] port, and ''Soccer'' is considered non-canon) in the original ''VideoGame/MegaManClassic'' series released for the Platform/SuperNintendoEntertainmentSystem.

In the closing of ''VideoGame/MegaMan6'', Dr. Wily was finally put in jail. What Mega Man didn't know was that he had robots hidden somewhere in his lab. After six months without Dr. Wily's input, the robots would activate, and search for him.

The Robots gave a city a surprising attack, looking for their master. Mega Man and Dr. Light watch the robots help Dr. Wily escape from a far distance. Mega Man goes out to stop Dr. Wily. Along the way, he encountered Bass, another humanoid robot, and Treble, his mean robotic wolf. They are also trying to stop Dr. Wily. The battle began...

Though built using the same engine as the first ''VideoGame/MegaManX1'', and featuring a similar emphasis on storyline, gameplay-wise ''Mega Man 7'' has more in common with the line of ''Mega Man'' games previously released on the Platform/GameBoy, featuring two sets of four Robot Masters instead of eight from the start, along with the item shop featured in the [[VideoGame/MegaManIV fourth]] and [[VideoGame/MegaManV fifth]] Game Boy outings, and Mega Man and the various other enemies being scaled more like their Game Boy sprites than their NES ones (though, thankfully, without the insane jumps that this often entailed in the Game Boy entries).

Robot Masters:
* DWN-049: Freeze Man, weak to Junk Shield / Scorch Wheel, gives [[AnIcePerson Freeze Cracker]].
* DWN-050: Junk Man, weak to Thunder Bolt, gives [[ExtraOreDinary Junk]] [[LuckilyMyShieldWillProtectMe Shield]].
* DWN-051: Burst Man, weak to Scorch Wheel / Freeze Cracker, gives [[HavingABlast Danger]] [[BubbleGun Wrap]].
* DWN-052: Cloud Man, weak to Danger Wrap, gives [[ShockAndAwe Thunder Bolt]].
* DWN-053: Spring Man, weak to Slash Claw, gives [[SpringCoil Wild Coil]].
* DWN-054: Slash Man, weak to Freeze Cracker / Scorch Wheel, gives [[WolverineClaws Slash Claw]].
* DWN-055: Shade Man, weak to Wild Coil, gives the [[SuperScream Noise Crush]].
* DWN-056: Turbo Man, weak to Noise Crush, gives the [[PlayingWithFire Scorch Wheel]].

On a side note, a fan-made [[Platform/NintendoEntertainmentSystem NES]] style remake of this game can be found online.

This game is part of the {{compilation|Rerelease}}s ''Mega Man Anniversary Collection'' and ''Legacy Collection 2''.
----

!! Tropes:

* AccidentalMisnaming: In the opening scene, Dr. Wily is accidentally referred to as Dr. Willy with '''two''' [=Ls=] instead of one, as shown above. This is corrected in the ''Anniversary Collection'', but future releases leave it untouched.
* AdvancingBossOfDoom:
** King Gojulas, the T-Rex MiniBoss in Slash Man's level, who drops in behind Mega Man and chases him into a corner, where Mega Man cannot progress until he defeats it.
** [=HannyaNED=], the Oni Mask Boss from Wily Castle 3, is fought in an area that automatically scrolls to the right, and Mega Man must constantly be moving forward to avoid contact with it.
* AIBreaker: Hard to say if it was intentional or not, but several of the Robot Masters [[note]]Cloud Man, Junk Man, Freeze Man, Spring Man, Slash Man, and Turbo Man[[/note]] will have a flinch animation when hit with their [[AchillesHeel weapon weakness]] which causes their A.I. to reset into a predictable, and in some cases, very exploitable pattern, making them almost [[CurbStompBattle laughably easy to beat]].
** On the other hand, Burst Man's weakness to [[KillItWithFire Scorch Wheel]], although it causes him to flinch and [[AIBreaker reset his A.I.]], can make him harder to beat, as opposed to easier.
* AmbidextrousSprite: Wily Capsule 7's sprite is flipped even when it has the asymmetrical Dr. Wily logo.
* AnimalMecha: Robotic dinosaurs are a major theme of Slash Man's stage. Robot dinosaur fossils are also present in the background of Freeze Man's stage.
* AntiFrustrationFeatures: This is the first ''Mega Man'' game to allow the player to restock supplies as well as automatically recharge weapon energy in between each Wily Castle level. This is also the first of the console games to introduce the item shop, where the player could max out their [[HealingPotion E-Tanks]], [[ManaPotion W-Tanks]], [[EmergencyEnergyTank S-Tanks]], and [[OneUp Extra Lives]] between stages.
* AwesomeButImpractical: [[spoiler:The [[LuckilyMyShieldWillProtectMe Proto Shield]], Proto Man's [[IconicItem iconic shield]], given to Mega Man after beating Proto Man in battle...Unfortunately, the shield works the same as how Sniper Joes use them, and can only block shots while standing perfectly still. If you move, jump, or shoot, [[ShieldsAreUseless it becomes useless]], and what's worse, you cannot use any weapon other than the Mega Buster or any of the Rush abilities at the same time as the Proto Shield.]]
* BearsAreBadNews: Shirokumachine GTVs in Freeze Man's stage. They attack Mega Man by either throwing chunks of ice at him, or by causing icicles to rain from the ceiling with their roar.
* BewareTheNiceOnes: [[spoiler: Mega Man, normally a pacifist, attempts to ''kill'' Wily at the end of the game.]]
* BigBoosHaunt: Shade Man's level. The level starts in a cemetery with Mega Man fighting Astro Zombiegs, before entering a haunted castle full of enemies like Batton M48s, Raggers, Gilliam Knights that turn into werewolves, and a VAN Pookin.
* BittersweetEnding: [[spoiler:After several years of chasing Dr. Wily and finally putting him in jail, Wily breaks out and runs amok again like nothing has changed, but to make matters worse, at the end of the game, although Mega Man does stop Dr. Wily's current rampage, [[VillainExitStageLeft Wily still escapes]], [[TheMole Bass turns out to be an enemy]], and Mega Man has to deal with the fact that [[ThouShaltNotKill he attempted to kill a living being]] ([[WhyDontYouJustShootHim even if it was Dr. Wily]]). [[TheBadGuyWins For all intents and purposes, Mega Man fails and Dr. Wily got exactly what he wanted; to escape prison]].]]
* BlackoutBasement:
** One of the rooms in Shade Man's stage is completely dark, which is especially dangerous sine the room contains a pit of SpikesOfDoom. Luckily, the room can be illuminated by using [[ChargedAttack charged buster shots]] or by lighting the torches with [[UtilityWeapon Scorch Wheel]].
** The first Dr. Wily stage contains sections where the room goes dark as long as Mega Man's feet are on the ground. Whenever he jumps, the room lights back up again.
* BlowYouAway: Bufoohs, the game’s version of [[VideoGame/MegaMan2 Fan Fiend]], try to blow Mega Man into bottomless pits or other hazards, but can also change their bodies to pull the Blue Bomber into them or just damage him on contact, similar to Hyper Storm H of the Genesis Unit.
* BossOnlyLevel: The [[NostalgiaLevel Robot Museum]] has absolutely no enemies up until the end, where Dr. Wily reveals [[MonsterClown Mash, the robot clown]].
* {{Bowdlerization}}: Bass says "Damn" at one point in the original SNES version of the game. Likely due to changing ESRB standards over the years, and the general touchiness of using mild swearing in an E-rated game, the line was censored to "Darn" for all future releases like ''Anniversary Collection'' and ''Legacy Collection 2''.
* BreakingTheFourthWall: Try using the Freeze Cracker on Freeze Man and [[AsideGlance watch his reaction]].
* BringIt: Freeze Man reacts to everything you do. If you do nothing, he defaults to taunting you.
* CallBack: This game makes several references to previous games, but the most apparent is the [[NostalgiaLevel robot museum stage]]. Glass tubes with various robot masters on display, with Wily making off with [[VideoGame/MegaMan1 Guts Man]] (to be remodeled into a fortress boss later), and the music for that stage is a mix of Guts Man, [[VideoGame/MegaMan2 Heat Man]], and [[VideoGame/MegaMan3 Snake Man's]] themes.
* CarFu: One of Turbo Man's attacks is [[TransformingMecha transforming into a mini-car]] to run Mega Man down.
* ChargedAttack: The Noise Crush is a Collect Type, where Mega Man must bounce it off a wall to catch the ricochet to empower the next blast. The Wild Coil and the Mega Buster are Hold Types.
* CollapsingCeilingBoss: [[VideoGame/MegaMan1 Guts Man]] [[TookALevelInBadass G]] in Wily Castle 1.
** To a lesser extent, the last of the [[BearsAreBadNews Polar Bear]] robots from Freeze Man's stage can summon icicles from the ceiling with a MightyRoar.
** Freeze Man also uses his FreezeRay to create rows of falling icicles from the ceiling.
* CombiningMecha: Returning from ''VideoGame/MegaMan6'', Mega Man and Rush can combine into a single JetPack, [[RocketPunch rocket-punching]] machine. [[spoiler:Bass and Treble eventually are able to do this as well.]]
* CompilationRerelease: Available through ''Anniversary Collection'' ([=PS2=], [=GameCube=]) and ''Legacy Collection 2'' ([=PS4=], Xbox One, Switch, and Steam).
* ConsoleCameo: At the beginning of Junk Man's level, you can see several [[Platform/NintendoEntertainmentSystem Famicom systems]] lined up in the background. Also, Rush Search may randomly dig up a Platform/GameBoy. These were removed from ''Mega Man Legacy Collection 2'' on non-Nintendo systems, and were not restored for its Platform/NintendoSwitch port.
* ContinuityNod:
** Slash Man's design is based on [[CatFolk Pluto]] from ''VideoGame/MegaManV'' for the Platform/GameBoy.
** Turbo Man's stage includes a [[DeathCourse falling gauntlet]] of [[KillItWithFire fiery columns]] similar to the [[ThatOneLevel infamous]] LaserHallway from [[VideoGame/MegaMan2 Quick Man]]'s stage.
** [[VideoGame/MegaMan1 Guts Man]] [[TookALevelInBadass G]] is not the first time Wily has used a [[TankGoodness Guts Man Tank]] as a Wily Castle boss; he first did it in ''VideoGame/MegaMan2'' with the Guts-Dozer.
* CoolGarage: Turbo Man's stage: bonus points for [[TransformingMecha Turbo Man himself]] being the CoolCar for the garage.
* CreepyCockroach: The Gockroach S in Junk Man's factory-themed stage.
* DarkerAndEdgier: On a lesser note, Mega Man is visibly frowning at all times instead of the blank look on his face from the NES games; 1-Ups no longer smile, either. On a greater note, the ending in particular stands out: [[spoiler:Mega Man attempts to murder Dr. Wily and is seen [[UnflinchingWalk walking away from the burning inferno of the Wily Castle]], with his more usual blank expression occasionally cracking into a look of anger]].
* DeathCourse: What seems to be a [[ContinuityNod nod]] to the LaserHallway from [[VideoGame/MegaMan2 Quick Man]]'s stage, Turbo Man has a falling gauntlet of instant-death [[KillItWithFire columns of fire]].
* DefeatEqualsExplosion: The bosses from Wily Castle suffer quite lengthy chain reaction destructions when they are defeated.
* DowsingDevice: The first appearance of the [[RobotDog Rush]] [[TheNoseKnows Search]]. This item makes Rush dig into the ground wherever he is summoned, and pull out whatever he finds. If used in the right spots, Rush can find items that can otherwise only be obtained by paying lots of bolts at Big Eddie's.
* DubInducedPlotHole: In the original Japanese script, Mega Man [[spoiler:tries to kill Wily, but is forced to stop once Dr. Wily reminds him that [[ThouShaltNotKill he cannot harm humans]]]]. In the English localisations, [[spoiler:Mega Man claims to be "more than a robot" (and as such does not have to be ThreeLawsCompliant) before (unsuccessfully) attempting to kill Wily)]]. The latter has rather drastic implications that no later game would address. It also clashes with the established lore of the ''[[VideoGame/MegaManX X series]]'' as this implies that [[spoiler:Mega Man isn't actually ThreeLawsCompliant when X, his successor, is explicitly stated to be the first robot with true free will.]]
* EasilyDetachableRobotParts: Mash, the robot clown mini-boss's [[AttackItsWeakPoint weakness]] is his [[LosingYourHead detachable head]].
* EasterEgg:
** There is a code that allows you to play a two-player battle mode. Both players can choose to play as either Mega Man or Bass, and both characters have a few secret moves that can be performed using ''Franchise/StreetFighter''-like command inputs.
** If you hold B when selecting Shade Man's stage, the usual stage music will be replaced with a remix of the first level theme from ''[[VideoGame/GhostsNGoblins Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts]]''.
* EpisodeOfTheDead: Shade Man's stage, which also doubles as HalloweenEpisode. Being in a base based on a cemetery, most of the {{Mooks}} Mega Man has to fight are Astro Zombiegs.
* EternalEngine: Not all that uncommon in the ''Mega Man'' universe, Burst Man's and Junk Man's stages are some sort of chemical plant and junk smelting factory, respectively. Turbo Man's stage is this [[HailfirePeaks mixed with]] a CoolGarage.
* EverythingsDeaderWithZombies: Shade Man's stage is filled with [[NinjaPirateZombieRobot Astro Zombiegs]].
* EvilCounterpart: [[TheRival Bass]] and [[SavageWolves Treble]], for [[TheHero Mega Man]] and [[RobotDog Rush]].
* ExorcistHead: Junk Man is able to spin his body and head separately, as we see in his intro animation prior to his fight.
* FeedItWithFire: All the games use ElementalRockPaperScissors, but this was the first game to have boss enemies who became more powerful based on the weapon you used against them.
** When you use Noise Crush on Shade Man, he gets [[ChargedAttack charged up]] as if he was hit with his own shot. [[MyRulesAreNotYourRules This does not work the other way around]].
** If you hit Spring Man or Turbo Man with the Thunder Bolt, they will each enter a [[SuperMode supercharged form]], giving them access to new abilities for a short time.
** Freeze Man, if hit with his own weapon, the Freeze Cracker, will cause the [[StealthPun game to freeze]] for a moment, and Freeze Man to cast the player an AsideGlance before healing his health.
* FictionalCurrency: The first ''Mega Man'' game to use Bolts as money (in place of the P Chips from ''[[VideoGame/MegaManIV IV]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/MegaManV V]]''), also an [[AvertedTrope aversion]] to the usual MoneySpider trope, as it makes sense that destroyed MechaMooks would leave behind screws and bolts.
* FireIceLightning:
** Turbo Man, Freeze Man, and Cloud Man, respectively attack using a wheel of rotating flames, icy projectiles that can freeze Mega Man, and bolts of lightning.
** The [[FinalBoss Wily Capsule]] shoots out projectiles of the three elements as well. The fire balls cause Mega Man to burst into flames for additional damage, the ice balls freeze him, leaving him vulnerable to the next attack, and the lightning orbs simply deal damage.
* FloatingInABubble: Burst Man's specialty is firing bombs encased in bubbles. These bubbles have the ability to encase Mega Man himself and send him floating up towards a ceiling full of SpikesOfDoom. Mega Man can do this as well, of course, once he [[PowerCopying obtains]] the [[HavingABlast Danger]] [[BubbleGun Wrap]] from Burst Man.
* {{Foreshadowing}}:
** The ending has a scene where a comet streaks across the sky, setting the stage for Duo and the Evil Energy in ''[[VideoGame/MegaMan8 8]]''.
** In the Japanese version of Shade Man's stage, after Mega Man offers to help Bass to Dr. Light's lab, he warns our blue hero that he hopes his kindness won't cost him his life, though this is LostInTranslation in the localization. [[spoiler: Sure enough, he succeeds in wrecking Light's lab later in the game and stealing the enhancements meant for Mega Man and Rush.]]
** There are three broken displays in the Robot Museum. One of them is Guts Man, of course, but the others two foreshadow Cut Man and Wood Man's return in the Saturn version of [[VideoGame/MegaMan8 the next game]].
* ForkliftFu: [[MiniBoss Truck Joe]] from Turbo Man's stage tries to run Mega Man down with something that looks akin to a forklift-like machine with a spiked plate on the front, possibly a dangerously tricked out crate-pusher of some sort.
* FreezeFrameBonus: During the [[ExcusePlot introduction backstory]], we see a newspaper headline of Dr. Wily having been arrested by Mega Man at the end of ''VideoGame/MegaMan6''. However, if you look at the lower right-hand corner of the newspaper, you'll see a quick [[TheCameo cameo]] of [[VideoGame/MegaMan1 Cut Man and Guts Man]] in something called ''Cut Man 2''.
** Spring Man's stage features [[http://megaman.wikia.com/wiki/File:MM7mys-Astro1.gif what appears to be schematics for a prototype version of]] [[VideoGame/MegaMan8 Astro Man]].
* FunnyBackgroundEvent: An amusing oversight in the [[NostalgiaLevel Robot Museum]], in the first room of Robot Master glass cases, if one looks to the far right and far left of the room, they will see [[VideoGame/MegaMan6 Plant Man]] on display twice.
* GameBreakingBug: When facing Cloud Man, if the [[BubbleGun Danger Wrap]] is used when entering the boss room at the exact right moment, it will hit Cloud Man above the screen and cause him to plummet to the ground, stopping his entrance animation and making him disappear. This causes the game to keep Mega Man frozen in place waiting for Cloud Man's entrance to finish, and after several more seconds, the screen will finally glitch and Mega Man will die.
* GiantEnemyCrab: Kanigance, the robot crab MiniBoss from Burst Man's stage and Wily Castle 3.
* GoodIsNotSoft: [[spoiler:In case you missed it, Mega Man gives thought to killing Wily as opposed to simply apprehending him. The American version goes a step further by having Mega Man threaten the doctor and ''actually attempt the deed''. A {{Three Laws|Compliant}} logic loop prevents the Blue Bomber from acting either way.]]
* GoodWingsEvilWings: The evil varieties, [[OurVampiresAreDifferent Shade Man]] has bat wings, and Bass gets a set in his SuperMode that are both devilish and metallic in appearance.
* GottaCatchThemAll: Beyond the standard [[PowerCopying weapons]], and the fact that the [[RobotDog Rush enhancements]] are no longer automatically obtained but have to be found/bought, there's also the [[CombiningMecha R-U-S-H tiles]], [[GravityIsAHarshMistress Beat's Whistle]], the Energy Balancer, the [[EscapePod EXIT option]], [[DiscountCard Auto's Headbolt]], and [[spoiler:[[LuckilyMyShieldWillProtectMe Proto Man's Shield]]]] — and that's not even including the basic [[HealingPotion Energy Tanks]] and [[OneUp Extra Lives]]!
* GuideDangIt:
** Freeze Cracker, Wild Coil, and Danger Wrap can be aimed by holding up or down before shooting. Danger Wrap can also be aimed "forward."
** You can severely reduce the damage dealt by burning attacks by mashing the buttons like you'd to escape freezing ones. This can be a ''huge'' help to mitigate the amount of damage some bosses, including the final one, do against you.
** Van Pookin, the miniboss in Shade Man's stage, actually has a weak point right on the eyes themselves. Given that most shielded enemies need to be attacked when vulnerable or with an armor-piercing weapon, one might overlook this. However, defeating Vay Pookin by hitting the eyes actually opens up an alternate pathway through the level leading to a hot spot under a portrait of Dr. Wily where Rush Search can uncover an Energy Balancer so that you don't need to buy it from Auto's shop.
** The FinalBoss -- infamous for its high difficulty -- has a mechanic that isn't obvious. Each time they release four orbs, you can actually misdirect their RoboTeching by jumping, sliding and moving in different directions. The trouble is that the movements are very specific if you want to avoid taking damage completely and until this point, there hasn't been a boss quite like this in the classic series. You can also prevent him from releasing the orbs by shooting him with the Thunder Bolt right after hitting him with the Mega Buster, Freeze Cracker or Wild Coil, but it requires precise timing and isn't possible if Wily is too high up for the Bolt's reach, plus there's no incentive to try it out when you don't know about it since the Thunder Bolt doesn't damage Wily, so you really just have to guess this specific mechanic (or see it in a guide). For a NoDamageRun, it is absolutely essential to memorize how to react to every position the Wily Capsule may appear at. If you're out of consumables and want to still win, it's also essential to learn this as you can't spare too many hits.
* HappyEndingOverride: ''Mega Man 6's'' ending had Dr. Wily being finally imprisoned, but here he is shown having a backup plan to escape and Mega Man ultimately fails to arrest him at the ending.
* HoverTank: [[GreenThumb VAN Pookin]], the [[TankGoodness Tank]] MiniBoss from Shade Man's stage.
* InvisibilityCloak: The Wily Capsule's usual teleporting ability is replaced by this for some reason.
* InvisibleBlock: Present in Cloud Man's stage as the invisible platforms variety. [[note]]They can be made visible in a snowstorm, however.[[/note]]
* KaizoTrap: A downplayed example with Slash Man. Hitting Slash Man with the Freeze Cracker turns him into a frozen block that will slide around on the floor. He can still [[CollisionDamage hurt you]] in this state.
* LateArrivalSpoiler: [[EvilAllAlong Bass was created by Dr Wily?]] [[VideoGame/MegaMan8 What]] [[VideoGame/MegaManAndBass a]] [[VideoGame/MegaMan10 twist]]!
* LettingTheAirOutOfTheBand: In the introduction stage, when Auto hands Mega Man a Met Helmet instead of his [[IconicItem Iconic Blue Helmet]], a short and off-key version of the usual [[RecurringRiff Robot Master music]] plays, and Mega Man responds with a long VisibleSilence.
%%* LevelInTheClouds: Appropriately, Cloud Man's stage.
* LifeDrain: Shade Man can do this by using his [[OurVampiresAreDifferent robot vampire powers]] to drain Mega Man's oil.
* LuckilyMyShieldWillProtectMe: [[SelectiveMagnetism Junk Shield]] and [[WreathedInFlames Scorch Wheel]]. [[spoiler:Also, your reward for beating Proto Man is his shield.]]
* MacrossMissileMassacre: The [[MiniBoss Sisi Truck]]'s endless barrage of Sisi Rockets in Turbo Man's stage.
* MassHypnosis: [[AllThereInTheManual This is what Shade Man's sound cannon was supposed to be able to do]], but due to faulty wiring, became the destructive [[MakeSomeNoise Noise Crush]] instead.
* MeaningfulBackgroundEvent: Remember those two other broken Robot Master capsules in the [[NostalgiaLevel Robot Museum]] boss room's background? As implied in the Platform/SegaSaturn release of ''VideoGame/MegaMan8'', in addition to nabbing Guts Man, Dr. Wily also grabbed [[VideoGame/MegaMan1 Cut Man]] and [[VideoGame/MegaMan2 Wood Man]].
* ManOnFire: Turbo Man's Scorch Wheel, Gamerizer's FireBreathingWeapon from Wily Castle 2, as well as [[FinalBoss Dr. Wily's Capsule]] can inflict this onto Mega Man, repeatedly damaging him until the fire fades. Also happens to Burst Man and Slash Man when the [[PlayingWithFire Scorch Wheel]] is used on them.
* TheMole: Bass was first introduced as a potential ally to Mega Man, who claimed to also be battling Dr. Wily. When he's [[WoundedGazelleGambit discovered injured later in Shade Man's stage]], Mega gives him access to Dr. Light's lab to be repaired. Bass ends up ransacking Light's lab and stealing the plans for some new upgrades for Mega Man and Rush, delivering them to his creator, Dr. Wily.
* MonsterClown: Mash, the boss of the robot museum stage.
* MookMaker: [[TankGoodness Gamerizer]], the boss of Wily Castle 2, can summon mini-Gamerizers named Spotaro from its barrack-like body. Also the [[MiniMook Wily Machine Minis]] from [[DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment Dr. Wily's Wily Machine 7]].
* MultipleLifeBars: The [[HoverTank VAN Pookin]] MiniBoss from Shade Man's stage has the Alternate Knockout Conditions variant, and can be defeated by either [[GoForTheEye destroying its outer shell]] or by [[ShieldedCoreBoss attacking its core]]. Interesting in that this has an effect on gameplay, as each method will open up one of two different paths to continue through the level. Perhaps a ShoutOut to ''VideoGame/MegaMan6'', in which four of the 8 robot-master stages split into two paths to choose from (one path to fake boss, other path to real boss).
* MyRulesAreNotYourRules: If you use [[MakeSomeNoise Noise Crush]] against Shade Man, he will absorb it like it was his own shot. However, if he uses his Noise Crush on you, [[TheComputerIsACheatingBastard you don't absorb it and instead take damage as normal]].
* MythologyGag:
** Mega Man's costume when he has Thunder Bolt equipped bears a shocking resemblance to the costume worn by Mega on the infamously OffModel [[AmericanKirbyIsHardcore U.S. box art]] for [[VideoGame/MegaMan1 the original game]].
** The Freeze Cracker and Thunder Bolt are nearly identical in appearance to the Shotgun Ice and Electric Spark weapons, respectively, in ''VideoGame/MegaManX1''. May also count as a CallForward due to the ''X'' series taking place later in the timeline.
* NostalgiaLevel:
** The Robot Museum stage has [[SeriesMascot Metool shrubberies]], [[VideoGame/MegaMan6 Brain Break statues]], and [[VideoGame/MegaMan5 Camon wall tiles]], as well as glass case displays for [[VideoGame/MegaMan2 Heat Man]], [[VideoGame/MegaMan3 Snake Man]], [[VideoGame/MegaMan4 Pharaoh Man, Skull Man, Ring Man]], [[VideoGame/MegaMan6 Blizzard Man, Flame Man, and Plant Man]], before Mega Man can finally catch up with Dr. Wily just in time to watch him steal [[VideoGame/MegaMan1 Guts Man]] [[note]]and as we'll find out in ''VideoGame/MegaMan8'', Cut Man and Wood Man as well[[/note]]. The stage music is even a remix of Guts Man's, Heat Man's, and Snake Man's level themes.
** Shade Man's stage is one for the ''VideoGame/GhostsNGoblins'' series, as the entire level is an [[ShoutOut homage]] to the first stage of ''Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts''.
* OneWheeledWonder: Gilliam Knights and Turbo Roaders.
* OptionalBoss: [[spoiler:Proto Man, after meeting certain requirements, can be fought in a secret area in Shade Man's level. Mega Man can acquire his Proto Shield if he defeats him]].
* OurVampiresAreDifferent: They are robots who feed on oil and are mounted with a sound cannon.
* OurWerewolvesAreDifferent: The Gilliam Knight, a common enemy in Shade Man's stage, can transform into a [[BossInMookClothing Werewolf Robot]] under the full moon, changing attack tactics to lunging at Mega Man, and gaining almost as much health as a boss.
* OvershadowedByAwesome:
** The [[HoverBoard Rush Jet]] has been suffering BadassDecay since ''VideoGame/MegaMan4'', but now it seems overshadowed by the [[JetPack Rush Super Adapter]]. Doesn't help matters that since Rush Jet is completely optional in this game, there are no levels where you even have to use it.
** [[spoiler: The [[LuckilyMyShieldWillProtectMe Proto Shield]] as well suffers from being overshadowed by the [[CombiningMecha Rush Super Adapter]], only one of the items can be used at a time when not using a specific weapon, and the Adapter is just more versatile than the Proto Shield, which can [[ShieldsAreUseless only block shots while standing perfectly still]].]]
* PerpetualFrowner: Mega Man during this game.
* PrecisionFStrike: Mild example. Bass says "Damn" when you meet him in Shade Man's stage. This was [[{{Bowdlerization}} taken out]] of the ''Anniversary Collection''.
* {{Prehistoria}}: Slash Man's stage is this ([[HailfirePeaks mixed with]] [[MechaMooks futuristic robotic technology]], of course).
* ProperlyParanoid: Or CrazyPrepared; take your pick. The ExcusePlot of this game stems from the fact that Dr. Wily always knew that eventually in his efforts to TakeOverTheWorld, he might fail and get captured, so he [[HiddenSupplies hid four secret Robot Masters]] that would activate if not contacted within six months and come to find him wherever he was being held to free him.
* PumpkinPerson: VAN Pookin serves as a miniboss during Shade Man's stage (which has a strong horror/Halloween theme).
* RememberTheNewGuy: Auto has apparently been working with Dr. Light for a while, although this is the first time in 7 games we've seen him.
* SavageWolves: Treble, Bass's [[RobotDog Robot Wolf]].
* ShoutOut: To ''VideoGame/GhostsNGoblins''; hold the B button while selecting Shade Man's level and it will play the famous first level theme from the series.
** Also in Shade Man's stage are the Gilliam Knights, who can transform into a [[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent Werewolf Robot]] that looks very similar to an enemy in ''Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts'', while the Raggers are based on Sir Kibbles from the ''[[{{Franchise/Kirby}} Kirby series]]''.
*** Gilliam itself is possibly a reference to a character in ''VideoGame/BreathOfFireI'' (the reference may be lost in the American version, because his name was changed to Bo).
** Shade Man's normal stage music takes a riff from [[VideoGame/CastlevaniaIISimonsQuest "Bloody Tears"]].
** Slash Man's stage is a tribute to ''Film/JurassicPark'', as it takes place in some kind of Research Facility/[[JungleJapes Prehistory Jungle]]. Naturally, the MiniBoss is a ''Tyrannosaurus rex'' Mega Man must flee from. Slash Man himself borrows a lot of moves from Vega from ''Franchise/StreetFighter''.
** The Japanese version has many more shout-outs to other Creator/{{Capcom}} games that were DummiedOut, such as Auto referencing VideoGame/{{Strider}} Hiryu [[http://www.rockmanpm.com/?p=original/rockman7/labtalk/rightot when obtaining the Slash Claw]].
** Gamerizer, the turtle {{Tank|Goodness}} boss of the second Wily Castle level, is a ShoutOut to the popular Japanese monster Film/{{Gamera}}.
** Gamerizer also resembles the Thunderbird 2 machine from ''Series/{{Thunderbirds}}'', both in appearance and in the abilities.
** The game's ending references that of [[VideoGame/MegaMan3 the third entry]] heavily. Dr. Wily has rubble from his crumbling fortress fall on him and he is very nearly killed, though not in that order or for that reason. Additionally, Bass comes to rescue him in the end, much like Proto Man did for his brother. Hell, the Wily Machine 7 is like the Wily Machine 3, though it can only walk, jump, and shoot out smaller versions of itself. Justified, since Wily didn’t have time to add in offensive capabilities since he just got out of prison.
* ShownTheirWork: How Spring Man becomes [[HollywoodMagnetism magnetic]] when hit with [[ShockAndAwe Thunder Bolt]] is how [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnet electromagnets]] really work — an electrical current flowing through a coil of wire creates a powerful magnetic charge.
* SlippySlideyIceWorld: Freeze Man's level, [[HailfirePeaks with a few]] UndergroundLevel elements added to it.
* SpreadShot: Freeze Cracker is of the Exploding Shot variant; it explodes into 6 smaller ice projectiles when it hits a wall.
* SpringsSpringsEverywhere: [[SpringCoil Spring Man's]] stage, of course!
* StartXToStopX: Averted. Shooting Freeze Man with the Freeze Cracker will ''heal'' him. He'll even stop the fight to give a "...Seriously?" AsideGlance at the player.
* StealthPun: What happens if you hit [[AnIcePerson Freeze Man]] with the [[FreezeRay Freeze Cracker]]? It causes the [[LeaningOnTheFourthWall game to freeze for a few seconds]]!
* TemporaryPlatform: The timed version, wouldn't feel like a true ''Mega Man'' game without them.
* TeruTeruBozu: The Tel Tel enemies in Cloud Man's stage are based off of these. You can shoot the first one to cause rain, and the second one will cause snow if hit with the Freeze Cracker.
* ThreeLawsCompliant: [[spoiler:Regarding the first law ThouShaltNotKill in particular, played straight in the Japanese version, but downplayed in the English versions, in which Mega Man claims to be "more than a robot" and therefore above the first law towards killing Dr. Wily, but never makes good on this threat before Wily's Castle collapses.]]
* ThrowTheMookAtThem: In the Wily Stages, one method for defeating the turtle tank boss involves using the Danger Wrap weapon to bounce its mini-turtle mooks into its beak for massive damage. However, most players find it more practical to defeat the boss more conventionally.
* TincanRobot: Junk Man, cobbled together from old robot parts.
* TransformingMecha: Turbo Man can transform into a racecar, and the Gilliam Knights can turn into [[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent werewolves under a full moon]].
* TrickBomb: Burst Man uses bombs that are FloatingInABubble, and Slash Man uses bombs filled with a [[StickySituation sticky red goo]].
* UnfinishedUntestedUsedAnyway: The Wily Machine 7, since Dr. Wily had only just broken out of prison not too long ago he did not have much time to work on it, so in the end all it can do is [[HoppingMachine hop around]] and [[MookMaker shoot out]] [[MiniMook miniature versions]] of itself.
* UnflinchingWalk: Mega Man during the end credits, walking away lost in thought while the fiery explosion of Wily's Castle burns in the background.
* TheUnfought: Except for when Bass [[CombiningMecha combines with him]], Bass's own [[RobotDog Rush]] [[EvilCounterpart counterpart]], [[SavageWolves Treble]], is never fought directly, although the robot wolf does snap and growl at Mega Man more than a few times.
* UpgradeVsPrototypeFight: [[spoiler:The game has Mega Man face off against his "older brother" Proto Man (a.k.a. Break Man).]]
* UtilityWeapon: This game has a large amount compared to others:
** The Freeze Cracker can be used to freeze the molten junk in Junk Man's stage, revealing an alternate path where the player can collect one of the plates for the Rush Super Adapter. It can also be used on the [[WeatherControlMachine Tel Tels]] to make it snow.
** The Thunder Bolt can be used to power up machines like the ones in Junk Man's stage and temporarily illuminate a certain part in Shade Man's stage.
** The Scorch Wheel can be used to light up candles in Shade Man's stage and burn up foliage in Slash Man's stage.
* WarmUpBoss: Mad Grinder from the intro stage, helps that he comes already pre-damaged before you have to face him.
* WeWillMeetAgain: Delivered twice by Bass, instead of Dr. Wily, the first time after Bass's rematch in Wily Castle 1, and the second [[spoiler:after Mega Man hesitates too long after deciding to kill Dr. Wily at the end of the game, with Bass swooping in to save his creator]].
-->'''Bass:''' "Round 1 goes to you, Mega Man. [[WeWillMeetAgain But I'll be back...]]"
-->'''Bass:''' "Too late, Mega Man. He who hesitates is lost! [[WeWillMeetAgain We shall return]]!"
* WeaksauceWeakness: [[WeatherControlMachine Cloud Man]] is severely crippled by {{bubble|Gun}}s (to be fair, it's the [[HavingABlast bomb]] that does the actual damage, but once [[FloatingInABubble trapped in a bubble]] Cloud Man is completely defenseless). [[OurVampiresAreDifferent Shade Man]] and the [[FinalBoss Wily Capsule]] are weak to {{spring coil}}s for some reason.
* WeatherControlMachine: Cloud Man's stage involves Tel Tels that change the weather, generating lots of pushing wind and blinding rain (one of the few games to notice how driving rain will reduce visibility). Cloud Man uses these gimmicks as well when you fight him.
* WhyDontYouJustShootHim: [[spoiler:This is the only game to get into this so far. Mega Man seriously considers killing Wily after defeating him for the umpteenth time. Unfortunately (but fortunately for Wily) Mega Man was ThreeLawsCompliant, leaving him unable to carry out his threat.]]
** [[spoiler:In the [[AmericanKirbyIsHardcore American version, extra dialogue was added where Mega Man prepares to shoot Wily]]. Wily reminds Mega Man that robots are programmed not to harm humans, only for Mega Man to retort that he's "more than a robot" and prepare to open fire. Luckily for Wily his fortress then starts blowing up, and in the confusion, Mega Man hesitates long enough for Bass and Treble to appear and teleport Wily to safety.]]
* AWinnerIsYou: In the ''Anniversary Collection'' version, the end credits sequence (Mega Man walking away from a burning skull fortress in deep contemplation, a slideshow of the robot masters, and Bass looking out overhead) is replaced by just showing the credits against a plain black background. Apparently, this is because the developers, Atomic Planet, didn't know how to properly emulate the Mode 7 effects used here.
* WoundedGazelleGambit: [[TheMole Bass]] pulls this on Mega Man to get into Dr. Light's lab so he can steal the new [[CombiningMecha Rush Super Adapter]] upgrades for himself and Treble.
* YourSizeMayVary: Compare the [[WarmUpBoss Mad Grinder]] in the intro to the actual Mad Grinder that Mega Man fights.
* ZeroEffortBoss: Most of the bosses in the game once you get their weakness weapons. This is especially true for Cloud Man, who ''can't even fight back'' if you use his weakness against him multiple times.
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