I also feel like I'm a mutant breed for thinking Mega Man 6's music is best by a long shot.

I'm loving Thunder Tornado, Concrete Jungle, Hornet Dance, and Galaxy Fantasy, in that order.  And on the whole, I think that's not a bad showing, even if very little of the rest of the soundtrack is very interesting to me.  I'm bummed out at the boss theme, but I do agree that it's at least an interesting new direction.  Plug Man's okay, and the rest of the soundtrack I think is pretty mediocre.  I just think that 2, 3, and 6 set such a high standard that it would have been hard for this to compare (and nostalgic skew I'm sure is at work, too).

Nope! I dig MM4 a lot, too.

I don't think 6's music is the best but I do like that score a lot. I can't get enough of Plant Man... awesome track. Others like Mr.X Stage, Last Boss and the later half ending (past the Robot Master medley part which is only second behind MM2's credit theme in my book) rock as well.

I like MM4 a lot, too (second Dr. Cossack stage and Skullman are some of the best themes in the series), but I would put it in the lower half of the six classic NES scores. Its still waaay better than MM 1 and 6, though.

I'm always feeling like being in a minority for loving MM5's soundtrack. Tracks like Chargeman and Darkman are just unbelievably good, and even the less awesome pieces like Waveman have interesting styles and sounds. I know I'm definitely not in the majority saying this, but I think 5 is the best soundtrack in the series after 2 and 3.

While we're on the subject, I'd rate the classic NES Mega Man scores in this order (best to worst): 2 > 3 > 5 > 4 > 6 > 1. Never been a huge fan of 6 or 1. MM6 had too much boring filler (IMO), and 1's melodies were pretty simple and rough around the edges compared to the latter installments. Too early to place MM9, but judging by how I feel about it now, I'd place it between 5 and 4 (in other words squarely in the middle, which is a pretty good score).

I was starting to think the same thing reading these responses. Mega Man 4 music is fantastic.

I just re-ripped my entire Rockman 1-6 Boxset again recently and I find all six pretty essential listening. I never did understand how some people can hate some of the OST's in the series, while loving others. 1...Maybe, it being early and all, but the songs do have that simplistic charm to them and are more than enough to stand out among stuff from the NES era (and all of game music, frankly).

I just want to run this thought by someone else who's heard the album: Am I the only one who thinks all the Mega Man II music references takes away from this album forging its own identity?

Not really...I mean, the intro to Brightman's Theme rips off the theme for Fireman. Other MM games have used the "Robot Select" theme before. It's not a big deal. The Woodman thing I mentioned with Concreteman is pretty subtle...people who don't have the intro to Woodman's theme memorized like I do wouldn't really notice it much. I think this one stands on it's own pretty well overall.

So far, Thunder Tornado and Maze of Death are the tracks that are really sticking in my head like good Mega Man music should. I appreciate the nod to Aphex Twin-style drums on the latter, although they're not nearly as skillful. Concrete Jungle is pretty cool, and puts me in mind of Ninja Gaiden music, but with Mega Man pulse sweep drums. I'm not as enamored as everyone else seems to be with "We're the Robots", but I like the title. <3 Kraftwerk.

Yeah I was almost fell of my chair when I heard the founding fathers of Rockman sounds were coming in to collaborate with the arrange album. He's also finally released his real name, Yasuaki Fujita, after coming out of long-time hibernation (or hiding?!).

After beating the game a few times, I can say that I absolutely fell in love with most of the soundtrack. I found all of the level themes pretty memorable, with the exception of Tornado Man's, probably because his level requires some pretty keen concentration - but then again, I didn't like it that much when listening to it beforehand, anyway.

I couldn't get Splash's, Galaxy's, and Magma's out of my head, and that's not to say anything of the awesome Wily themes! The stage 3 theme was a pleasant surprise, which was a blessing in disguise because I had to hear it a lot my first time through. : )

But yeah, it's a bit hasty to start ranking 9's place in the series, music or game wise. Though as my impressions are now, I think it will be looked on upon pretty favorably.

Another BIG MM4 AND 6 fan here!

I'd place the NES games, in terms of music, like this:

3, 2, 4, 6.........................................................5, 1

And YES, Daniel K, the second Cossack theme IS one of the best songs in the series! Don't know where you're getting this Skull Man nonsense from though

And 9 is kicking total ass, as far as I'm concerned!
Haven't played the game yet, unfortunately, and I probably won't be able to until next month at the earliest,  but I WILL be getting it.

And just for the record, I'll rank the regular stage themes:

Tornado Man
Jewel Man
Galaxy Man
Concrete Man
Hornet Man
Splash Woman
Magma Man
Plug Man

And I should point out that it's actually only the latter two I don't really care about. Splash Woman is good enough, but the top 5 are fantastic!

As for the other themes, I share Daniel K's dislike of the Stage select and Boss theme, but then I have never liked ANY of them in the previous games.
The first two Wily Stages are great, the latter two are not.

And Maze of Death is all kinds of cool!

While I think Mega Man 3 is the best (catchiest music ever), I'd place Mega Man 4 in close second (rivaled by MM5's synth Sax-sounding tunes) as it had a distinctive quaity which harkened back to Mega Man 2 a bit while still making for an inventive final product.

I liked 4's music a lot -- it's grungey, washed-out soundtrack gave it a somewhat darker tone in some stages (Dust Man's drear and percussion are perfect examples of more unique sounds in the series) but never abandoned the usual jubliant fare evident in Dive Man and Ring Man stages.

Sir, your attempt at associating MM4's OST with 1990's alternative rock is something that makes my insides weep.

You're right, MM4 was SO much better!

Amazingu: The nonsense is fully on your part if you really place Plug Man last of the MM9 themes. It has grown on me like crazy the last couple of days.

Haha, I was actually listening to Nirvana when I checked this thread! Now that I think about it, wasn't both Mega Man 4 and Nevermind released in 1991? I bet Capcom hired Cobain to compose MM4 (like some speculate that Michael Jackson composed Sonic 3)!

And also, on the topic of the underrated-ness of Mega Man 5 (no, I'm not prepared to drop this just yet), has anyone seen ScrewAttack's review of the game? I usually like these guys, but I've never heard so much f---ing whining about an awesome game before:

http://www.screwattack.com/VGV/NES/MegaMan5

Doesn't hold a candle to MM1? Yeah, right.

Uh...? What happened here?

Censored for your viewing pleasure.  Think of the children!

Adam, are you ever going to be lifting the naughty-words ban?

Ah, but I am happy to see the MM4 fans coming out of the woodwork.  Rock the Cossack, dudes. :)

The profanity filter is pretty lenient as it is, so no, I don't have that intention at the time being.

It helps thwart the nasty spammers and the very few words it does filter are hardly essential to conducive discourse anyway.

Don't want to derail this thread with a completely unrelated topic so if anyone wants to discuss the topic further feel free to post a thread in the Open Topic forum.

I think the swear filter is f---ing sweet.

Cossack Stage 2 theme has always been one of my favorites since I first heard it as a kid! *raises hand to join the MM4 crowd*

Also the first and only Mega Man game I've ever beaten solo in my entire gaming life.

LOL
Sorry, but it just seems really lacklustre to me.
There's so many kick-ass tracks on this album, this one felt kinda plain...

Dude, have you seen that Youtube video about Sonic 3 and MJ?
http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=JbVM-l2Oku4

I ALWAYS felt Sonic 3's music was really different from the rest of the series, and this really explains it as far as I'm concerned.
I think it's pretty much accepted fact now

Yep, they also did one for 4 and 6 if I remember correctly, and it's pretty much whining all the way through.
I gerenally tend to like their VG Vault though.

That's too bad they didn't like 6... that one really stood out for me gamewise.

As for music, I'll say it again: plantman, plantman, plantman.

The general sentiment of the review, that it's still a decent game but not up to the previous standards of the series, is totally spot on. Mega Man 5 is completely average in every way.

Mega Man 1 has held up surprisingly well, actually. Aside from the glitchy floating platforms and some frustrating parts here and there, it's still a legitimately challenging game that does what Mega Man does at his best - force you to exhibit strategy in using the Robot Master weapons effectively. This is something completely lacking in Mega Man 5, as the review mentions. If you like constantly listening to the Mega Buster charge sound however, Mega Man 5 is the game for you.

The first is not one of the best ones, and I'm also a staunch Mega Man 4 defender, so I'd place its overall quality right behind that one, behind 2 and 3 of course.

I hear ya!
Also: Yamatoman and Knightman.

On topic: Wily Machine is now officialy the best final boss theme in the series.
I have spoken!

Pure bullshit. After Mega Man 3, MM5 is the game in the series I had by far the most fun with. That video review is extremely lopsided, pretty much just whining all the way through while omitting every good thing about the game. They for example mentioned nothing about Beat (comical, since they praised his inclusion in MM9), or the Super Arrow (one of the coolest special weapons in the series, only appearing in MM5 as far as I know). The game also had some great level design, like that last level in Protoman's castle where you had to destroy the blocks to continually lower the ceiling.

Enough of this, my posts in this thread have filled a month's worth of nerdiness quota. To conclude: MM5 rocks, death to the haytas!

I'm a big fan of MM5 as well. Aside from a few dullards (Crystalman, I'm looking at you) the levels and boss designs are awesome, the music is great, and the weapon selection is better than average (Gyro Attack is essentially Metal Blade without the training wheels. Yeah, I said it). It's one of those games I think more people would like if it weren't for the internet and its LALALA CAN'T HEAR YOU ONLY THE FIRST THREE ARE GOOD approach.
4? Well, it isn't terrible (the only terrible Classic entry is Bass, honestly), but the Robot Master stages are mostly boring (though the Castle stages are fine), the music doesn't really gel until the castle themes (and I REALLY dislike the boss theme), and the unmutable Buster sound effect is irritation itself. Anniversary Collection mixes are great, though.
6 has great music (aside from the Mr. X stages, I've always hated that piece), but it's only playable on the Anniversary Collection because otherwise going to the menu to flip between Rush Adaptors in the castle stages will drive you insane.

EDIT: On topic, I just figured out what the Staff Roll reminds me of, at least one part of it: Super Punch-Out's Staff Roll.

Nope, sorry! My recommendation is to play more of the games (even if you've already played them!) to see how MM5 truly stacks up to them.

I still like Mega Man 5 and have played it a ton, but it's a total phone-in when compared to the others.

But on topic, I got my Rockman 9 OST, but didn't get one of those nifty badges. It's all right though, I preordered a Mega Man 9 t-shirt from the Capcom store to make up for it!

Dude, I know all the six classic NES Mega Mans inside out, so I'm pretty sure in my assessment. Besides, SonicPanda, STC University's resident Professor of Mega Man-ology, has spoken.

Unfortunately when I was in college, I was known as the fringe student who would protest against professors he disagreed with, just so you know.

Of the six NES MM games, there's no doubt that MM3 is the best overall.  It has the best mix of gameplay, originality, bosses, and music.  It's the tops.  As for the rest, here's how I'd rank them:

1. MM3
2. MM2
3. MM5
4. MM4
5. MM6
6. MM1

MM1 rides the bottom because it is brutally difficult to the point where it's just not much fun at all.  MM6 felt like they were really reaching, and there was something just off about MM4; it just felt "off" while MM5 felt like a breath of fresh air coming after it.

Bollocks!

MM2 > MM3 > MM4 > MM6 > MM1 > MM5

Your criticism of MM1's difficulty is on point, but by the same token, MM3 is far, far too easy. MM5 was just unremarkable. I can't ever remember the music, or the boss weaknesses.

I have had this epiphany as well.  Quite frankly, now that I've actually played the game, several songs have grown on me a whole lot more, but Plug Man really stands out.

Oh, and for overall gameplay, MM6 > MM2 > MM3 > MM5 > MM1 > MM4, with not a whole lot of differentiation among the last three for me.

Going to have to jump in to defend MM4 here!

In terms of gameplay I would rank them like this:

MM4, MM3, MM2, MM6..........................................................MM5, MM1

Never liked Beat either, stupid bird.