Mega Man 5

Capcom's 1992 NES entry and the fifth installment in the series. A mysterious robot army attacks the city and kidnaps Dr. Light, with suspicion falling on Mega Man's own brother Proto Man (Blues). Mega Man sets out alongside his new ally Beat, the robotic bird, to challenge eight masters including Gravity Man, Wave Man, Star Man, and Crystal Man. The game introduces a charged-up Mega Buster for extra firepower, and players can collect letters spelling M-E-G-A-M-A-N-V across stages to unlock Beat as a support weapon. The ending reveals the true villain to be the new character Dark Man, still a puppet of Dr. Wily. Polished stage design and excellent difficulty balance make it a high point of the NES run.