Robots are neither cute nor bouncy, and there are no fluffy clouds, as in the regular MM series. Scrolling backgrounds represent a variety of manmade and natural scenarios.
The sprites are small but boast many animation frames. Once found, they may be equipped at any designated robot platform.
Either character may use any of four mech suits found throughout the stages. He does have an extraordinary energy sabre for use in close encounters. Megaman may switch to Zero once per stage, but the limitations make this an almost useless feature. Zero may not use any extra weapons or items, may not fight bosses, and has but one life. This continuation has several new features. Several weapons have a variety of uses throughout many stages and against many bosses a few serve little purpose in any situation, though. Some will reverse gravity, cause shock waves, or send out homing missiles. Once Megaman's gun is powered up, each of the various weapons may be strengthened. Later, you'll have a choice of only one more of four other improvements: a stronger gun dash in midair twice stronger armor or a self-replenishing life bar. Actually finding them is up to you, though. After entering a stage which has already been conquered, a map will be displayed of where all three hidden items are. One powers up your shots for varying results another lets Megaman dash in midair a third increases his armor strength. The last and most interesting equips the Blue Bomber with a radar. The items include heart tanks, which increase your life bar subtanks, which store extra energy four mechanical suits and some interesting hardware enhancements. Along the way you'll run across Bit & Byte, two brothers in crime, and also Vile from the original MMX adventure. Several items allow you to access others you'll need to revisit each stage several times to find them all. Each stage has three items to search out and obtain. Megaman will explore eight stages to destroy eight robot bosses, each a representative of the animal kingdom (three are aquatic), acquiring the fallens' weapons for his own use. Doppler and his corrupting virus, it's the Titanium Titan's mission to stop the rebels. When a Reploid town falls under the leadership of the evil Dr. Capcom brings a familiar face back to the Super NES in Megaman X3.