Mega Man X5

"Likely better in Japanese"

I was amazed that X5 actually was made. I eagerly ran to Blockbusters. It was out. I tried again. It was out. After a few days though I did manage to play it. Sadly, although it was definately worth the rental price, it wasn't worth the rental price AND the bus fare to get it.

Graphics, sound and story can all be sumarized by: ''Play X4''
There's really no difference. Some slowdown was encountered on some levels on a PS1, PS2, and PS2 with the disc speed turned up.

Many of the songs are direct from X4 also. I did however like the `guns and roses' level:) hahahaha very funny.

Where the game really looses however is the script. Heaps of directly translated sub-engrish (yes, engrish) It makes me feel like the game would be far better in japanese when you hear lines like. ''How can we fight one so arrogant?''
If he's arrogant you kick his butt and make him Not Arrogant.

Also, the characters, other than Zero (go Zero!) have no personality. You're vaguely aware of a comms op (Alia) and a medic (LifeSaver, although we call him Wheeljack:)
Douglas the techie bears no personality also, but I think he's cool just because he has flip shades.

As for anime FMVs, kiss them goodbye. The game has numerous still images though. The artwork isn't bad, but since it's Capcom you kind of expect that.

Also, the bosses are sickeningly easy. I maintained an SA/GA rank throughout the entire game, which is kind of like an A++.

Now on to it's saving graces:
Secrets! You can't swing a cat at this game without hitting a secret. Rather than finding all X's better armor, you find many different types. You start with either Normal or Fourth armor, and can upgrade to the Gaia or Falcon armor, which I've yet to do (there's these blocks I don't know how to break through yet)
Also, Zero fans can rest assured that, not only is he the star but he also is very powerful. The ability to continue from almost any level point after dying (that's what we call it because there's a new continue point ever 10 seconds) also makes it easier. If it weren't for the moronic dialogue it would be a great game for beginners.

My final statement is that Capcom didn't seem to care at all about this project. It's as if they just want another game to add to the series, or the development team lost interrest halfway through.

I can reccomend it for rental if you have a coupon or there's nothing else there, but don't bother going all over town checking video stores for it.

My Two Cents.

Reviewer's Score: 5/10, Originally Posted: 02/14/01, Updated 02/14/01