Mega Man X8

" Megaman done RIGHT!!!"

Don't get me wrong, I didn't mind Megaman x7 ( It's still Megaman, after all..), it's just that after playing the two back-to-back, you can't help but notice the differences that make Megaman x8 stand out. Such as crisper graphics and smarter gameplay. Of course, there are a few things I wish they could've made different, but overall, Capcom delivered a truly great game!!

Gameplay/Story: 10/10

What can I say? If your a Megaman X fan in the slightest, you know what to expect: 8 bosses, hidden armor, hidden heart tanks, new abilities, etc. Once again, X, Zero, and our newest friend Axl take up the battle for humanity. You are able to take two out of the three out on a mission at a time, pressing R2 to switch between them when it is convenient for you. Also, when you get hurt, a portion of your health bar will turn red, indicating the damage that you just received. Use this time to switch between characters to heal that red portion of your health. Very handy. The game itself has much more of the classic side-scrolling action than the previous installment ( Instead of the majority of the missions being in 3D), while still adding in 3D parts and vehicle missions here and there to keep things fresh. Also new to the series are "Intermissions," a sort of mini-game to play while not going after a boss. All in all, the gameplay is great and there is more of it with two new armors, three endings, three difficulty settings, and three unlockable characters.

Graphics: 9/10

The graphics are great. One of my biggest complaints is how stupid the bosses look whenever they were introduced. X's armor could have been designed better too. Other than that, I really have no complaints. Colorful, interactive backgrounds make the game a joy to play. Job well done on all of the animations.

Sound: 9/10

The gameplay music is good, but it's nothing memorable. As usual, you get you electric guitar riffs that may be a little catchy, but you'll soon forget about them (I can only remember two tunes after playing the game through 4 times in less than a month...). The voice acting, on the other hand, has REALLY improved. The addition of Dr. Light's voice in the capsules, as well as a decent picture, was a major improvement. X doesn't sound like a pre-adolescent boy anymore. All the bosses sound good, too. Hell, as long as they don't make another Flame Hyenard (Megaman X7), they are doing a good job...

Overall: 9/10

Overall this is a great game, and a must-buy for any Megaman fan. I highly recommend going and picking this up. Keep on playing! Later...

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 05/31/05