Carter’s Quest
[Read on for a description of every main seriesMega Man Xgame ever released in the US, and my completion of them all in 2013. Header image credit –Cepillo16.]
2013 is going to be an exciting year. Now that I know you guys enjoy readingmy Quests, I’m going to make an effort to do even more of them from here on out.
I hope that you have learned a bit about the franchises I’ve covered so far, as my plan is to inspire others to share their thoughts and feelings with the series of their choice as well (which many of you have done!).
WhyMega Man X?
Because I’m also doingMega ManClassic.
No, but seriously,Mega Manis my favorite franchise, ever, and I want to honor him by playing every USMega Mangame in 2013 — that includes theXseries, and spinoffs (coming later in 2013). I also think thatMega Man X, from a technical standpoint, is one of the best platformers ever made.
I’m including theZeroandZXseries in this Quest as well, as they directly tie into, and take place after theXgames.
If you haven’t joined me on my Quests before, the way they work is pretty simple. It’s kind of like a retrospective, but rather than just give you an overview of a franchise, I’ll generally let you know what I thought of the game when it was released, and what I think of it now.
If I didn’t provide a complete vision of what the game is like before I replay it, I’ll provide an “extended thoughts” section below each applicable entry. I’ll update my progress in real time through my blog, and after I finish the entire Quest, I’ll share it with you guys on the front page.
Mega Man X– SNES, PC, iOS, PlayStation 2 (Mega Man X Collection) [Owned], Wii Virtual Console
COMPLETED
Mega Man Xis one of the best platformers ever made. Period.
I’ve probably beaten it a few hundred times, due to the many “no death” and speedruns I’ve done over the years with fellowMega Manfanatics. From the first to the fortieth playthrough, the game retains a unique charm that almost can’t be bested. I’d probably liken it toA Link to the Past, and the best way I really can explain it is a “clean” experience, devoid of frustration and bad design.
It’s simple, yet complex should you decide to go for the shortest run with the most amount of equipment. The concepts of the game (charging your buster, wall climbing, and dashing) are all explained with such simplicity, that anyone could pick it up and play without issue (unlike pretty much every otherMega Mangame ever).
Armor upgrades are also well-explained, and the mere existence of “upgrading” your character into a progressively cooler looking avatar was fairly unique at the time.
The boss designs are also interesting, as are the amazingly themed levels. Who could forget Storm Eagle’s awesome airship that explodes as you’re raiding it? Or the whimsical feeling of Launch Octopus’s completely underwater stage?
If you haven’t playedMega Man Xyet, it’s one of the marquee games in the franchise, and you need to experience it.
Mega Man X2– SNES, PlayStation 2 (Mega Man X Collection) [Owned], Wii Virtual Console
While I didn’t playX2nearly as much asX, it was still a staple in myMega Manreplay list, that I heartily enjoy to this day.
Although speedruns are a bit less fun trying to get every single upgrade possible due to the increased complexity, the upgrades themselves are incredibly fun, and the levels in which you find them in are very well done.
Weapon-wise,X2was also one of the more unique games, and the upgrade system was vastly improved upon from the first game.
Some variety was also introduced, like the chance to pilot vehicles (which was rarely done in the old games — think Wave Man), and the ability to fight optional bosses (the X-Hunter) to reconstruct Zero.
It also featured a number of graphical upgrades due to theCx4chip, which helped create the wire-frame and rotation details present in a number of enemies. It was just enough of an upgrade that it didn’t takeaway from the original charm.
Mega Man X3– SNES, PC, PlayStation, PlayStation 2 (Mega Man X Collection) [Owned], Sega Saturn
X3was yet another example of the consistency of theXfranchise. Although the formula was showing some wear and tear,X3was still an incredibly well-made game that overall felt very clean. A playable Zero, which would become a staple of the franchise in the future (all the way into his very own game series), mixed up gameplay quite a bit.
X wasn’t a slouch either, as his new upgrades took things to a brand new level. In addition to his normal armor routine, you could augment one of his parts (head, legs, body, and buster) more than the others, through a special “upgrade chip” that could only be applied to a single part at a time. My personal chip of choice was the helmet augmentation, that allowed X to heal and refill his Sub-Tanks by standing still.
I’ll be playing theX Collectionversion ofX3, which is based on the PlayStation version.
Mega Man X4– PC, PlayStation, PlayStation 2 (Mega Man X Collection) [Owned], Sega Saturn
It took me a long time to get acclimated toX4. For one, the visuals are a little rough around the edges sometimes, due to the large graphical leap from the SNES to the PlayStation. Another thing that took some getting used to is the Robot Masters, and the overall feel of the game’s physics.
Although theXseries was on a new console, it felt very similar to the old games — even when you compare Mega Man and X’s movement side by side on the NES and SNES, they feel the same.
ButX4changed the game significantly, and it took some time to really “feel it.” Thankfully, after a number of speedruns, I changed my tune, asX4is a fine addition to theXseries. There are a number of homages to other Capcom franchises (Magma Dragoon), and quirks that make the game unique in its own right.
Who can forget the biggest quirk of all — the game’s poorly voiced animated cutscenes — that rivaled evenMega Man 8in terms of laziness.STOP THE COUP NOW!
Mega Man X5– PC, PlayStation, PlayStation 2 (Mega Man X Collection) [Owned]
UnlikeX4, I really enjoyedX5right off the bat. I don’t know if it’s because of the more colorful graphics, or the more interesting robot masters, or the amazing soundtrack. But for whatever reason, I couldn’t get enough of it, and it’s one of my favorite games in theXseries.
The level design is all pretty sound, while the boss fights themselves are interesting and challenging. It also features my favorite Sigma levels in the series, and one of my favorite “final set” of stages in general (including Wily).Did I mention how amazing the soundtrack is?
This is also the one with the infamous “Guns N’ Roses” Robot Master name translation, brought upon by Alyson Court, to pay homage to her then-husband’s favorite band. It was also meant to be the last game in theXseries, if Inafune had his way. Unfortunately, Capcom had other plans.
Mega Man X6– PC, PlayStation, PlayStation 2 (Mega Man X Collection) [Owned]
X6was where I started to feel the wear and tear of the series. For yearsMega Manhad given me quality titles, and for the most part, I never really started to become jaded in the slightest.
Given the fact that Inafune didn’t intend on there ever being anX6, you can see where the problems started — it wasn’t a labor of love, like past games had been.
Still, it was a fairly standardXgame, and while I wouldn’t put it near the top of the pile, it was extremely serviceable. It had a great soundtrack, decent level design, and fun boss fights. It’s not a very goodMega Mangame, but it’s a solid platformer.
Mega Man X7– PC, PlayStation 2 [Owned]
I was a bit jaded byX6, so it took me a while to buy and tryX7. Unfortunately, I really didn’t enjoy it that much, mostly due to the fact that I couldn’t get into the new art style, and nothing about it really felt unique.
While X6 had a ton of problems, ultimately it still felt like anXgame.X7really didn’t. Specifically, X, the main character of the series, was not playable from the start, in favor of the newcomer Axl. This right here turned me off almost immediately, as Axl was not fun to play.
Capcom really should have stopped makingXgames afterX5, until they had a chance to get their bearings together with Inafune on board.
Mega Man X8– PC, PlayStation 2 [Owned]
X8was a huge improvement overX7, even if it didn’t truly win me over like the pastXgames did. You can mix and match armor, as well as play as X at the start (what a novel concept), alongside of Zero and Axl.
Although the levels and characters weren’t really “classic” in any sense of the word,X8fixed a lot of annoying elements ofX7, and made it a more traditional experience.
I never really got used to the new art style of the series though — it doesn’t look crisp, and really takes me out of the game. Here’s hoping one day they provide a true HD look, similar toHard Corps: Uprising.
Mega Man Maverick Hunter X– PSP [Owned], PSP (Powered Up and Maverick Hunter X Double Pack) [Owned]
What an amazing remake for old school and newMega Manfans alike. I love how Capcom tried to forge a new canon for the series, and even included a really cool OVA to help drive that point home.
This remake paid homage to the original, but it also felt original — something remakes rarely accomplish. LikePowered Up, this wasn’t simply a cash grab — it was a worthy addition to the series in its own right.
I had remixed areas, a different way to approach hidden items, and some pretty great gameplay to boot. This is a perfect example of how to do a remake right.
Command Missionwas a bit weird…to say the least.
It’s not a classicMega Mangame, in the sense that it’s actually a turned-based RPG rather than an action platformer. Inafune actually insisted that theMega Manseries not be turned into an RPG, which made it a troubled prospect right out of the gate. Overall, the game wasn’t really well received by either fans or newcomers.
The GameCube and PS2 versions of the game are slightly different, in that the GameCube uses GBA functionality, and the PS2 version has aMega Man X8demo. For the purposes of this Quest, I’ll be playing the GameCube version, as it also features a better frame rate and faster loading times.
Mega Man Xtreme– Game Boy Color [Owned]
There were a lot of problems withXtreme. Unlike the Game Boy games, the art style really didn’t match the original source material. There were also a number of translation problems (kwehehehe), and a whole host of glitches.
But still, this wasMega Man Xon the go, and it was the only way you could get it at the time.XtremeandXtreme 2are pretty cut and dry honestly — they’re flawed, but decent portable compilations of a handful of theXseries. Capcom tried to incorporate them into the main storyline, but the “Shadow Hunter” nonsense narrative didn’t really make any sense, and didn’t really stick.
Mega Man Xtreme 2– Game Boy Color [Owned]
A lot of the same problems plaguedXtreme 2. You could play as Zero, which is a huge plus, but the game ultimately feels very cheap, and outsourced (even though it wasn’t).
One cool new aspect of the series was the addition of unlockables, which allowed you to play the game on a harder difficulty, and eventually unlock a boss rush mode. This simple bonus would have no doubt added a lot of replay value to pastMega Mangames, and it’s welcome inXtreme 2.
I wouldn’t recommend theXtremeseries anyone but the hardiest ofMega Man Xfans — if you can overlook some major issues, you’ll have a good time.
Mega Man Zero– Game Boy Advance, DS (Mega Man Zero Collection) [Owned]
TheZeroseries takes place 100 years after the X series.
Zerowas a worthy addition to theMega Manfranchise for many reasons. For one thing, it has an actual end. It also had a cool ranking system that made boss fights more difficult the better you were doing, and a neat ability system that felt more like an RPG than in the past (there’s no power absorbing in this one). It was also open-world. Wait, what? An open-worldMega Mangame? Yep, that happened.
Inafune put his heart and soul into this series, and it really shows. It tries to do new things, it has a new wonderful art style, and it continues the storyline found in theXseries.
In short, it’s a great way to cater to both old and new fans alike, and it really succeeded in taking off with three full sequels and two spiritual successors. The addition of a New Game+ and a Hard Mode also don’t hurt.
Mega Man Zero 2– Game Boy Advance, DS (Mega Man Zero Collection) [Owned]
I’ll be honest — I didn’t really get into theZeroseries as much as I would have hoped when I was younger. As a result, I barely remember beatingZero 2-4, but of course I’ll rectify that mistake with this Quest.
EXTENDED THOUGHTS:
It took some getting used to sinceZero 2is not as open as its predecessor, but it’s still a fine game in its own right. There’s also the new “Form” mechanic, which basically allow you to change Zero’s abilities to suit your needs, sometimes at the cost of attack power or special attacks.
I also really enjoyed the ability to unlock new EX Skills by beating levels with a high rank, as it rewards you for your skill level.I would considerZero 2one of the more difficult entries in theMega Manfranchise, which felt extremely rewarding.
Mega Man Zero 3– Game Boy Advance, DS (Mega Man Zero Collection) [Owned]
Same deal asZero 2— I can’t wait to crack this one open.
Although the game didn’t wow me — it’s more of the same from the first two games — the ever entertainingZeroseries fails to disappoint. Functionally, the game is basically the same as the second one, with some minor differences in regards to how you equip bonuses and items.Zero 3has a new concept called “Cyberspace,” that feels fairly uninspired visually.
Zero 3also has tons of mini-games and unlockables, should you decide to beat the game multiple times to get everything. Content-wise, it’s possibly the most complete package in theZeroseries.
Mega Man Zero 4– Game Boy Advance, DS (Mega Man Zero Collection) [Owned]
Although I remember the scarring ending fairly well, I’m excited to truly recall some exciting gameplay experiences as well.
For the first time,Zero 4includes an Easy Mode, which makes it significantly more accessible than the other games in the series. The “weather system” also allows players to change the parameters of a level — thinkMega Man X, where beating stages in a certain order would make others easier — to potentially tweak the difficulty even more if you opt not to play on Easy (since Easy removes weather controls, and thus, removes the ability to collect everything.
There’s a word for a game like this in today’s vernacular: streamlined. It’s not always a bad thing for sure, but for some reason,Zero 4felt a bit less special than the other games in the series, outside of the fairly impactful ending that I won’t spoil here. Part of the charm of theZeroseries was that it felt so different compared to regularMega Mangames, but withZero 4, it felt like developer Inti Creates was trying too hard to revert back to the original formula.
Still, it isn’t a bad game by any means, and is worth playing, if anything just to experience the conclusion of the franchise.
ZXtakes place 200 years after theZeroseries.
For the first time, you could choose between a male or female character (Vent or Aile) in aMega Mangame. But that wasn’t the only thingZXdid differently — it was also an open-world title like the firstMega Man Zerogame, with other elements from theXandZeroseries.
The game also used a complex ranking system, where you actually scored less points by hitting a boss in its weak spot. Overall, it was a fairly confusing and difficult iteration of the series, which turned a lot of people off, unfortunately. Specifically, the map was very difficult to read and resulted in a lot of lost time trying to figure out where you were.
For the longest time, I always gotZXand its sequel,ZX Advent, confused. They essentially felt the same, as I picked them both up on the same day. That’s probably part of the reason why people passed them over, and theZXseries stopped after a mere two games.
Even so,ZXhad a lot of cool ideas, like the ability to play as different “models,” that resembled X, Zero, and a lot more at will.
Mega Man ZX Advent– DS [Owned]
Adventwas even more complicated thanZX, but it brought over a number of improvements. For one, it had about twice as many playable forms, and the world is even bigger and more complex. While this may seem like a bad thing, the more varied gameplay helped makeAdventthe more fun of the two, and the map system was vastly improved to keep track of the sprawling world.
One major bonus (and possibly a selling point all on its own) is the addition of thebonus mini-game “Model (a, or ancient),”which functions as a very well made playable old school Mega Man game.
It also has a secret ending, in-game achievements (medals), and a quiz game. If you can deal with the game’s open world setting and extreme difficulty, you may get a lot out of theZXseries — specifically with the superiorAdvent.
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Final thoughts:
Personally, I prefer theMega ManClassic series to theXgames. They’re simple, easy to get into games that are consistently solid in quality — plus I prefer many of the “Man” Robot Master designs over the Mavericks inX— and character design is a major reason why I love the Classic games.
Still, from an objective standpoint, I would probably be comfortable in claiming thatMega Man Xis the best platforming series of all time. The originalMega Man Xis pure gaming bliss, and is comprised of some of the most brilliant design in the entire industry, even to date.
Musically, theXseries also steps up its game, and collectively contains one of the strongest soundtracks in all of gaming, period. They’ve also held up a lot better than their Classic counterparts, to the point where I can recommend most of theXseries to just about any gamer who enjoys platformers.
If you haven’t taken the dive yet,Mega Man Xis a great place to start — whether it’sMaverick Hunter Xon your shiny new Vita, or otherwise.
