General Information
Versions
Regions
The US and Japanese releases of this game play exactly the same, and both are accepted for runs.
Text on the Japanese cart takes approximately 0:28 seconds longer than the US version. Much of this is locked in stone, such as the passageway before Dark Moon, and the player cannot mash through any text boxes to adjust this.
The megaman leaderboard .net timing will adjust your time for region automatically to compare a US cart time to a Japanese cart time.
Hardware
The original release is a Super Gameboy enabled Game Boy Cart. The only other official releases are the 3DS Virtual Console, and the Switch Game Boy.
Each version is valid for runs, however the 3DS version has longer invincibility frames for enemies. This is apparent from the Jupiter/Electric Shot weapon get demo (as noticed by Brook)
If using Super Game Boy 1, note that your time will be adjusted by the leaderboard to be 102% of the original time due to speed differences. Super Game Boy 2 runs closer to the correct speed.
Game Cube Game Boy Player runs at an appropriate speed.
Weakness Order
This page is something of a troll, but it is true.
Neptune > Mars > Venus > Jupiter > Saturn > Mercury > Pluto > Uranus > Terra > Neptune
Bolded robots are in the second half of the game. As such, it is true you cannot use only weakness order.
Other Weaknesses
Dark Moon: Mars
Enker: Buster Only
Quint: Mars
Punk: Neptune
Ballade: Mars & Venus
Fists: Neptune
Wily Phase 2: Terra
Sunstar takes 1 point of damage from all attacks (Jupiter lasts long enough to hit twice)
Route
Suggested Route is
- Neptune First
- Mercury
- Mars
- Venus
- Dark Moon
- Pluto
- Jupiter
- Saturn
- Uranus
Route Rationale
Neptune and Mercury have good early game weapons. Mercury's weapon does 2 points of damage a shot, and Mars is weak to Neptune.
Venus could conceivably be first, as the Bubble Bomb is a very effective weapon. Unfortunately it is also a laggy and awkward to use at range weapon. Feel free to try this route, as Venus is not a difficult buster fight, but it is likely slower overall.
Pluto's weapon is integral to Jupiter's stage.
Jupiter has the best weapon in the game, so that goes next.
Saturn has Rush Jet which is strangely not used in this run.
Other Notes
There is an enforced shopping trip after Dark Moon. If you want a W-Tank, this is the time to buy it.
If you are collecting all Crystals, note a revisit to one of Pluto or Uranus is required, as each blocks the other's crystal.