And mainly it’s hard because of these fuckers: On the left are Bit and Byte. It’s hard because the Mavericks shift their patterns halfway through fights. It’s hard because the basic enemies are unforgiving. It’s hard because the stages are large and complex, replete with spikes and pitfalls.
X3 isn’t hard because of its final bosses, which are arguably easier than the first two games. After collecting some upgrades, the difficulty melts away. In fact, I’d say that it’s the hardest game in the series - but only when you’re playing as basic Mega Man X.
I’ll be honest, though: Mega Man X3 is definitely hard.