Box Art
Game: Megaman X
First Released: January 19, 1994, Super Famicom
Developers: Capcom
Platforms: SNES, PC, Gamecube, Playstation 2, Mobile Phones,
Virtual Console, PSP
Rated: E-10, for Cartoon Violence and Language
First Released: January 19, 1994, Super Famicom
Developers: Capcom
Platforms: SNES, PC, Gamecube, Playstation 2, Mobile Phones,
Virtual Console, PSP
Rated: E-10, for Cartoon Violence and Language
How I Came To Play This Game
Opening Stage
My experience with the Megaman X series is similar to my experience with the xlassic series, being that I'm playing them on a collection disk. The Megaman X Collection is no doubt a must have for the Gamecube or Playstation 2. Who wouldn't want to have the first six Megaman X series games on one disk to play whenever they feel like it? Well, it turns out this game is very rare to find in stores used. This was way back before I used the internet to buy things, so the best I could do is wait for one to pop up at a store. I later found out that the Gamestop store in Taylorville, Illinois which was 86 miles away. Luckily for me, we were going on a trip soon to visit my Grandma who lives in Chicago, so I was able to convince my Mom to stop at Taylorville to get it. It was well worth the trip too!
Story
Mega Man X takes place in an unspecified time during the 22nd century and approximately 100 years after the original Mega Man series. A human archaeologist named Dr. Cain discovers the ruins of a robotics research facility that had once been operated by the legendary robot designer Dr. Thomas Light. Among the ruins, Cain finds a large capsule which contains a highly advanced robot with human-level intelligence and emotions, and even free will, the likes of which the world has never seen before. Light had wished to instill within his creation reasonable sanity, good nature, and an understanding of the more controversial aspects of human morality. The robot was buried while running a 100-year diagnostic program to ensure these features. Cain spends the next several months studying the robot, who is named Mega Man X, or simply "X". Cain decides to duplicate X and, within several months, completes the first "replicate android" or "Reploid", a robot who can think, feel, learn, and grow exactly like a human. Within the year, the design is standardized and Reploids are mass-produced. However, with the free will given to a Reploid comes the possibility of criminal activity; such rogue Reploids are branded as "Mavericks" by law-abiding citizens. As the public outcry against the few Maverick incidents becomes too great to deny, the government steps in, and under the advice of Dr. Cain, forms an elite military police organization called the "Maverick Hunters". The Hunters are to capture or disable any Reploids that pose a threat to humans, provide damage control at Maverick uprisings, help with disaster recovery, and perform other tasks as needed. To lead this group, Cain designs a very advanced Reploid, thought to be immune to whatever defect causes Mavericks. This robot, named Sigma, heads the Hunters some time before ultimately becoming a Maverick himself, alongside the vast majority of the other Hunters. Sigma seizes control of a small island, driving out all human occupants. Claiming that the humans are inferior and that they are limiting the growth and potential of Reploids, he calls for his followers to begin a massive extinction effort. X, guilt-ridden at having helped design such a dangerous race, joins forces with the only other remaining Hunter Zero in order to stop Sigma at any cost. While on a mission involving a Maverick attack on a highway, X encounters Vile, a mercenary Maverick working for Sigma who pilots a mechanized tank called "Ride Armor". Unable to defeat Vile, X is saved at a critical moment by Zero, forcing Vile to retreat. Zero then offers encouragement to the less combat-savvy X after the battle. X proceeds to track down and exterminate eight of Sigma's most powerful Mavericks, then rendezvous with Zero outside Sigma's stronghold. Inside the compound, X finds that Zero has been captured by Vile. Another battle ensues, ending similar to their first meeting with X at Vile's mercy. Zero suddenly breaks free of his restraints, latches onto Vile, and self-detonates, destroying his own body and the Maverick's Ride Armor. Shocked over Zero's sacrifice, X regains his strength and finishes off Vile. Zero encourages his comrade once again, and then he dies. Now more determined than ever, X fights his way to Sigma, disables the Maverick leader, and escapes the island fortress as it explodes and sinks. As he returns to base, X reflects on the events that have unfolded, questioning Zero's sacrifice, his own decision to fight, and the ongoing war with the Mavericks.
Mavericks
Chill Penguin, Storm Eagle, Flame Mammoth, Spark Mandrill, Armored Armadillo, Launch Octopus, Boomer Kuwanger, and Sting Chameleon.
Review
This game was great from the very moment I started playing it to the moment I finished it. Absolutely great, and possibly one of the greatest video games of all time. They were able to make the series better after so many games using the same exact layout. The Megaman X series keeps many elements from the Classic series. There is a stage select screen with eight bosses, you get new weapons when you beat a boss that can be used to beat other bosses more efficiently, and there are four final stages. However there are many differences. The graphics, obviously, are updated to 16-bit. The sprites are now more detailed and the color is more defined. this game is the first to introduce upgrades that you can get to make yourself stronger. There are four capsules scattered throughout the eight stages that increase you're armor, give you the ability to dash, the ability to break blocks with your helmet, and a stronger buster. Also, in each stage there is a Heart Tank that increased the amount of health in your health bar. Also, E-Tanks are replaced by Sub-Tanks. Sub-Tanks store the life energy you collect from the stages when your health bar is full and can be used whenever you choose. I like the characters in the game. Sigma becomes the new antagonist that keeps coming back over and over again. I think it is cool that Zero, a robot thast was created by Dr. Wily from the Classic series, is a good guy. There are also some interesting secrets in Armored Armadillo's Stage. Near the beginning of the stage in the area with the bats on the cieling, there is one bat that looks like one of the Bubble Bats from the Classic series. It has a high chance of dropping extra lives when killed. Also, if you have full health and ll four subtanks filled up, then you an get the secret upgrade Hadouken at the end of the stage. The Hadouken is taken from the game series Street Fighter, but you'll never guess how you get it. You need to get the life energy item at the end of the stage four times, then on the fifth time, a capsule will appear. The capsule shows Dr. Light in a karate outfit, which is really weird.
Remake
Megaman: Meverick Hunter X is a remake of the game Megaman X which was released for the PSP in 2006. The game includes updated 3D graphics, remastered music, cinematic prologue cartoon, the ability to play as Vile, new dialogue with the bosses, some upgrades are in different locations, the Sigma stages have different layouts, and voice actng. The game was made at around the same time as Megaman X8 and shares many similarities.
Releases
Megaman X was first released for the SNES in 1994. Then a version for PC MS-DOS was released in 1995. Then in 2006, it was bundled with the next five games in the series as part of the Megaman X Collection which was released for both Gamecube and Playstation 2. Also that year, a remake called Megaman: Maverick Hunter X was released for the PSP. then the original SNES version was released for the Wii Virtual Console in 2011. It was released for several handheld devices such as Androids and iOS that year too. The Wii U Virtual Console also got it in 2013.
My Rating
I give this game a 10/10. They took the old colorful Classic series and turned it ino something that is more serious. Greatly enhanced the playing experience.