Self-awareness

Self-awareness is a major plot-point in the Mega Man franchise. Being with artificial intelligence such as robots and programs are normally bound to their programming and are unable to act or even think to act outside of it, however there are have been many exceptions to this rule even among robots who should not be able to think on their own, and as time went on newer model robots have shown an increased amount of independent thinking, eventually reaching complete independence.

Original series
Dr. Light

Proto Man.

Bass exhibits many traits of self-awareness, and often disregards Dr. Wily’s orders and has even fought against him on on several different occasions.

Upon being defeated, King showed levels of independent thought when he allowed Proto Man to leave his castle, and even more so when he reveals who made him (Dr. Wily).

Mega Man X series
Mega Man X.

Zero.

Axl.

Sigma.

Vile.

Cyber Peacock

New Generation Reploid.

Mega Man Battle Network series
Tadashi Hikari

NetNavis

MegaMan.EXE