Megaman's first move into 3D, Megaman Legends, or Rockman Dash in its native Japan was a unusual spin on the franchise turning it from a side-scrolling fast-paced shooter to an RPG-esque almost cartoon-like adventure.
Believed by fans to be set several centuries after the Megaman X series, Megaman Legends is set in 'a world covered by endless water.' In this world people must make a living on the tiny patches of land remaining above the sea, relying on Quantum Refractors to power their machines. These Refractors are located in ancient ruins underground and out at sea and tracked down by explorers called Diggers and their Spotters. One day after a successful dig, 14 year-old Digger Megaman Volnutt, his friend Roll, her grandfather Barrel Caskett and Megaman's robot monkey Data (don't ask, it's complicated) crash their ship, the Flutter, on a small island called Kattelox and soon have to contend with a band of sky pirates called the Bonne Brothers, Reaverbots (guardians of the ruins) activating of their own accord and the prophecy of a great disaster seeming to be coming to fruition. Now Megaman's left to deal with all thse problems, with help from his 'family' and the islanders and learn about his own mysterious past.
As always, Megaman is equipped with his Mega Buster, which can be upgraded with the many upgrades scattered around the island and he can also use a variety of special weapons, such as a mine-laying device, a giant cannon, and a drill just to name a few. These weapons aren't found whole however. Several items must be found first so Roll can put them together. The same process goes for upgrades for Megaman himself. For example, to get the Zetsaber, Megaman must first find a Broken Sword and Pen Light in the ruins or scattered around the island.
It looks a bit dated now, and some of the voice acting is pretty terrible but the story is enjoyable enough and the game is solid enough to have stood the test of time.